Planting trees and shrubs along streams supports stream health and stabilization! We call these smaller riparian buffers in urban and suburban areas “backyard buffers.”

The Consortium held two Backyard Buffer Design Workshops this fall: October 6th in Charlottesville and October 20th in Chesterfield. Over 40 riparian landowners, landscape designers, buffer practitioners, and community members joined for hands-on experience with conducting a site assessment and designing a backyard buffer. The workshops were facilitated by Nicola McGoff with Wild Ginger Field Services and David (Dave) Hirschman with Hirschman Water & Environment LLC, along with local partners. 

New this year was an optional pre-session on desktop site assessment. Participants practiced using key websites for getting-to-know your site before you visit including: Google Earth, Web Soil Survey, and the FEMA Flood Data Viewer. 

All in attendance practiced conducting a site assessment at a private, local site. Nicola and Dave introduced how to utilize a site assessment sheet (example) and led interactive sessions on invasive plant identification and soil composition. After returning to the classroom site for lunch and learning design concepts, participants worked in cross-functional small groups to develop a site design. Groups considered site conditions, landowner goals, introductory design concepts, and numerous plant resources provided by facilitators to help develop their design.

Staff from Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District (Charlottesville Workshop) and James River Soil and Water Conservation District (Chesterfield) joined for the day and shared about the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP). VCAP is an “Urban cost-share program that provides financial incentives and technical and educational assistance to property owners installing eligible Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Virginia’s participating Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs)” (Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts). Backyard buffers may be eligible for installation through VCAP via the Conservation Landscaping and/or Riparian Buffer BMP. Landowners and staff looking to utilize or recommend the program should contact their local SWCD for their specific program information.

Workshops were at no cost to participants thanks to the Consortium’s funding through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Thank you! 

Thank you to Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission and Rockwood Nature Center staff for hosting our workshops!

Thank you to our planning team and facilitators for creating space for learning and action around urban buffers! 

• David Hirschman, Hirschman Water and Environment LLC
• Nicola McGoff, Wild Ginger Field Services
• Isabella O’Brien, Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (PDC)
• Anne Devine, James River Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD)
• Kit Friedman, Crater PDC
• Ryley McMahen, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
• Courtney Harlow-Humphreys, Thomas Jefferson SWCD
• Rachel Bensink, Consortium Coordinator/James River Association