Natural enemies, such as lady bugs, parasitoid wasps, and songbirds that live in riverine habitat will move out into the farm when pest insects are on the rise. Rodent-eating predators that are traveling the riparian corridor will seek out their prey on farms, as will raptors when trees are present from which they can hunt. The riparian vegetation is also valuable because it stabilizes banks during flooding events, and riparian soils help to recharge groundwater.
Technical and Financial Assistance
With the help of our partners, we assist farmers in restoring riparian forest buffers and riparian herbaceous buffers.
- We are assisting California farmers who have waterways with planting riparian forest and herbaceous buffers through California’s Healthy Soils Program, which aims to sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Contact us to find out about enrollment periods.
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) also offers support for riparian forest and herbaceous buffers across the nation, with an aim towards clean water, healthy soil and better wildlife habitat. Contact your state office.
Education Opportunities
- Watch a webinar about riparian and hedgerow habitat and the benefits to farms.
- Read about a farmer whose planting stabilizes their waterway’s banks.
- Watch a short video of a farm that has restored riparian corridors for the birds.
- Watch a longer video highlighting one of our partners’ work - Sharing Butte Creek - it’s about sharing California water with fish, birds, insects and the rice farms along the creek.
Tools and Resources
- Download Creekside Plantings and Restoration in California Rangelands co-authored by our partner who then was at UC Cooperative Extension.
- Download California Riparian Habitat Restoration Handbook co-authored by Thomas Griggs and River Partners.