Smart Buffers
The term “Smart Buffers” refers to a design of streamside vegetation protection areas that optimizes their effectiveness.
There is a growing recognition that fixed-width, one size fits all buffers are not equally effective everywhere, with some stream reaches being over-protected while other stream reaches are being under-protected.
Smart Buffers may be most useful in non-fish bearing headwater streams, a portion of the channel network that contains the most channel length and where shade and the reduction of solar insolation is most relevant.
What is the optimum design and width of riparian buffers to protect against increases in thermal energy?
How does that compare to fixed width buffers?
Channel azimuth matters. North-south oriented streams require similar buffer widths on both sides of the stream, whereas east-west oriented streams requires requires less buffer width on the north side of the channel.
NetMap can be used to evaluate how buffer width can vary depending on which side of the channel you are on.
Smart Buffers are less wide on the north sides of streams along east-west flowing channels.
In the support of Smart Buffers, NetMap can be used to identify channel segments that are sensitive to removal of streamside vegetation, resulting in high solar insolation. In some areas buffers can be shortened, in other areas enlarged to maximize their effectiveness.