Hartman, Dr. J M, Cappiella, K, Schneider, J, Price, W. 2020. Land Use Controls for Forest Buffers in the Delaware River Basin: An Evaluation of Existing Municipal Policies and their Role in Protecting Forested Riparian Buffers. Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. 58pp

Forest, ordinance, buffer, watershed, land use

With the support from the Academy of Natural Science of Drexel University’s Delaware River Watershed Research Fund, Rutgers University, the Center for Watershed Protection (CWP), and the Pinchot Institute conducted an analysis of the role of municipal land use controls in protecting natural riparian buffers in the Delaware River Basin. A particular focus is the role of forests, and how their conservation is supported through the combination of plans and regulations adopted and implemented by municipalities. It is a scientific study not intended to characterize land use controls throughout the entire basin, nor the basinwide condition of riparian areas, landcover, and water quality. Rather, the intent is to better understand the inter-relationship between these variables.