Virginia Riparian Buffer Zones. DCR Native Plants for Conservation, Restoration & Landscaping

Riparian buffers support a variety of plants and animals, particularly plants that are adapted to periodic flooding or saturated soils. Riparian forest buffers consist of four vegetation zones. Zone 1, the emergent vegetation zone, is permanently to semipermanently flooded and often dominated by grasses, sedges, rushes and other herbaceous plants. Zone 2, the riverside thicket, may be seasonally to temporarily flooded and is often characterized by emergent aquatic species, shrubs and a few tree species. Zone 3, the saturated forest, has soils that are saturated to poorly drained. Zone 4, the well-drained forest, is also known as upland forest and has dry soil. Zones 3 and 4 are dominated by trees but also contain shrub and herb layers in the understo. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Virginia Native Plant Society.