• Pictures 
• Contents - equipment and supplies
• Activities - information and download
• Resource Folder Contents
• Academic Standards Covered
• Related Links
• Reserve This Module

RIPARIAN BUFEERS MODULE CONTENTS

Box A

BOOKS/VIDEOS
-3 Peterson's Field Guide to Eastern Trees
-3 National Audubon Society Field Guide to Trees - Eastern Region
-3 Tree Finders
-2 The Tree Identification Book-3Tree Finders
-4 Winter Tree Finders
-1 Riparian Buffers 101 CD

MANILA ENVELOPES
-1 containing:

-15 Illustrated Guides to RCE Terminology
-15 RCE Glossaries

-1 containing 8 Landscaping with Native Plants in Pennsylvania pamphlets
-1 containing 8 Invasive Plants in Pennsylvania pamphlets
-1 containing extra labels for the "Riparian Observations" RCE activity extension
-1 containing Mystery Tree Sheets for Tree ID Activity
-38 laminated sheets
-1 laminated key
-3 pages laminated glossary sheets
-1 containing Nutrient Travels Activity Materials:

-8 brown paper bags with cards in each bag - Carbon Cycle
-7 brown paper bags with cards in each bag - Nitrogen Cycle
-7 brown paper bags with cards in each bag - Phosphorous Cycle
-8 red Carbon Cycle station signs
-7 blue Nitrogen Cycle station signs
-7 light brown Phosphorous Cycle station signs

MINI BOX 1
-Leaf Reference Collection (laminated leaves)
-2 blue circles
-2 yellow circles
-2 stopwatches
-1 trowel
-8 plastic cups with labels

MINI BOX 2
-Riparian Buffer Metaphors! Materials

OTHER
-2 Plinko Boards (foam boards w/ thumbtacks) with "And They're (Run) Off Pieces attached
-1 bag of 30 pennies
-1 Ziploc bag of 12 fifty-foot pieces of string
-5 fiberglass measuring tapes - 165 ft.
-1 stack of extra plastic cups
-1 laminated "Forest Matters" poster
-Mystery Tree leaf folder (white folder with Creek symbol on back)
-Mystery Winter Tree ID booklet
-1 bundle of approximately 50 red flags
-1 roll of laminating plastic for making leaf collection
-3 videos:

-1 Riparian Forest Buffers: The Link Between Land & Water
-1 The Riparian Zone
-1 Life on the Edge: Improving Riparian Function

Box B
-1 riparian model
-1 spray bottle
-1 small container of brown washable paint
-1 small paint brush
-3 plastic "rain" cups (w/ holes in bottom)
-2 plastic cups 

Riparian Buffer Metaphors!
· Compare the characteristics, functions, and benefits of riparian buffers to common objects.

Riparian Runoff Rivalry
· Two demonstrations of how riparian forest buffers effectively reduce soil erosion and the amount of runoff entering waterways, decreasing sedimentation and turbidity levels therein.

RCE
· Observe, estimate, and assess the physical and biological characteristics of 100 meters of stream channel and riparian zone. Extension Activity: Riparian Observations

Buffered Stream, Healthy Stream
· Compare the chemical health of two small streams, one of which has a healthy riparian forest buffer and the other of which is more exposed or virtually buffer-less.

RipCycles & Nutrient Travels
· Read information and answer questions about nutrient cycling in riparian ecosystems, particularly the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous cycles. Then, follow the travels of these nutrients through a riparian ecosystem.

Tree ID
· Identify various types of leaves from common Pennsylvania trees. Distinguish between trees that are found near waterways versus those that are only found in the uplands.

Eco-Tones
· Observe a demonstration of what ecotones are and their implications for biodiversity. Then investigate differences in tree diversity between a riparian ecotone and an upland forest.
Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index Excel Spreadsheet

Wrangling Over Riparian Zones
· Play the role of a farmer or Conservation District agent and debate a proposed mandate for 100-foot-wide buffers along all waterways.

Riparian Round Up
· Visit a riparian area and apply knowledge from other Riparian Buffers Module activities to observe, answer questions, and draw conclusions about the riparian area.

VIDEOS:
Riparian Forest Buffers: The Link Between Land & Water, The Riparian Zone, and Life on the Edge
· Watch a video about the functions, benefits, and/or restoration and management of riparian buffers. Then answer and discuss "Study Questions" about the video.

Sections

Fact Sheets
Basic information about riparian buffer functions and management.

Articles of Interest
Articles relevant to riparian buffers and how they protect waterways, provide habitat to wildlife, and are managed.

Riparian Restoration & Management
Information on how to find funding for and conduct riparian restoration projects.

General Activity Information
 A list of module activities and an explanation of the activity format (layout). 

Activities
 Specific to the riparian buffers theme, these activities include all the necessary background information for teachers to pick up the activity and do the lesson in their classrooms or in the field.
 

Riparian Buffers Module Related Links

Natural Resource Conservation Service: Riparian Buffer Zone
USDA Forest Service: Riparian Forest Buffers
Connecticut River Joint Commissions: Riparian Buffers
Virginia Cooperative Extension: Understanding the Science Behind Riparian Buffers
Riparian Buffers for Agricultural Land