House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

 

Later this month, I will introduce a long over-due, comprehensive bill to protect Pennsylvania’s “Riparian Buffers,” the lands left and right of our many beautiful and essential rivers, creeks, and streams. I hope you’ll join me to protect these bodies of water, the surrounding land and wildlife, and the nearby communities.
 
As you know, Pennsylvania is blessed with an abundance of rivers and streams that crisscross our communities, supply millions of Pennsylvanians with clean drinking water, and create a robust outdoor recreational economy. You also know that even the smallest of these streams is not only threatened by pollution these days, and severe erosion, they are now in turn threatening homes and businesses with powerful flooding.
 
Riparian buffers are an important part of the solution:  the wider and more diversely planted a riparian buffer is, the more likely it will serve as an effective natural filter and provide for more stabilized streambanks, thereby reducing erosion and flooding due to stronger root systems. Buffers provide cooler water temperatures, resulting in an increase of oxygen, habitat, and food for fish and other aquatic life. Riparian buffers also provide many of the Commonwealth’s native animals with food, shelter, and travel corridors. 
 
This legislation will provide for a minimum 100 foot riparian buffer along each side of a surface body of water, with a minimum 300 foot buffer for streams that have been designated as High Quality or Exceptional Value. In addition, this legislation would also authorize municipalities to adopt regulations applicable to riparian buffers and would provide additional powers and duties to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for the enforcement of related regulations.

Please join me and support this important measure.