Importance of Pond Buffers

Pond Buffers

Establishing buffer zones around the edge of your pond takes very little effort, requires little maintenance, and will likely reduce the costs associated with mowing and trimming along the edge of the pond on a weekly basis.

The Benefits of Pond Buffers:

1. Improves Water Quality

When rain water drains through parking lots and streets and then grassy areas, the water will have accumulated a significant amount of nutrients that will lead to pond algae blooms. Having a pond buffer will prevent this from happening and thereby reducing the need for constant treatments, and lowering your long term costs associated with managing your water.

2. Prevents Erosion

Over time, the excessive inflow of sediment can greatly reduce the depth of your lake or pond and produce significant problems as they become shallower. Sediment is typically nutrient rich, which also means additional phosphorus contamination of the pond if erosion is not prevented. When using plants as a buffer along the shoreline, this will help stabilize the soil and prevent large amounts of sediment from flowing into the pond. This will also save on the cost to correct these problems through dredging and other similar measures, which can be quite expensive.

3.Controls Geese Population

Geese can often be a nuisance problem around ponds, establishing nests and becoming full time residents for many years. Geese that are born at a particular site are also genetically likely to want to return to that site, even if they do leave for a time. One of the most effective practices to reduce or eliminate geese problems on your site is to maintain a healthy buffer around your water. When you maintain a thick, tall buffer, geese are encouraged to move to another body of water, rather than deal with the difficulty of accessing a pond that has an established buffer. They will also not want to be anywhere that they cannot easily walk in and out of the water without obstruction or fear of predators lurking in wait.

4. Provides Mosquito Control

Pond buffers will provide habitat for numerous non-threatening species, which further leads to a more balanced and healthy aquatic ecosystem. If managed properly, buffers are very attractive to dragonflies and other natural mosquito predators. The plants that grow in the edge of the water, or hang over the edge of the water, will also provide good habitat and cover for smaller fish, which will feed on the larvae of mosquitoes. Once you have a good buffer established, the balance that you bring to the aquatic ecosystem will not only help your water quality, but will also help with mosquito control.

5. Proves Aesthetic Appearance

You will also benefit from proper buffer management with an increase in the aesthetic value of your pond. Grasses are a preferred type of vegetation to have in the buffer, but the type of grasses can also make a huge difference. There a number of warm season perennial grasses, as well as some

other beneficial wildflower species. These perennials will establish their roots and come back year after year, providing the best option for bank stabilization and preventing soil erosion, as well as absorbing algae-causing nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers, plant decay and other sources. They also provide diversity to your landscape, and offer interesting color and texture year round, even in the winter after everything has gone dormant.

Improper Pond Buffer

Proper Pond Buffer