United States Department of Agriculture 390-CPS-1

NRCS, NHCP

November 2022

NRCS reviews and periodically updates conservation practice standards. To obtain the current 

version of this standard, contact your Natural Resources Conservation Service State office or 

visit the Field Office Technical Guide online by going to the NRCS website at 

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/ and type FOTG in the search field. 

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Natural Resources Conservation Service 

CONSERVATION PRACTICE STANDARD 

RIPARIAN HERBACEOUS COVER 

CODE 390 

(ac)

DEFINITION 

Grasses, sedges, rushes, ferns, legumes, and forbs tolerant of intermittent flooding or saturated soils,

established or managed as the dominant vegetation in the transitional zone between upland and aquatic

habitats. 

PURPOSE 

 This practice may be applied to accomplish one or more of the following purposes: 

• Provide or improve food and cover for fish, wildlife and livestock 

• Improve and maintain water quality 

• Establish and maintain habitat corridors 

• Increase water storage on floodplains 

• Reduce erosion and improve stability to stream banks and shorelines 

• Increase net carbon storage in the biomass and soil 

• Enhance pollen, nectar, and nesting habitat for pollinators 

• Restore, improve or maintain the desired plant communities 

• Dissipate stream energy and trap sediment 

• Enhance stream bank protection as part of stream bank soil bioengineering practices 

CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES 

• Areas adjacent to perennial and intermittent watercourses or water bodies where the natural plant

community is dominated by herbaceous vegetation that is tolerant of periodic flooding or saturated

soils. For seasonal or ephemeral watercourses and water bodies, this zone extends to the center of

the channel or basin. 

• Where channel and stream bank stability is adequate to support this practice. 

• Where the riparian area has been altered and the potential natural plant community has changed. 

CRITERIA 

General Criteria Applicable to All Purposes 

Where available, use Ecological Site Description to guide restoration to appropriate vegetative community

phase and include appropriate vegetative functional groups. 

Select perennial plants that are adapted to site and hydrologic conditions and provide the structural and

functional diversity preferred by fish and wildlife likely to benefit from the installation of the practice. 
In areas where native seeds and propagules are present, natural regeneration can be used in lieu of

planting. Planting is required if no native seed bank is present. 

Protect riparian vegetation and water quality by reducing or excluding haying and grazing until the desired

plant community is well established. 

Stream type and site hydrology must be considered. Selected plant species must be adapted to the

projected duration of saturation and inundation of the site. 

Harmful pests present on the site will be controlled or eliminated as necessary to achieve and maintain

the intended purpose. 

Pest management will be conducted in a manner that mitigates impacts to pollinators. 

Management systems applied will be designed to maintain or improve the vigor and reproduction of the

desired plant community. 

Necessary site preparation and planting shall be done at a time and manner to insure survival and growth

of selected species. Only viable, high quality and site-adapted planting stock will be used. 

Determine the width of the riparian herbaceous cover planting based on the geomorphic potential of the

site and project purposes, including the life history requirements of local fish and wildlife species, including

pollinators. 

Existing underground functional drains that pass through these areas shall be replaced with rigid, non

perforated pipe through the buffer or equipped with a management regulating structure to allow control of

overflow. 

Domestic grazing should be deferred for a minimum of two years or until such time as the desired plant

community is established. 

Additional Criteria to Maintain or Improve Water Quality and Quantity 

Minimum width shall be increased to 2.5 times the stream width (based on the horizontal distance

between bank-full elevations) or 35 feet for water bodies. Concentrated flow erosion or mass soil

movement shall be controlled in the up gradient area prior to establishment of the riparian herbaceous

cover. 

Species selected shall have stiff stems and high stem density near the ground surface to reduce water

velocities and facilitate infiltration into the floodplain. 

Additional Criteria to Stabilize Streambanks and Shorelines 

Select native or accepted, introduced species that provide a deep, binding root mass to strengthen

streambanks and improve soil health. 

Additional Criteria for Increasing Net Carbon Storage in Biomass and Soils 

Maximize width and length of the herbaceous riparian cover to fit the site. 

Plant species used will have the highest rates of biomass production for the soil and other site conditions,

consistent with meeting fish and wildlife habitat requirements. 

Additional Criteria for Pollinator Habitat 

Include forbs and legumes that provide pollen and nectar for native bees. Utilize a diverse mix of plant

species that bloom at different times throughout the year. 

Additional Criteria for Terrestrial Wildlife 

Select native species adapted to the site. 

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390

November 2022
Density of the vegetative stand established for this purpose shall be managed for targeted wildlife habitat

requirements and shall encourage plant diversity. 

If mowing is necessary to maintain herbaceous cover it will occur outside the nesting and fawning season

and allow for adequate re-growth for winter cover. To protect pollinators and maintain habitat with a

diversity of plant structure, a third or less of the site should be disturbed (mowed, grazed, burned, etc.)

each year, allowing for recolonization of pollinators from surrounding habitat. 

The management plan shall consider habitat and wildlife objectives such as habitat diversity, habitat

linkages, daily and seasonal habitat ranges, limiting factors and native plant communities. 

Additional Criteria for Restoring Desired Plant Community 

Use Ecological Site Description (ESD) State and Transition models, where available, to determine if

proposed actions are ecologically sound and defensible. Treatments need to be congruent with dynamics

of the ecological site(s) and keyed to states and plant community phases that have the potential and

capability to support the desired plant community. If an ESD is not available, base design criteria on best

approximation of the desired plant community composition, structure, and function. 

CONSIDERATIONS 

Selection of native plant species is preferred. All selected species should have multiple values such as

those suited for biomass, wintering and nesting cover, aesthetics, forage value for aquatic invertebrates,

and tolerance to locally used herbicides. 

Other conservation practices that may facilitate the establishment of Riparian Herbaceous Cover or

enhance its performance include: 

• Stream Habitat Improvement and Management (395) 

• Streambank and Shoreline Protection – (580) 

• Fence – (382) 

• Pasture and Hayland Planting – (512) 

• Range Planting – (550) 

• Filter Strip – (393) 

• Access Control – (472) 

• Prescribed Grazing – (528A) 

• Brush Management – (314) 

• Herbaceous Weed Treatment – (315) 

• Heavy Use Area Protection (561) 

• Critical Area Planting (342) 

• Riparian Forest Buffer (391) 

• Early Successional Habitat Development-Mgt (647) 

• Conservation Cover - (327) 

• Restoration and Management of Rare and Declining Habitat - (647) 

• Stream Crossing (578) 

• Watering Facility (614) 

Considerations should be given to how this practice will complement the functions of adjacent riparian,

terrestrial and aquatic habitats. 

Consider the effects of upstream and downstream conditions, structures, facilities, and constraints on the

planned activities. 

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November 2022
Control of invasive trees and shrubs may be required to prevent dominance of the riparian zone by woody

plants and maintain openness in riparian system. 

Establish alternative water sources or controlled access stream crossings to manage livestock access to

the stream and riparian area. 

Selection of native plant species is recommended. Introduced species may be used. All selected species

should have multiple values such as those suited for biomass, wintering and nesting cover, aesthetics,

forage value for aquatic invertebrates, and tolerance to locally used herbicides. 

Herbaceous riparian areas can function to link pollinators with adjacent fragmented habitat, and can serve

as a conduit to move pollinators into areas requiring insect pollination. Different flower sizes and shapes

appeal to different categories of pollinators. To support many species, consider establishing the greatest

diversity possible. Consider incorporating nesting habitat, including patches of unshaded bare soil for

ground nesting bees or where bumble bee conservation is a priority, clump forming warm-season native

grasses. 

Avoid plant species which may be alternate hosts to pests. Species diversity should be considered to

avoid loss of function due to species-specific pests. 

The location, layout and vegetative structure and composition of the buffer should complement natural

features. 

Corridor configuration, establishment procedures and management should enhance habitats for

threatened, endangered and other plant or animal species of concern, where applicable. 

Use plant species that provide full ground coverage to reduce particulate matter generation during

establishment and maintenance operations. 

PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS 

Specifications for this practice shall be prepared for each site. Specification shall be recorded using

approved specifications sheets, job sheets, narrative statements in the conservation plan, or other

acceptable documentation. 

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE 

The purpose of operation, maintenance and management is to insure that the practice functions as

intended over time. 

The riparian area will be inspected periodically in order to detect adverse impacts and make adjustments

in management to maintain the intended purpose. 

Control of concentrated flow erosion or mass soil movement shall be continued in the up-gradient area to

maintain riparian function. 

Any use of fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals to assure riparian area function shall not

compromise the intended purpose. 

Harmful pests present on the site will be controlled or eliminated as necessary to achieve and maintain

the intended purpose. 

Pest management will be conducted in a manner that mitigates impacts to pollinators. 

Avoid haying or grazing when streambanks and riparian areas are vulnerable to livestock or mechanical

damage. 

Manage grazing to sustain riparian functions and values. 

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November 2022
Management systems will be designed and applied to maintain or improve the vigor and reproduction of

the desired plant community, e.g., the riparian functions and values. 

Where the primary purpose of the practice is to provide terrestrial wildlife habitat, the density of the

vegetative stand shall be managed for targeted wildlife habitat requirements and shall encourage plant

diversity. If mowing is necessary to maintain herbaceous cover, it will occur outside the nesting and

fawning season and allow for adequate re-growth for winter cover. 

REFERENCES 

FISRWG (Federal Interagency Stream Restoration Working Group). 1998. Stream Corridor Restoration:

Principles, Processes and Practices. National Technical Information Service, U. S. Department of

Commerce, Springfield, VA. Also published as NRCS, U.S. Department of Agriculture (1998) Stream

Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices. National Engineering Handbook (NEH), Part

653. Washington, D.C. 

Fripp, J. B.; Hoag, J.C, and Moody, T. 2008. Streambank Soil Bioengineering: A Proposed Refinement of

the Definition Riparian/Wetland Project Information Series No. 23. 

Hoag, J.C. and J.B. Fripp. 2002. Streambank Soil Bioengineering Field Guide for Low Precipitation Areas,

Interagency Riparian/Wetland Project. Plant Materials Center, USDA-NRCS, Aberdeen, ID. 

Hoag, J.C., S.K. Wyman, G. Bentrup, L. Holzworth, D.G. Ogle, J. Carleton, F. Berg, and B. Leinard. 2001.

USDA-NRCS, Boise, ID and Bozeman, MT. Technical Note 38: Users Guide to the Description,

Propagation, and Establishment of Wetland Plant Species and Grasses for Riparian Areas in the

Intermountain West. (PDF; 6.3 MB) 

Leopold, Luna.1994. A View of the River. Harvard University Press. Cambridge, MA. 

Naiman, R.J., N. Decamps, M. E. McClain. 2005. Riparian Ecology, Conservation, and Management of

Streamside Communities. Elsevier Academic Press, Burlington, MA. 

Rosgen, David 1994. A Classification of Natural Rivers. Catena 22:169-199 

Schultz, R.C., J.P. Colletti, T.M. Isenhart, W.W. Simpkings, C.W. Mize, and M. L. Thompson. 1995. Design

and placement of a multi-species riparian buffer strip. Agroforestry Systems 29:201-225.ts. 

United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2008. General Manual:

Title 190 – Ecological Sciences: Part 404 – Pest Management... Washington, DC. 

United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2003. National Range

and Pasture Handbook. Washington, DC. 

http://plants.usda.gov/pollinators/Using_Farm_ Bill_Programs_for_Pollinator_Conservation.pdf 

Agroforestry Notes on supporting pollinators (General 6, 7, 8 and 9): 

http://www.unl.edu/nac/agroforestrynotes.htm

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November 2022