Buffers also provide fish and wildlife habitats and preserve the ecosystem of the waterways.
The Chesapeake Bay Executive Council, tasked with reducing nutrient loading in the Bay, set a goal of establishing 2,010 miles of riparian forest buffers within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed by the year 2010, through voluntary incentive-based programs. The state of Maryland set a goal of establishing 600 miles of riparian forest buffer by 2010. Programs Available for Financial Assistance Landowners interested in creating riparian buffers can take advantage of cost-share programs available for establishing buffers. Under this program, landowners who have cropped their agricultural land two out of the past five years or who have marginal pasture that will be converted to trees are eligible for cost-share funding, as well as an annual rental payment for a minimum of ten years up to a maximum of fifteen. The rental payment is based on the landowner s county and the soil types found on the farm.