Development must not encroach on these sensitive areas so that groundwater is allowed to recharge at its origin, maintaining base flow throughout the entire system. Undisturbed forest will protect steep slopes from soil erosion, keeping sediment from flowing into the streams where it degrades the aquatic food chain. The open, natural channels of streams, their associated floodplains and the forests that line these channels must be preserved from future development. All too often, these channels are covered over and the stream put into a pipe. Everyone is drawn to water and a site design that incorporates the stream exploits a rich and beautiful resource.
Healthy streams require a wide forested buffer.
This buffer can provide many different functions from channel protection to pollutant removal. Riparian forests are an integral part of the stream ecosystem. Trees supply the stream with leaf litter, which constitutes the major source of energy in headwater streams in most parts of the country. Leaf litter and woody debris literally form the base of the food chain. Wetlands and Floodplains Floodplain sites, because they tend to be large flat areas, are often paved over.