The lands targeted for application are primarily private and located throughout the state. Many of these acres are located in the traditional and historical native grassland areas of the state, identified as the Finger Lakes Region and the St. Lawrence Valley. Sixteen counties comprise these two regions and have been identified as the state s priority areas. Seven different conservation practices have been identified as being applicable to the grassland habitat type. Riparian Areas Nutrients, pesticides and sedimentation pollution are major water quality degraders of New York s riparian areas.
Riparian buffers are crucial to the protection and enhancement of the water resources of New York.
The maintenance of a healthy aquatic ecosystem from the headwaters to the estuaries requires protection of significant amounts of riparian habitat and the production of sustainable levels of wildlife. The goal of the state s WHIP plan is to improve and maintain shoreline environments through the use of six conservation practices targeted at riparian areas. The exclusion of livestock from riparian corridors and development of buffer areas will result in improved streambank vegetation, reduced stream temperatures from shading, increased trout habitat and reduced fragmentation of riparian habitat.