Identifying areas with the greatest benefits for improving water quality was attempted using a GIS analysis. Watershed nutrient loading, stream size, land use, and forest cover layers were overlaid to reveal small unforested streams with high nutrient loads where buffers could be expected to have the greatest impact. Links to tax map overlays aid in outreach to find landowners willing to create buffers on their property. Tracking of areas being conserved through programs such as Forest Conservation Act is being organized now. One technical limitation to the dramatic increase in buffer planting has been the demand for bare-root seedlings of native hardwood species.
Seedlings are the most cost-effective way to establish forests for the majority of buffers.
The State Nursery has quadrupled production and refined techniques for growing native hardwoods. The last two summers have been very dry, creating challenging conditions for survival. Through a USDA Forest Service grant, DNR is able to conduct detailed monitoring of tree survival. Natural regeneration can play a significant role, although some species such as oaks are not well represented. Weeds were found to be the greatest mortality factor in these watersheds, with deer damage the second most common.