Photograph of two people looking at newly planted trees in tree tubes with a large rock retaining wall on their right side.

Riparian Buffer Restoration & Assessment

Program Summary

Riparian systems are vegetated areas next to streams or other water bodies that provide multiple benefits including improving water quality and creating habitat for fish and wildlife. The objective of this program is to support and educate decision makers statewide in their efforts to restore and protect riparian areas and floodplains. More specifically, we seek to:

  1. Promote dialog and develop understanding, tools, and approaches that:
  • promote the multiple benefits of riparian areas in NYS in the face of climate change including; habitat improvement, water quality improvement or protections, and flood risk reduction
  • while promoting equitable access to those benefit in NYS.
  1. Support the work and objectives of NYS basin programs including those in the HREP and Great Lakes Program.

Check out WRI's riparian buffer work in partnership with Hudson River Estuary Program staff and the Hudson Estuary Trees for Tribs Program.

Program Goals

Fund and participate in projects that:

  • Promote our DEI/EJ goals outlined below
  • Explore the benefits and ways of knowing about riparian systems from multiple perspectives, including Traditional Ecological Knowledge
  • Seek to understand and reduce the barriers to implementation of riparian protection and restoration efforts,
  • Assess and develop tools for riparian protection and restoration

Fund and participate in projects that:

  • Promote our DEI/EJ goals outlined below
  • Provide materials, tools, and trainings for groups that are looking to protect or restore riparian areas that help promote the benefits of riparian areas, prioritize where to site projects based on biophysical and socioeconomic goals, and promote protection and restoration through municipal actions
  • Promote coordination and networking throughout NYS of practitioners working to protect and restore riparian areas. This could take the form of an advisory group, working group, or focus groups.
  • Also see Program: Riparian Buffer Re-vegetation (Hudson Estuary Trees for Tribs)
  • Understand and promote equitable distribution of the benefits of riparian areas in NYS.
  • Analyze trends in green gentrification resulting from green infrastructure projects, including riparian efforts. Where possible develop and promote tools and approaches that would reduce the impacts of green gentrification on marginalized communities.
  • Develop and promote equitable community engagement in the planning process for riparian restoration and protection efforts.

New Funding Available to Re-plant Hudson Valley Streams

The New York State Water Resources Institute, in cooperation with DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program, invites bids to coordinate with the Hudson Estuary Trees for Tribs (HETFT) program to deliver the following tasks in 2027:

Photograph of a group of people standing on a creek shore with freshly planted trees in tree tubs.
Staff from Orange County Land Trust, Ulster County Soil and Water Conservation District and Hudson Estuary Trees for Tribs worked with volunteers in 2025 to plant 140 native trees and shrubs along the Rochester Creek (photo: Orange County Land Trust)
  • Complete on-the ground riparian plants with HETFT
  • Deliver complete applications for HETFT for plantings in 2028
  • Complete a Municipal or Watershed-based Riparian Assessment
  • Create and deliver outreach and education on the importance of riparian protection and restoration

Applicants must be located and work within the Hudson River Estuary Grant Program boundary. Potential applicants may include:

  • Nonprofit organizations
  • NY Soil and Water Conservation Districts
  • Municipal or county governments or agencies

For more information, see the Request for Proposal for Riparian Planning and Restoration Planting.

Proposals are due by 5PM on Wednesday, November 25, 2026

Riparian Buffer Five-Year Summary

Five-Year Summary
Photograph of a group of people posed in a field with a woodland behind them.