Riparian Zones

Riparian zones in coastal North Carolina are vegetated, forested buffers bordering water bodies, critical for protecting water quality and reducing erosion. In the coastal region, these zones frequently act as transitional areas between upland forests and marshes or cypress swamps. Specific regulations, such as in the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico basins, require a 50-foot protected buffer, often divided into a 30-foot undisturbed forest zone and a 20-foot managed vegetation zone.