Current Projects Enhancing Our Stream Buffers With the aid of grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Coastal Program, the ARA has been enhancing and re-establishing stream buffers, called riparian buffers, throughout the watershed. Riparian buffers are the lands that are directly adjacent to streams and rivers. These areas of land should be vegetated with native trees, shrubs, and grasses so that they will better serve their vital role of helping reduce water pollution, provide wildlife habitat, and to decrease flooding and erosion in the Appoquinimink Watershed. The ARA has been working with interested homeowners and St. Andrew’s School to re-vegetate the riparian lands on their properties. In addition, the ARA worked with the Town of Middletown to create a riparian buffer ordinance that protects these areas from future changes and development. This entire project will be completed in the fall of 2008, and we are grateful to all of the interested individuals and volunteers who have helped make this project a wonderful success! Download this flyer for more information on how you can help improve water quality with riparian buffers.