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Santa Clara County working on new protections for riparian areas The Santa Clara County Planning Office has begun a process for
developing a riparian protection ordinance for the County. Riparian habitat - streams, their banks and streamside habitat - is crucial because so many of our animals and plants live in or utilize
the riparian zone. Just as people refer to tropical jungles and coral reefs as "hot spots" of biological diversity on the global scale, riparian habitats are hotspots of biological diversity and
environmental value here in Santa Clara County.
At this point the County appears to be concentrating on ensuring that new buildings in riparian zones be regulated to minimize their environmental impact. The Committee for Green Foothills welcomes this
effort and believes that more can and should be done. The Committee also encourages the County to regulate both driveway development and pesticide use in the riparian zone.
Increased sediment from dirt driveways and from water flowing off of impervious paved driveways degrades water quality. Pesticides and fertilizers directly harm wildlife and can also pose a
threat to our drinking water. Restoring degraded riparian habitat should also be a priority for the County. Committee for Green Foothills will continue to monitor County
efforts on riparian protection, to encourage steps in the right direction and advocate for all feasible methods to provide even better protection for this important habitat. Published October 2003 in |
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Developing a new
ordinance for protecting these habitats will take some time. As the County admits, it is just starting this process and welcomes input from citizens and groups. The County Planning Office has some excellent
information available 
