Riparian buffer design study for safety, aesthetics and sustainability

Laurel Creek is the most important natural landscape feature on the University of Waterloo campus. The creek and the associated riparian vegetation provide many ecological functions. Most of these natural processes associated with the vegetation in the riparian zone contribute to improving water quality, stabilizing stream banks and reducing flood potential. Most of the campus community is unaware of the important ecological functions provided by the riparian zone vegetation, and are more aware of issues such as the visual attractiveness of different vegetative types and the safety hazard associated with riparian zone vegetation. In our efforts to create a sustainable campus environment at the University of Waterloo, it is necessary to integrate the environment with the socio-economic concerns of the University community. This project aims to meld the ecological aspects of the personal safety hazards and visual attractiveness of differing types of riparian vegetation. The purpose of our project was to provide an evaluation of public perceptions and values regarding the Laurel Creek Riparian Zone on the Campus of the University of Waterloo… For full text, please e-mail sustainability@uwaterloo.ca