Minimum Width for River and Stream Corridor Resources (RSCR) of Loudoun County, VA

Tags  riparian, stream, minimum distance, environment, environment, Loudoun, County, Virginia

Summary

The 100' or 300' minimum distance serves to establish the RSCR corridor to provide the benefits listed below through establishing a narrower list of permitted and special exception uses and activities within it's boundaries:

The RSCR is established and regulated in order to: 
* Protect natural ecosystems, restore water quality, and support the built environment through healthy surface and groundwater resources;
* Maintain a healthy river and stream corridor ecosystem that promotes desired water quality standards, prevents soil erosion and flooding, and supports biological diversity;
* Promote river and stream health through streambank/streambed stability, temperature moderation, nutrient removal, sediment removal, flood control, and sustained aquatic habitat and food resources;
* Protect and improve stream quality and watershed health by decreasing the amount of stormwater runoff and pollutants from reaching local waters; 
* Protect and enhance impaired streams and their tributaries to improve water quality and provide ecological benefits while also providing opportunities for passive recreation;
* Protect rivers and public drinking water reservoirs to ensure a safe, clean and adequate supply of drinking water; and
* Conserve and protect wildlife habitats, wildlife travel corridors, and access to streams and water sources through the preservation of natural resources, such as native vegetation, forest cover, woodlands, floodplains, streams and stream corridors, wetlands, and undeveloped steep slopes and defined associated areas.

Description

The minimum width of the RSCR apply along the entire length of, and are measured outward from, the Ordinary High Water Mark of rivers, streams, and other waterbodies a distance of 100' or 300' depending on which waterbody it is measured from.  The 300' minimum stream buffer applies to the County's Scenic Rivers (Goose Creek & Catoctin Stream), Potomac River, Bull Run and Broad Run.  The 100' minimum stream buffer applies to all other rivers and streams located within the Floodplain Overlay District. For mapping and data purposes, the minimum stream buffer distances for the RSCR are measured out from the either both edges of the County's double line stream data or from the centerline of the single line stream data.  
The County's stream data updated annually for pre-selected areas of the County with the Base Data mapping project. River and Stream Corridor Resources is a part of the Natural and Environmental Resources chapter of the new Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance adopted on Dec 13, 2023. Refer to Chapter 6 of the Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance for additional tables and graphs describing the RSCR and list of Natural and Environmental Resources permitted and special exception uses in both the RSCR and steep slopes.   There are some limited uses potentially allowed in any RSCR buffer area that lies OUTSIDE of the 100' or 300' minimum buffer.

Credits

Loudoun County Zoning Ordinance

Use limitations

The River and Stream Corridor Resources (RSCR) layers were derived from the County’s Base Map topographic, floodplain, streams, and drains data. The data referenced may not reflect site-specific information or actual site conditions. The RSCR layers were generated using the best available base data for Loudoun County and should only be used as a reference.
These data were generated for use by Loudoun County and are available to the public. These data are intended for use at 1:2400 scale or smaller. Acknowledgement of Loudoun County would be appreciated in products derived from this data.
Features may have been eliminated or generalized due to scale and intended use. To assist Loudoun County, Virginia in the maintenance of the data, please provide any information concerning discovered errors, omissions, or other discrepancies found in the data.
Loudoun County GIS Disclaimer: https://logis.loudoun.gov/loudoun/disclaimer.html

Extent

Scale Range