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They are best suited to treating runoff from roads and highways, roof downspouts and low traffic parking lots. They are also ideal as pretreatment to another lot level or conveyance practice. Filter strips also provide a convenient area for [[Winter|snow storage]] and treatment.
They are best suited to treating runoff from roads and highways, roof downspouts and low traffic parking lots. They are also ideal as pretreatment to another lot level or conveyance practice. Filter strips also provide a convenient area for [[Winter|snow storage]] and treatment.
Vegetated filter strips (buffer strips and grassed filter strips) are gently sloping, densely vegetated areas that treat runoff as sheet flow from adjacent impervious areas. They function by slowing runoff velocity and filtering out suspended sediment and associated pollutants, and by providing some infiltration into underlying soils.
Originally used as an agricultural treatment practice, filter strips have evolved into an urban SWM practice. Vegetation may be comprised of a variety of trees, shrubs and native plants to add aesthetic value as well as water quality benefits.
With proper design and maintenance, filter strips can provide relatively high pollutant removal. Maintaining sheet flow into the filter strip through the use of a level spreading device (e.g.[[gravel diaphragm]]) is essential.
Using vegetated filter strips as pretreatment practices to other best management practices is highly recommended. They also provide a convenient area for snow storage and treatment, and are particularly valuable due to their capacity for snowmelt infiltration. If used for snow storage, the area should be planted with salt-tolerant, non-woody plant species. Because of the simplicity of filter strip designs, physical changes to the practice are not needed for winter operation.
==Gallery==
==Gallery==