Trees along ditches? What was once seldom recommended is now considered a responsible approach to drainage management and, when done properly, very compatible with drainage objectives. Trees planted or maintained along ditches can: 1 ) save money, 2) meet environmental regulations, 3) improve water quality and 4) provide wildlife habitat.

Save Money

   When constructing a new ditch or maintaining an existing one, clearing and grubbing costs can be reduced substantially by leaving at least one side vegetated. Leaving woody vegetation minimizes wind and water erosion' which affects crop yields and reduces the accumulation of sediment in the channel. Where one or both sides remain vegetated, shading inhibits nuisance cattail growth, thereby reducing dip-out or spraying maintenance costs. Ditch berms can grow marketable trees or firewood if selected and managed properly and provide income in later years. If land adjacent to ditches is already out of crop production and taxed at a lower rate trees are a bonus.

Meet Environmental Regulations

   When ditch construction must meet environmental protection standards or require a Section 401 or 404 permit under the Clean Water Act, preserving or planting trees will help mitigate water quality and wildlife damages, often making permit issuance easier.

Improve Water Quality

   Tree cover, especially on the south or west side of a ditch, shades the water, keeping water temperatures cooler which increases oxygen levels needed for fish and other aquatic life. Shading also controls nuisance algae growth, which often results in fish kills and other water quality problems. Tree leaves and leaf litter help reduce soil erosion and resulting sedimentation. Tree roots also provide some erosion control by protecting ditch banks from high velocity water.

Provide Wildlife Habitat

   Upland and aquatic wildlife benefit from trees. Upland wildlife benefits from cover, food, access to travel lanes and greater number of species which habitat diversity supports. In-stream, leaf litter is the base of the aquatic food chain. Leaves are eaten by aquatic insects which in turn feed minnows and fish. Fallen branches provide cover for fish and smaller aquatic life. Undisturbed vegetation, like that found on one-sided construction, provides better wildlife food and cover than leaving selected trees growing among planted grass.

Tree Use

   Trees are suitable for all drainage projects constructed under Ohio Drainage Law (Sections 61 31, 6133, 6135 or 6137 of the Ohio Revised Code), Conservation Works of Improvement (Section 1515 of the Ohio Revised Code), mutual group process, by developers or by individual landowners. With proper tree selection and maintenance, both drainage and environmental benefits can often be achieved.
The recommended width of woody vegetation on "berms" of natural or unmodified channels is two and one-half times the width of the ditch or fifty feet, whichever is less. However, for ditches constructed under Ohio Drainage Law, a minimum of four feet or a maximum of 25 feet width may be "constructed and maintained" and not subject to typical property taxes.

Tree Selection

   When preserving trees along a ditch, protect those with hardwood, minimal branching, deep rooting and non-brittle characteristics. Where possible, protect trees and their adjacent vegetation from root and soil compaction from heavy equipment for a 10 foot radius around the trunk. When spreading dredged material near trees, never spread more than one inch of soil per year over the roots to avoid feeder root suffocation. The feeder roots are mostly within the tree canopy drip line. When planting trees, choose those that are suitable to the soil drainage and pH conditions. Dredged sediment and compaction from construction access may drastically alter pH and drainage conditions; soil testing may be helpful. Native trees may be a first choice for planting or preserving as listed below, but many other species may be suitable as listed in most county soil survey reports or nursery catalogs.

   If future income is desired, select trees with expected high market value. If wildlife management is a goal, select a species with food and cover characteristics. The following table lists recommended trees in Ohio for use along drainage ditches. These trees can withstand periodic flooding and are less likely to cause maintenance problems. High market value trees like Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), White Oak (Quercus alba), Red Oak (Quercus rubra borealis), Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum), White Ash (Fraxinus americana), and Basswood (Tilia americana) are not listed since they are typically found on better drained soils or upland sites. The table also illustrates their suitability to different soil/climate conditions and desirable characteristics. Short lived, brittle and shallow rooted species like Willow (Salix species) are not listed, with the exception of Box Elder (Acer negundo) and Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) which are common and less problematic trees.

   Planted shrubs are fast growing and provide more immediate erosion control and habitat than planted trees. Shrubs may complement tree planting well by establishing a dense vegetative planting. Shrubs and bank erosion control species like Bankers Willow (Salix X cotteti) or Dogwoods (Cornus species) have beneficial uses in ditch management, but are not covered in this publication.

Tree Selection Aid Chart

Common/Scientific Name	Average Mature Height	pH Preferance	Specific Characteristics
			Highly Flood Tolerant Tress
American Sycamore Platanus occidentalis	100+'	6.6-8.0	Adaptable to many soils, streambanks, bottomlands, windfirm, long-lived, fast growth, urban tolerant.
Swamp White Oak Quercus bicolor	60-70'	6.0-6.5	Lowlands, stream edges, swamps, long-lived, fast growth, wildlife food, sprouts, timber, firewood.
Bur Oak Quercus macrocarpa	70-80'	4.6-8.0	Adaptable to many soils, very drought resistant, deep-rooted long-lived, sprouts, wildlife food, timber, firewood.
Pin Oak Quercus palustris	70-80'	5.5-6.5	Bottomlands or moist uplands, tolerant of urban stresses, moderately long-lived (100-150 years), firewood, wildlife food,sprouts, fast growth.
Bald Cypress Taxodium distichum	60-80'	6.1-6.5	Highly flood tolerant, grows on flooded, poorly drained to upland soils, extensive root system, very windfirm slow-growing. Ionglived, sensitive to drought and heat, loses leaves in winter, not native although wideiy planted in Ohio.
Red Maple Acer rubrum	50-70'	4.5-6.5	Adaptable to many soil types, some susceptibility to ice and snow damage, moderately long-lived (100-150 years), sprouts, resistant to herbicides, wildlife food, firewood, brilliant fall color
Silver Maple Acer saccharinum	60-80'	4.5-6.5	Bottomlands, streambanks, alluvial floodplains, moist sites, drought resistant, branches are somewhat brittle, susceptible to ice damage, can tolerate temporary flooding, sprouts.
Box Elder Acer negundo	30-40'	6.5-7.5	Adaptable to many soils, tolerant to drought and cold, short-lived (60-80 years), fibrous root system provides good erosion control, susceptible to wind/ice damage
Honey Locust Gleditsia triacanthos	70-80'	6.1-7.5	Alluvial floodplains, bottomlands, drought resistant, shelter-belt series, windfirm, used to pioneer strip-mine spoils, initially fast growing, thorns.
			Moderately Flood Tolerant Tress
Shellbark Hickory Carya laciniosa	80-100'	6.1-6.5	Bottomlands & alluvial floodplains, sprouts, long-lived, slow growing, some susceptibility to frost damage, wildlife food, firewood.
Green Ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica	50-70'	6.1-7.5	Bottomlands, strip-mine reclamation species, windfirm, alluvial soils along streams, wildlife food, firewood, sprouts, timber
Hackberry Celt/s occ/dentalis	30-50'	6.6-8.0	Bottomland, limestone outcrops or soils, drought resistant, fast growing, long-lived (150-200 years), wildlife food.
Slippery Elm Ulmus rubra	60-70'	6.6-8.0	Moist, rich soils of lower slopes, streambanks, terraces, and bottomlands, moderately fast growing, fairly long-lived, sprouts. Dutch Elm disease, urban tolerant.
Black Tupelo (Gum) Nyssa sy/vatica	40-60'	6.1-6.5	Adaptable to many soil types, alluvial stream bottoms, shade tolerant, wlidlife food, wildlife den tree, moderateiy long-lived.
River Birch Betula nigra	60-80'	<6.5	Alluvial soils, stream bottoms, highly tolerant of acid soils, sprouts, firewood, most common in South/Central Ohio.

Tree Maintenance

   Wooded ditch berms require maintenance. Regular inspections are needed, especially after ice storms to locate and remove damaged trees which may become water flow obstructions. When dead, leaning or other trees susceptible to breakage are removed, future maintenance costs can be reduced. While the listed species are not likely to cause problems, certain weather damages are not preventable. Trees should be kept away from subsurface drainage outlets so that roots do not plug the drainage pipes and outlets can be located for inspection and maintenance. Trees affected by insects or disease should be treated or removed before problems spread to other trees or they die, fall in and become obstructions.
When trees are managed properly they can provide income, benefit water quality and wildlife, protect crops from wind erosion and beautify the landscape. For more information on tree selection or site suitability contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), ODNR Divisions of Forestry or Wildlife, Ohio State University Extension, or qualified private consultant. For more information on drainage laws and standards contact your County or City Engineer, City Manager, Township Trustee or SWCD.

   TreeSource-Ohio's Greenprint for the Future- is a strong new partnership between state and local government, private businesses and citizen volunteers renewing Ohio's commitment to planting and nurturing trees across the state.
For more information on TreeSource, contact the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry (614) 265-6694. Creation of this stream guide was partially funded by Nonpoint Source Programs under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.

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  This Guide is one of a series of Ohio Stream Management Guides covering a variety of watershed and stream management issues and methods of addressing stream related problems. The first several guides in the series are overview guides intended to give the reader an understanding of the functions and values of streams. For more information about stream management programs, issues and methodologies, see Guide No. 05 Index of Titles or call the ODNR Division of Water at 614/265-6740. Paper copies of the Guides are available from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Single copies are available free of charge and may be reproduced. Please contact one of the below for paper originals:
  

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Division of Water
2045 Morse Road, Bldg. B
Columbus, Ohio 43229-6693

Phone: (614) 265-6740
Fax: (614) 447-9503
E-mail: dswc@dnr.state.oh.us

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