Conservation buffers are small areas or strips of land in permanent naturally occurring or planted vegetation that are designed to intercept pollutants and manage other environmental concerns. The vegetation filters out sediments, nutrients, pesticides, and other pollutants before they reach the water body. Conservation buffers can include filter strips, riparian buffers, grass waterways, contour buffer strips, and field borders.

Filter strips are vegetated surfaces designed to treat stormwater runoff from adjacent surfaces. Filter strips slow runoff velocities, filter out sediment and other pollutants, and provide infiltration into underlying soils. With proper design and maintenance, filter strips offer high pollutant removal when treating runoff from roads and highways, roof downspouts, very small parking lots, and pervious surfaces.