Information AboutRiparian |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT RIPARIAN ZONE | |
| ecology | |
| aquatic ecology | |
| environmental engineering | |
| environmental soil science | |
| hydrology | |
"Riparian" redirects here. For the legal doctrine, see " Riparian Water Rights ." A riparian zone is the interface between land and a flowing surface water body. Plant communities along the river margins are called riparian vegetation, characterized by '', meaning river bank. Riparian zones may be natural or engineered for soil stabilization or Restoration . These zones are important natural Biofilters , protecting Aquatic environments from excessive Sediment ation, polluted Surface Runoff and Erosion . They supply shelter and food for many aquatic animals and shade that is an important part of stream temperature regulation. When riparian zones are damaged by Construction , Agriculture or Silviculture , biological restoration can take place, usually by human intervention in erosion control and revegetation. If the area adjacent to a watercourse has standing water or saturated soil for as long as a season, it is normally termed a Wetland due to its Hydric soil characteristics. Because of their prominent role in supporting a Diversity Of Species , riparian zones are often the subject of national protection in a Biodiversity Action Plan . Research shows riparian zones are instrumental in Water Quality improvement for both Surface Runoff and water flowing into streams through subsurface or Groundwater flow. Particularly the attenuation of Nitrate or Denitrification of the nitrates from Fertilizer in this buffer zone is important. Riparian zones can play a role in lowering nitrate contamination in Surface Runoff from Agricultural fields, which runoff would otherwise damage Ecosystem s and human health. The use of Wetland riparian zones shows a particularly high rate of removal of nitrate entering a stream and thus has a place in agricultural management. ROLES AND FUNCTIONS .]] Some of the important functions of riparian zones are: # ''Dissipate , combined with vegetation and root systems dissipate stream energy, resulting in less soil erosion and a reduction in flood damage. # ''Trap s creates less Turbid water and replenishes soils and build stream banks. # ''Filter pollutants'' from Surface Runoff and enhance Water Quality via Biofiltration . # ''Provide wildlife Habitat '', increase Biodiversity and Forage for wildlife and livestock. # ''Provide Wildlife corridors'': enable aquatic and riparian organisms to move along river systems avoiding isolated communities. # ''Provide native Landscape irrigation'' by extending seasonal or perennial flows of water. # ''Contribute nutrients from terrestrial vegetation (e.g. leaf litter and insect drop) to aquatic food webs # ''Shading water to mitigate water temperature changes # ''Contribute wood debris to streams which is important to maintaining geomorphology # ''Contribute to nearby property value through amenity and views. # ''Improve enjoyment for footpaths and bikeways through supporting Oceanway and Riverwalk networks. # ''Provide space for riparian sports including fishing, swimming and launching for vessels and paddlecraft. # ''Act as a sacrificial erosion buffer to absorb impacts of factors including Climate Change , increased Runoff from Urbanisation and increased Boat wake without damaging structures located behind a setback zone. ROLE IN LOGGING The protection of riparian zones is often a consideration in Logging operations. The undisturbed soil, soil cover, and vegetation provide shade, leaf litter, woody material, and reduce the delivery of Soil Eroded from the harvested area. Factors such as soil types and Root structures, Climatic conditions and above ground vegetative cover impact the effectiveness of riparian buffering. VEGETATION The assortment of riparian zone trees varies from those of wetlands and typically consists of plants that either are emergent aquatic plants, or Herb s, Tree s and Shrub s that thrive in proximity to water. Typical riparian zone trees in the eastern United States include:
In the western United States riparian vegetation may include red . SEE ALSO
REFERENCES
EXTERNAL LINKS
|
|
|