Riparian Zones “A Line of Defense

Vital to Healthy Rivers & Streams”

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Life Science Unit

What is a riparian zone?

• A belt of trees, shrubs, and grasses located adjacent to the “up-slope” from a body of water.

• Healthy One: complex, highly productive with a great deal of biodiversity.

What is a Riparian Buffer Zone?STREAM-SIDE FORESTS

• land directly adjacent to a waterway (streams, ponds, lakes, rivers, wetlands).

• A healthy riparian zone with lots of vegetation plays an integral role in protecting water quality and ecological integrity and diversity.

Important functions of the riparian zone include:

• Stabilization of streambanks.

• The roots of trees and plants hold streambank soil in place so that ground is not lost to erosion.

Riparian Buffer Video

• Riparian Buffer

Importance of Riparian BuffersReducing non-point source pollution; it is a natural filterreducing the amt. of nutrients, sediments and chemicalsthat enter a stream or river.

Stabilizes banks and reduces erosion; it traps and binds soilparticles together.

Decreases flood severity; acts like a sponge to help soak upexcess water.

Provides important habitat; they feed, shelter and providetravel paths (green highways) for critters (>95% of allterretsrial species in North America); cools water (which canabsorb more oxygen when cooler, more oxygen moreaquatic life-forms).

Benefits of Riparian Zones

• Increase your property value • Reduce property loss from excessive erosion • Protect water quality • Enhance wildlife habitat • Contribute to the natural beauty of the land • Dissipate noise from water traffic, roads, and nearby

properties • Reduce maintenance time and related costs • Provide privacy • Screen unsightly views • Enhance scenic views.

Threats

• Clearance for agriculture

• Pollution• Overgrazing by

livestock• Timber industry/tree

plantations• Residential/business

development

Modification of Riparian Areas

Evaluate These Riparian Areas

What You Can Do• Plant bundles of native

species along river banks.• Allow a natural buffer to

form from the edge of your lawn at least 25 ft. to the river (simply don’t mow).

• Re-position your home’s rain gutter so that it drains to lawn instead of pavement.

• Participate in river clean-up days.

Suggested Plants for Riparian Buffer:

• Trees: American beech (Fagus grandifolia), Black willow (Salix nigra), Pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia), Pin oak (Quercus palustris), Red maple (Acer rubrum), River birch (Betula nigra), Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)

• Shrubs: American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum), Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia), Silky dogwood (Cornus racemosa) Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)

• Grasses & Sedges:Big blue stem (Andropogon geradii), Broom sedge (Carex scoparia), Riverbank wild rye (Elymus riparius), Soft rush (Juncus effusus) Switch grass (Panicum virgatum)

• Perennial Flowers: Beard-tongue (Penstemon digitalis), Blue vervain (Verbana hastata), Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis), New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae), Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

What You Need to Know

• Define riparian zone

• Ecologically important because…

• Economically important because…

• Healthy riparian zone looks like…unhealthy riparian zone looks like…