Riparian Vegetation

Riparian Vegetation Benefits • Roots prevent erosion and undercutting of banks. • Branches, stems, and leaves absorb the impact of raindrops. • Ground cover (decaying leaves and low-growing vegetation) slows runoff, increasing absorption.

A Healthy Riparian Area. Can you see the benefits?

More Benefits of Riparian Vegetation

What Are Unhealthy Riparian Areas? There are very few pristine riparian areas left in the United States. Almost all riparian areas exhibit some signs of degradation. Unhealthy riparian areas have some of the following characteristics: Patchy or scrubby plant growth with bare ground showing in many places. Vegetation dominated by upland plants and noxious weeds. Soil that is compacted, eroded, and had bare trails and pathways along the streambank. Streambanks that are eroding, severely undercut, or sloughing off. Streamwater that is muddy or murky. Limited biodiversity of fish, aquatic life, mammals, or birds. These characteristics of degraded riparian areas reflect their inability to protect water quality and provide critical habitat for wildlife.

Little Riparian Vegetation Leads to Undercutting by the Stream and Bank Erosion

Lack of riparian vegetation along farm fields also promotes run-off into streams.

Well managed buffers provide clean water, stable streams and good wildlife habitat

Benefits of a Riparian Buffer Filter out sediment from surface runoff Trap pollutants before they enter the stream Slow velocity of runoff Reduce erosion Home to plant and animal species Provide shade and maintain cool, even water temperature, which provides more oxygen for the fish Reduce economic loss in floods

Bear Creek Watershed in Iowa

Bear Creek Watershed 4 years after planting a riparian buffer

Little or No Riparian Buffer

Same stream 10 years later. What’s changed?