1. Understanding Creeks, Rivers, and Riparian Areas

2. What is a Riparian Area?

3. Soil Water and Vegetation Triangle Soil Water Vegetation

4. Soil Water and Vegetation Gears

5. Values you appreciate from healthy creeks and riparian areas What are the values you appreciate about healthy creeks and riparian areas?

6. Different People Value Different Things

7. Here are some, set them aside Clean Water Reliable Supply of Water Abundant Livestock Forage Fish and Aquatic Habitat Wildlife Habitat Natural Beauty/Recreation

8. Understand the function behind those values Understanding Creeks / Rivers / Riparian Areas

9. Identify the Components of a Creek / River Channel / Banks Floodplain Sediment Base flow Flood flow Water table Vegetation Large wood Organic debris The Dynamics and Processes that occur Erosion / Deposition Bankfull discharge Sinuosity Width : Depth Ratio Gradient Recruitment Root density Channel stability Plant succession

10. What is a properly functioning riparian area? What is a Properly Functioning Riparian Area?

11. Properly Functioning Riparian Area Dissipate stream energy Stabilize banks Reduce erosion Trap sediment Build / enlarge floodplain Store water Floodwater retention Groundwater recharge Sustain baseflow Water quality Water quantity Forage Aquatic habitat Wildlife habitat Recreational value Aesthetic beauty Adequate vegetation, landform or large woody material to: Physical FunctionValues

12. Obvious difference

13. Catching the water Storing the water in the land An Overlooked Opportunity

14. Keeping water on land longer creating a sponge Keeping Water on the Land Longer “Riparian Sponge”

15. Burro Creek 1981 Burro Creek 2000

16. Bear Creek 1977 context and history 1977

17. Intermittent flow – No fish Accelerated erosion - Sediment loss 100 years of poor grazing management = Poor vegetation Wet riparian area (sponge) = 4 acres / mile Water storage = 1.5 ac ft / mile Bank erosion = 12,500 feet

18. A Change in Grazing Management 1977 – 1984: No grazing / Reduced grazing to jump-start recovery 1985 – Present: Short term grazing during late winter to improve riparian vegetation

19. 1983 1983

20. 1986 1986

21. 1987 June June 1987 June 1987

22. 1987 Aug Aug 1987

23. 1988 1988

24. 1993 1993

25. Feb 1996

26. April 1996

27. Oct 1996

28. 2001 2001

29. Channel cross section change 1977 Bear Creek : Change In Channel Profile (1977 – 2001) 88 90 92 94 96 98 100 102 104 110120130140150160170180190105115125135145100155175185195200205210215220225165230235240 198319772001 1983 2001

30. Statistics Sediment Captured = 7400 CY/Mile Riparian “Sponge” = 12 Ac/Mile Water Storage = 6.4 ac ft/mile (net gain of 4.9 ac ft of storage/mile Perennial flow; prime aquatic habitat 10x Increase in livestock forage Bank erosion = 100 feet

31. 10 Years of Management 1977 1986

32. How to Maintain or Restore Riparian Areas: Creeks / Riparian Areas are special places; they deserve preferential treatment Remove the hindrances that inhibit natural restoration

33. Hindrances to Healthy / Functional Riparian Areas: Farming too close to the bank Mowing, spraying close to the creek Manicured landscapes next to the creek Grazing concentrations in creek areas Excessive deer, exotics, hogs in creek areas Burning in riparian area Removal of large dead wood Artificial manipulation of banks / sediment Excessive vehicle traffic in creek area Poorly designed road crossings / bridges Excessive recreational foot traffic in creek area Excessive alluvial pumping or other withdrawals

34. Growing Riparian Awareness and Understanding

35. It will only occur through the integration of ecological, economic, and social factors, and participation of affected interests.“ Wayne Elmore "Restoration will not happen by regulation, changes in the law, more money, or any of the normal bureaucratic approaches.