The importance of Riparian Areas
Ecosystems
-interaction between water, soil, microorganism, plants, and animals.
Host a wide array of plants and animals.
Riparian area protect water quality by controlling…
- water temperatures
- stabilize stream banks
- supply long term organic debris that create aquatic habitats
- acts as source of food for stream and wetland organisms
- provide links to uplands
- provide biological diversity
- provide criticism cal habitat for specific species
- provide wildlife corridors for wildlife
How do you CLASSIFY streams
- width
- use by fish
What are wetlands?
Area of shallow open/somewhat open that are permanently/intermittently flooded
What do wetlands include?
Marches, swamps, sedge fens, bogs, shrub cars, wet meadows
Why are wetlands so important?
- they filter pollutants(trapping sediments=improve water quality)
- act like sponges (reduce floods, decrease droughts, recharge water tables)
- reduce soil erosion (slowing down run offs)
- produce things for wildlife (food, water, habitat, breeding)
- provide shade (water temperature)
- acts as carbon sink(?!?!?)
What is a wetland COMPLEX?
Refers to a group of wetlands in close proximity, have overlapping riparian management areas.
How are wetland CLASSIFIED?
Their size
Simple or complex
BeC zones in which they are located
How are lakes CLASSIFIED?
Their size
Their BeC zones
What are anaerobic soils?
A soil that formed under conditions of saturation, flooding, or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part.
What is a riparian zone/area
Interface between land and river/stream
What are tributaries
Small streams straining to water shed
