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A riparian zone (or area) is the interface between land and a river or stream. Riparian zones may be natural or human-engineered for soil stabilization or restoration. These zones are important natural biofilters, protecting aquatic enviroments from excessive sedimentation, polluted surface runoff and erosion. They supply shelter and food for many aquatic animals and shade that limits temperature change in the stream. In summary, riparian forests are characterized by their location along waterways, their intricate interplay with water and soil dynamics, a diverse array of vegetation layers, and a plant composition favoring moisture-dependent species.
Riparian zones also provide wildlife habitat, increased biodiversity, and wildlife corridors, enabling aquatic and riparian organisms to move along river systems. Riptarian vegitation can also provide forage for wildlife.
Riparian zones are also important for the fish that live within rivers/steams. Impacts on riparian zones can affect fish, and restoration is not always sufficient to recover the fish population. All habitats within the agricultural landscape are important , but aquatic and riparian areas are especially significant to both biodiversity and agricultural production. They provide native landscape irrigation by extending seasonal flows of water. Nutrients from terrestial vegetation (e.g. plant litter & insect drop) are transferred to aquatic food webs, and are a vital source of energy in aquatic food webs. The vegetation surrounding the stream helps shade the water, mitigating water tempature changes. The vegetation also contributes wood debris to streams , which is important to maintaining the geomorphology.
A healthy riparian area will demonstrate some of these key ecological functions:
- Builds and maintains stream banks
- Stores floodwater and reduces stream flow energy
- Recharges groundwater
- Traps sediment
- Filters nutrients from water
- Maintains and enhanches biodiversity
- Supports primary production
- Sequesters carbon
- Shades the stream to reduce solar heat gain
There are six stream riparian classes designated S1 to S6. Each stream receives a stream riparian classification based on :
- Presence of fish
- Occurance in a community watershed
- Average channel width
S1 to S4 streams are fish streams or streams in a community watershed. S5 and S6 streams are not fish streams and are not in a community watershed.
Stream width Riparian class
>20 m S1
> 5-20 m S2
1.5-5 m S3
< 1.5 m S4
Average channel Width
> 3 m S5
> 3 m S6
Riparian zones dissipate stream energy. The meandering curves of a stream, combined with vegetation and root systems, slow the flow of water, which reduces soil erosion and flood damage. Sediment is trapped, reducing suspened solids to create less turbid water, replenish soils, and build steam banks. Pollutants are filtered from surface runoff, enchanching water quality via biofiltration
The Hoy Creek riparian zone provides an important habitat for wildlife such as The American Dipper, the Spotted Towhee, the Wood Duck and the Douglas Squirrel. Hoy creek also has Blue Herron, Mallards, River Otters & Beaver.
To log this Earth cache as found, first e-mail (Do NOT message) me the answers to the questions (don't post them in your log). You may then log as found, with mandatory photo, without hearing a response from me.
1) How many Riparian functions do you see demonstrated at Hoy Creek
2) Which Riparian category is this section of Hoy Creek
3) Why is this area an important Ripaian zone
4) What are 2 examples of terrestial vegetation that are important to a Riparian zone
5) is there any evidence of erosion or sedimentaion that you would expect to see if this was not a Riparian zone
6) Submit a picture of the creek with or without you in it