riparian stream restoration bosque river stephenville
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Riparian Areas-Riparian Areas-Why are they Important?Why are they Important?
Melissa ParkerMelissa ParkerTexas Parks and Wildlife DepartmentTexas Parks and Wildlife Department
What is a Riparian Area?What is a Riparian Area? The band of The band of
vegetation that vegetation that occurs adjacent occurs adjacent to the stream to the stream bankbank
Transitional zone Transitional zone between the between the wetlands and wetlands and upland areasupland areas
Characteristics of a Healthy Characteristics of a Healthy Riparian Area:Riparian Area:
Diverse collection of Diverse collection of native vegetation in native vegetation in close association close association with water. with water.
Many of these plants Many of these plants have deep roots that:have deep roots that: bind the soils of the bind the soils of the
streambank streambank protect against erosionprotect against erosion
Benefits of Healthy Benefits of Healthy Riparian Areas:Riparian Areas:
Provide important Provide important habitat for wildlife and habitat for wildlife and fish fish Food, shelter, shading, Food, shelter, shading,
travel corridorstravel corridors Improve water qualityImprove water quality
Filter & catch sedimentFilter & catch sediment Assimilate pollutantsAssimilate pollutants
Streambank stabilityStreambank stability Reduce velocity of flood Reduce velocity of flood
waterwater Armor banksArmor banks
Benefits of Healthy Benefits of Healthy Riparian Areas:Riparian Areas:
Sustained Sustained stream flowsstream flows Store water in Store water in
banks and banks and floodplainfloodplain
Prolong base Prolong base flowflow
Recharge Recharge aquiferaquifer
Benefits of Healthy Benefits of Healthy Riparian Areas:Riparian Areas:
Important Important recreational recreational resource:resource: AnglersAnglers HuntersHunters CanoeistsCanoeists HikersHikers BirdwatchersBirdwatchers
GrassesGrassesSedges/RushesSedges/Rushes
ForbsForbs
Woody Plants Woody Plants (Trees & (Trees & Shrubs)Shrubs)
Types of Plants Types of Plants found in Riparian found in Riparian
AreasAreas
Sediment trapSediment trap
Store waterStore water
Erosion controlErosion control
Functions/Roles of Functions/Roles of Riparian VegetationRiparian Vegetation
Recognizing an Impaired Riparian Recognizing an Impaired Riparian Area:Area:
Lack of vegetation, Lack of vegetation, exposed soil, and exposed soil, and eroding bankseroding banks
Presence of Presence of vegetation more vegetation more typical of upland typical of upland sitessites
Sites dominated by Sites dominated by exotic or introduced exotic or introduced speciesspecies
Park-like settings or Park-like settings or ones that have been ones that have been continuously grazedcontinuously grazed
How to Maintain or RestoreHow to Maintain or Restore Riparian Areas: Riparian Areas:
• Creeks / Riparian Areas are special Creeks / Riparian Areas are special places; they need preferential treatmentplaces; they need preferential treatment
• Address the hindrance that is inhibiting Address the hindrance that is inhibiting natural restorationnatural restoration
Hindrances to Healthy / Functional Hindrances to Healthy / Functional Riparian Areas:Riparian Areas:
Farming too close to the bankFarming too close to the bank Mowing, spraying close to the creekMowing, spraying close to the creek Manicured landscapes next to the creekManicured landscapes next to the creek Chronic grazing concentrations in creek areasChronic grazing concentrations in creek areas Excessive deer, exotics, hogs in creek areasExcessive deer, exotics, hogs in creek areas Burning in riparian areaBurning in riparian area Removal of large dead woodRemoval of large dead wood Artificial manipulation of banks / sedimentArtificial manipulation of banks / sediment Excessive vehicle traffic in creek areaExcessive vehicle traffic in creek area Poorly designed road crossings / bridgesPoorly designed road crossings / bridges Excessive recreational foot traffic in creek areaExcessive recreational foot traffic in creek area Excessive alluvial pumping or other withdrawalsExcessive alluvial pumping or other withdrawals
Nueces River 2007Nueces River 2007
20082008
20092009
20102010
20112011
20122012
20122012
Riparian Chain ReactionRiparian Chain Reaction
Adequate Vegetation:Adequate Vegetation:
Protects banks from excess erosionProtects banks from excess erosion
Dissipates energy and slows the velocity of floodwaterDissipates energy and slows the velocity of floodwater
Sediment droppedSediment dropped
Sediment trapped and stabilizedSediment trapped and stabilized
Floodplain / riparian sponge is enlargedFloodplain / riparian sponge is enlarged
Increased groundwaterIncreased groundwater rechargerecharge
Base-flow is sustained Base-flow is sustained over timeover time
Contact Information:Contact Information:Melissa Parker- TPWDMelissa Parker- TPWD
San Marcos, TXSan Marcos, TX512/754-6844512/754-6844
[email protected]@tpwd.state.tx.us