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Riparian Zones “A Line of Defense Vital to Healthy Rivers & Streams”

C oe L ake O utdoor S cience E ducation. Life Science Unit. Riparian Zones “A Line of Defense Vital to Healthy Rivers & Streams”. What is a riparian zone?. A belt of trees, shrubs, and grasses located adjacent to the “up-slope” from a body of water.

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Riparian Zones “A Line of Defense Vital to Healthy Rivers & Streams”

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  1. Coe Lake Outdoor Science Education Life Science Unit Riparian Zones “A Line of DefenseVital to Healthy Rivers & Streams”

  2. What is a riparian zone? • A belt of trees, shrubs, and grasses located adjacent to the “up-slope” from a body of water. • Healthy One: complex, highly productive with a great deal of biodiversity.

  3. What is a Riparian Buffer Zone?STREAM-SIDE FORESTS • land directly adjacent to a waterway (streams, ponds, lakes, rivers, wetlands). • A healthy riparian zone with lots of vegetation plays an integral role in protecting water quality and ecological integrity and diversity.

  4. Important functions of the riparian zone include: • Stabilization of streambanks. • The roots of trees and plants hold streambank soil in place so that ground is not lost to erosion.

  5. Riparian Buffer Video • Riparian Buffer

  6. Importance of Riparian Buffers Reducing non-point source pollution; it is a natural filter reducing the amt. of nutrients, sediments and chemicals that enter a stream or river. Stabilizes banks and reduces erosion; it traps and binds soil particles together. Decreases flood severity; acts like a sponge to help soak up excess water. Provides important habitat; they feed, shelter and provide travel paths (green highways) for critters (>95% of all terretsrial species in North America); cools water (which can absorb more oxygen when cooler, more oxygen more aquatic life-forms).

  7. Benefits of Riparian Zones • Increase your property value • Reduce property loss from excessive erosion • Protect water quality • Enhance wildlife habitat • Contribute to the natural beauty of the land • Dissipate noise from water traffic, roads, and nearby properties • Reduce maintenance time and related costs • Provide privacy • Screen unsightly views • Enhance scenic views.

  8. Threats • Clearance for agriculture • Pollution • Overgrazing by livestock • Timber industry/tree plantations • Residential/business development

  9. Modification of Riparian Areas

  10. Evaluate These Riparian Areas

  11. What You Can Do • Plant bundles of native species along river banks. • Allow a natural buffer to form from the edge of your lawn at least 25 ft. to the river (simply don’t mow). • Re-position your home’s rain gutter so that it drains to lawn instead of pavement. • Participate in river clean-up days.

  12. Suggested Plants for Riparian Buffer: • Trees: American beech (Fagus grandifolia), Black willow (Salix nigra), Pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia), Pin oak (Quercus palustris), Red maple (Acer rubrum), River birch (Betula nigra), Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) • Shrubs: American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), Arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum), Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia), Silky dogwood (Cornus racemosa) Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) • Grasses & Sedges:Big blue stem (Andropogon geradii), Broom sedge (Carex scoparia), Riverbank wild rye (Elymus riparius), Soft rush (Juncus effusus) Switch grass (Panicum virgatum) • Perennial Flowers: Beard-tongue (Penstemon digitalis), Blue vervain (Verbana hastata), Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis), New England Aster (Aster novae-angliae), Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

  13. What You Need to Know • Define riparian zone • Ecologically important because… • Economically important because… • Healthy riparian zone looks like…unhealthy riparian zone looks like…

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