Riparian zone protection

The following lines are verbatum quotes from web articles. Click on each line to see the original article.   Small headwater streams need particular protection, because they make up the majority of stream miles in any drainage basin, and funnel sediment and nutrients downstream to larger receiving waters.   Riparian corridors form a transition zone between terrestrial and aquatic environments and perform a range of important environmental functions. Naturally-vegetated areas alongside our waterways (shorelands, riparian zones, buffers) provide many benefits to aquatic ecosystems. Riparian zone fencing of Valley Creek, Idaho for fish protection Riparian zones are significant in ecology, environmental management, and civil engineering because of their role in soil conservation, their biodiversity, and the influence they have on aquatic ecosystems. The first step in managing a river is to identify the riparian zone. The riparian zone can generally be described as the land that directly influences or is Use of plants to remove from, or reduce the impact of a The loss of riparian zone function increases stream flow and erosive forces in downstream areas The planting of vegetation over the sub surface drip lines especially on slopes benefits the effluent disposal system in many ways. Vegetative growth helps to create a stable environment and prevent erosion by helping the capture of sediment and loose soil. It also encourages water holding capacity on the top layer of soil, limiting runoff and decreasing the potential for landslides.   Of all the issues surrounding riparian areas (smaller streams, small lakes and wetlands), Silva maintains that protection for smaller streams is the most important.