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River Pathways

River Pathways. An Introduction to Riparian Areas. What is a Riparian Area? “Riparian - Relating to or living or located on the bank of a natural watercourse (such as a river) or sometimes of a lake or tidewater.” (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary) . What is a Riparian Area?.

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River Pathways

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  1. River Pathways An Introduction to Riparian Areas

  2. What isa Riparian Area? “Riparian - Relating to or living or located on the bank of a natural watercourse (such as a river) or sometimes of a lake or tidewater.” (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary)

  3. What is a Riparian Area?

  4. Why Protect Riparian Areas? • In Arizona, some estimate that riparian areas are only 0.4% of the total land area • 70% of Arizona’s threatened and endangered vertebrates depend on these areas • Their important role is disproportionate to the small area they cover

  5. Value vs. Function Value • Value is the worth, desirability, or usefulness of a resource. • Value can change with time while functions are constant • Functions • Functions are the ecological, hydrological, or other processes that maintain the ecosystem

  6. Functions of Riparian Areas • Provide habitat for fish and other wildlife • Filter and retains upland sediment • Stabilize streambanks and allows for the build up of new streambanks • Increase water storage in subsurface aquifers • They provide habitat for seventy percent of the threatened and endangered vertebrates in Arizona.

  7. Values of Riparian Areas • They increase drinkable water quality and quantity by reducing nonpoint source pollutants • They provide valuable resources needed for livestock production like water, forage and shade. • They reduce the impacts of seasonal flooding • They provide areas for recreational activities such as; hiking, horse-back riding, cycling, fishing, hunting, swimming, rafting, boating, canoeing, bird & wildlife watching, picnicking, camping, and off-road vehicle use.

  8. Managing for Multiple-Use • There are a great number of people who find value in riparian areas and even more who benefit from their functions. • People disagree on which values and functions are most important. These disagreements have the potential to create conflict. • Many uses may conflict with one another. • Land managers must manage these areas so that everyone can benefit from its values and functions and so no one value or function infringes on another.

  9. The Future of Riparian Areas • Many estimate that 70-90% of riparian areas in the United States have been altered by human activities including construction of dams, agriculture, and urbanization. • The significant increase in urban population compared to rural population is a very important trend when thinking about Arizona’s riparian areas. • A higher urban population of the state will lead to a significant increase in environmental and recreation oriented values for riparian areas.

  10. The Future of Riparian Areas • Rural communities often see these areas as a resource for community economic development. • For example, many communities depend on raising livestock as the main source of income.

  11. The Future of Riparian Areas • Restoration of riparian areas should be a national goal. • To have successful and effective conservation in riparian areas in arid and semi-arid regions, monitoring is essential. • Without data that shows the quality and quantity of remaining riparian habitat, conservation is impossible.

  12. Photo Credits • Slide 1: Yellow Warbler. Photo: William Dix/Audubon Photography Awards. • Slide 2: Photo: Tice Supplee/Audubon Arizona. • Slide 4: Willow Flycatcher. Photo: Kelly Colgan Azar/Flickr CC BY-ND 2.0. • Slide 6: Green Heron. Photo: Teri Franzen/Audubon Photography Awards • Slide 7: Blue Grosbeak. Photo: Megumi Williamson / Audubon Photography Awards • Slide 8 & 11: Photo: Moorgan Moore/Audubon Arizona. • Slide 9: Photo: Bing Creative Commons • Slide 10: Domestic Cow. Photo: Evan Barrientos/National Audubon Society

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