riparian stream restoration bosque river stephenville

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

melissa.parker@tpwd.state.tx.usmelissa.parker@tpwd.state.tx.us