Riparian values as a focus for range management and vegetation science

Abstract

Riparian vegetation is defined by its association with free or unbound water. The productivity and diversity of riparian vegetation and its relationship with aquatic ecosystems makes it extremely valuable to fish, wildlife, livestock, and people. Intense human and livestock use has accentuated the naturally high disturbance in most riparian areas. This has caused significant alteration to riparian vegetation and hydrologic processes, threatening the quality of riparian habitats. Even though riparian areas have long been neglected because of their small area, the values and threats have focused much attention on riparian management and science in recent decades. The long process of developing an integrated interdisciplinary and hierarchical riparian classification is just beginning. A significant challenge facing riparian classifiers, scientists, and managers is the interrelationships among vegetation, hydrology, and fluvial geomorphology. In spite of the challenges, many riparian managers have applied a variety of management strategies and the range profession is beginning to learn which strategies are appropriate in which settings and for which combinations of resource values. The process of managing, and therefore monitoring, specific riparian areas will provide insight and motivation for the challenges ahead.