Riparian Areas

These areas begin at the river's edge or your creek's edge and extend outward. They include the flood plain but more importantly, they are unique; they are different than the land beyond.

The soil in a riparian area has layers of sediments with varying textures. These layers are subject to intermittent flooding and they can be affected by fluctuating water tables near the surface.  They are not always wet or damp. The wetness of the soil depends on the water levels of the river or creek.

Because these riparian areas are adjacent to the river or creek, they have more water available to them than other areas further beyond the river or creek. This means that the vegetation is more likely to be different along the riverbanks or near the creek. It also means that, with the help of the vegetation, a healthy riparian area can store water, like a sponge.

Riparian areas are directly influenced by the water in the river or creek. If the creek is polluted, the effects will be evident in the riparian area. If the river dries up, the vegetation in the riparian area may suffer.

A riparian area can be alongside a river, a creek, a lake or even a manmade ditch, canal or reservoir or even a stock tank.

1. Dissipates the energy of rushing water: the water rushing through a flooded river or creek can be extremely powerful.
2. Reduces erosion: the roots of trees and other plants can protect the soil from erosion, especially when the water is moving quickly.
3. Traps sediment: old tree limbs and fallen trees can trap sediment slowing the rush of water.
4. Stores water like a sponge: When the soil is full of roots from grasses, sedges, bushed and trees, it can absorb water rather than allow all of the water to become runoff.
5. Slows down runoff: Water that runs off the land has no chance of recharging the aquifer. Instead, it cause erosion and loss of habitat and flows away toward the ocean.

The plants in a riparian area do the work. If a riparian area is bare, it is not healthy. If it has the wrong kind of vegetation it is not healthy. In fact, if riparian area plants do not look healthy and the water is not polluted, they are likely the wrong kinds of plants. A riparian area that is not healthy cannot do the things listed above, including survive low water or drought conditions. The right kinds of vegetation will help the soil hold water much as a sponge might.

A healthy riparian area will have plants that like to have wet feet, meaning they may be happiest in or very near the water. These include Emory Sedge and grasses like knotgrass, switchgrass, eastern gamagrass, and bushy bluestem anchoring the soil. You might even find watercress and water penny wort.

You can also expect to find a variety of trees in a healthy riparian area. Some of the trees will be mature and some will be less mature. They will have varying ages. Some of the trees you can expect to find include Black Willow, Cottonwood, Box Elder Maple, Bur Oak, Live Oak, Water Oak, American Elm, Cedar Elm, Slippery Elm, Mexican Ash, Sycamore and Bald Cypress.

It is also likely that you will find Button Bush, Indigo Bush and Roosevelt Bush (Baccharis neglecta). Both Button Bush and Indigo Bush are popular plants in home landscapes while Roosevelt Bush is not. While it is not as pretty, it is the work horse of disturbed soil. A riparian area in very bad condition can be planted with Baccharis as an intermediate step towards stabilizing the shoreline and building the soil.

You are also likely to find dead trees and limbs that have fallen over into the water. These fallen trees will help trap sediment with whatever is left of their root ball. They will slow the flow of water, helping to dissipate the energy of the water flow and giving the water a chance to soak in to the soil. They become homes for all sorts of little critters and act as nurseries for small plants. Even dead wood is good wood in a riparian area.