Riparian Areas

Riparian areas are important for many reasons. They act as buffers by intercepting or diluting pollutants and sediment before they reach the water. Riparian areas play an important role in erosion processes by slowing water and stabilizing banks. They provide critical wildlife habitat and are an important component of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The width of riparian areas is influenced by many factors including human disturbance, hydrology, and climate. Because riparian areas are highly sensitive to human disturbances, it is important to manage them with respect to surrounding areas and their land use.

Riparian areas can be impacted by human activities including:

• Farming
• Grazing
• Road building
• Development
• Recreation

Best management practices (BMPs) for riparian areas focus on maintaining or creating a sufficient riparian area width for the adjacent land use and management of stormwater runoff. BMPs should also address land uses which impact the health and composition of riparian vegetation.

The Flowline data, Wetlands data, and Waterbody data can be used to identify riparian areas in the county.

Riparian areas should be managed to protect vegetation characteristic of the area. When water flow is controlled (such as by a dam) the flow should be managed for vegetation success and a healthy ecosystem. The management of stormwater from developed areas and agricultural operations is an important factor in maintaining riparian areas.  Runoff containing excess sediment and nutrients, high salinity levels, heavy metals, and petroleum products can damage sensitive riparian areas.  It is often possible to treat these pollutants through the use of engineered structures such as constructed vegetated swales.

Livestock grazing and watering can significantly impact riparian vegetation through trampling, soil compaction, and consumption of vegetation. Proper management of livestock in these sensitive areas will prevent the most serious impacts.[1]

Weed control is an important component of riparian area management. Riparian areas are often disturbed by flooding, human land users, and other events and become prime locations for the establishment of invasive and noxious weeds.  Management includes good detection procedures, weed control and treatment, and proper land use protocols.[2]

Conservation and restoration efforts need to take into consideration factors like hydrology, floodplain, and adjacent land use. Restoration design of riparian areas should follow a protocol that accounts for stream hydrology, soil characteristics, vegetation, adjacent land use, recreation, and other influences.[3] Stream or river modifications may require a  permit. The Utah Division of Water Rights processes permits in conjunction with the US Army Corps of Engineers.

Economic benefits of riparian areas are difficult to quantify. They are intertwined with nonmarket ecosystem services like clean water and wildlife habitat.[4,5] Engineered water treatment plants are extremely expensive and often passive pre or post water treatment using passive bioengineering techniques including riparian area management can significantly reduce water treatment costs.

Because riparian areas are the result of overlapping aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems factors affecting waterbodies and adjacent non-riparian uplands have the most direct impacts on riparian areas.

The Utah Watershed Restoration Initiative data shows projects (Proposed, Current, Completed, Pending) that may affect riparian areas.