water management riparian health assesments

Question 1

what can healthy riparian areas do?

Answer 1

• Produce abundant
  vegetation and habitat
• Trap and store sediment
• Filter and utilize nutrients and
  residues
• Control erosion
• Dissipate stream energy and
  reduce wave action
• Recharge groundwater
• Store water to help mitigate
  effects of flooding and drought
• Create primary productivity

Question 2

can we use riparian areas in ag?

Answer 2

Riparian areas can have an economic value for forage and shelter for livestock. The key is to manage the riparian areas carefully with planned grazing focusing on timing.