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Technical Resources Riparian and Bioengineering

Updated 12/10/2008

Riparian Restoration and Bioengineering

The Plant Materials Program selects plants and provides training for improving riparian and streambank zones and evaluate plants for their erosion control ability before testing them on problem sites.

We can only realize the goals of achieving a sustainable natural resource base and a high quality environment with sound plant science. The work of Plant Materials Centers and Plant Materials Specialists has been vital to these efforts, and the strength of the NRCS Plant Materials Program lies in its continued commitment to the conservation of America’s resources.

Definition
Riparian areas are ecosystems that occur along watercourses or water bodies. They are distinctly different from the surrounding lands because of unique soil and vegetation characteristics that are strongly influenced by free or unbound water in the soil. Riparian ecosystems occupy the transitional area between the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Typical examples would include floodplains, streambanks, and lake shores.

Indicators of Riparian Areas Include

  • Vegetation - The kinds and amounts of vegetation will reflect the influence of free or unbound water from an associated watercourse or water body and contrasts with terrestrial vegetation.
  • Soils - Soils in natural riparian areas consist of stratified sediments of varying textures that are subject to intermittent flooding or fluctuating water tables that may reach the surface. The duration of the soil wetness feature is dependent upon the seasonal meteorological characteristics of the adjacent water body.
  • Water - Riparian areas are directly influenced by water from a watercourse or water body. Riparian areas occur along natural watercourses such as perennial or intermittent streams and rivers, or adjacent to natural lakes. They may also occur along man-made watercourses or water bodies such as ditches, canals, ponds, and reservoirs. 

 

Publications

Special Features

If you encounter any problems with the files provided on this page, please contact Leslie Glass at 701-250-4330.

Some documents or features may require Acrobat Reader.

Guidelines for Planting Dormant Whip Cuttings to Revegetate and Stabilize Streambanks:Deep Planting - The Ground Water Connection. (PDF; 478KB) Los Lunas Plant Materials Center. 2007. Los Lunas PMC, Los Lunas, NM. 2007. 2p. (ID# 7105)

 Guidelines for Planting Longstem Transplants for Riparian Restoration in the Southwest: Deep Planting-The Ground Water Connection. (PDF; 475KB) Los Lunas Plant Materials Center. 2007. Los Lunas PMC, Los Lunas, NM. 2007. 2p. (ID# 7106)

PMC Studies Deep Plant Methodology Unusual Method Works in Riparian Environments. (PDF; 40 KB) Gregory A. Fenchel, Barbara Garrett. 2006. Natural Resources Reporter, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Winter 2006. 1p. (ID# 6607)

FY 2007 Progress Report for the Cibola National Forest : Production of Riparian Plant Materials for Watershed and Ecosystem Restoration Projects. (PDF; 870 KB) David R. Dreesen. 2007. Los Lunas Plant Materials Center, Los Lunas, NM. 9/15/07. 6p. (ID# 7654)

Propagating Native Salicaceae for Riparian Restoration on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona. (PDF; 345 KB) T. D. Landis, D. R. Dreesen, J.R. Pinto, and R.K. Dumroese. 2006. Native Plants Journal, Bloomington, Indiana. Vol. 7 Spring 2006. 8p. (ID# 6797)

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