Riparian Areas

of South Dakota

What is a Riparian Area?

Riparian areas are the "green zones" of water-loving vegetation along waterways, streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and springs. Riparian areas protect water quality, maintain stream function, and provide important fish and wildlife habitat. If managed properly, they provide many benefits to people.

Maintenance of productive riparian areas displays good stewardship of shared resources like water, fish and wildlife. Maintaining riparian area creates friends and allies for your operation.

Well-managed riparian areas buffer the destructive impacts of floods and drought.

The legal and political battles waged elsewhere on riparian issues and problems can be avoided with voluntary efforts now to include riparian management in overall operations.

JPG-Photograph of a deer.
Riparian Management Benefits

Improved water quality and fisheries
Controlled, less variable streamflows
Increased productivity
Increased forage quality
Improved vegetation and plant diversity
Reduced weed growth
Higher livestock weaning weights
Reduced erosion and land loss
Improved habitat for fish and wildlife diversity
Reduced livestock injury

This resource is based on the following source:

No author.  No date.  Riparian Areas of South Dakota: Riparian 
     Management Benefits. Various Cooperators. Unpaginated.

Cooperators include:

Conservation Districts of South Dakota
Ducks Unlimited
South Dakota Department of Agriculture
South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks
Society for Range Management, South Dakota Section
Soil and Water Conservation Society, South Dakota Chapter
South Dakota Grassland Coalition
US Environmental Protection Agency
US Fish and Wildlife Service
US Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency
US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service

This resource should be cited as:

No author.  No date.  Riparian Areas of South Dakota: Riparian 
     Management Benefits. Various Cooperators. Unpaginated.
     Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online.  
     http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/habitat/ripsd/index.htm 
     (Version 02NOV99).

Riparian Function
- Water in the Bank
Stream Banks - Riparian Foundations
- Building a Riparian Area
- Stream Horsepower
- Vegetation - The Roots of the Solution
Riparian Areas, Uplands and Associated Watersheds
- Management of Riparian Areas and Their Uplands
- Opportunities for Success
Riparian Management Practices
- Wintering and Calving Pastures
Where to Get Help

Sponsors

Conservation Districts of South Dakota
Ducks Unlimited
South Dakota Department of Agriculture
South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources
South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks
Society for Range Management, South Dakota Section
Soil and Water Conservation Society, South Dakota Chapter
South Dakota Grassland Coalition
US Environmental Protection Agency
US Fish and Wildlife Service
US Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency
US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service

JPG-Riparian Mangement Benefits and wheat.

Downloading Instructions -- Instructions on downloading and extracting files from this site.

ripsd.zip (475K) -- Riparian Areas of South Dakota: Riparian Management Benefits

Installation: Extract all files and open index.htm in a web browser.

Riparian Areas of South Dakota

What is a Riparian Area?

Riparian Management Benefits

Cooperators include:

Table of Contents

Sponsors

Riparian Areas

of South Dakota