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Functions
& Conditions - Evaluating
the Health of Riparian Areas
Before deciding
what management activities are appropriate for your riparian areas,
it is necessary to determine their current condition, or health.
"Health" is simply how well a riparian area is carrying
out the functions outlined above.
This section
and the accompanying video point out what aspects of the riparian
ecosystem you should look at to determine how well your system is
functioning. It also provides explanations for why these aspects
are important. As you go through this material, consider how each
characteristic helps perform the various functions we have already
discussed.
The factors
which determine how well a riparian system is functioning can be
divided into two categories:
- Physical
(water and soil) and
- Biological
(vegetation).
Water and soil
conditions provide the "basic structure" of a riparian
area. As long as the basic structure has not been seriously altered,
the maintenance and even improvement of a riparian area is often
relatively easy. Water and soil conditions may directly affect both
existing and potential vegetation.
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