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<br />Third, the invasion of undesirable, non-native weeds bas greatly affected the functional <br />condition of existing wetland/riparian habitats. In many areas, native plant communities have <br />been either wholly or substantially replaced by undesirable plant assemblages, such as tamarisk <br />and Russian olive. Wetland/riparian plant communities cannot be restored to their highest <br />functional condition unless a weed management plan is implemented to control the presence of <br />undesirable plant species. <br /> <br />Fourth, certain river reaches that have been affected by vegetation removal are experiencing <br />rapid bank erosion and the loss of wetland/riparian plant communities. Stabilization of <br />these eroding riverbanks may be necessary in order to prevent further loss of wetland/riparian <br />habitat acreage and to restore habitat functions. <br /> <br />A fifth and major effect has been human modification ofthe river channel and floodplain <br />within the MA. River straightening and the construction of flood control levees have severely <br />impacted wetland/riparians along an approximately 0.5 mile reach of the river within the MA. <br />Elimination of man-made modifications (channel straightening, berming and inappropriate <br />bankline arrnoring) and river channel/floodplain restoration will be required in these areas in <br />order to restore wetland/riparian plant communities and corresponding functions. <br /> <br />Sixth, the poor condition of upland habitats also limit the functional condition of the <br />wetland/riparian habitats within the MA. A major problem is that the presence of undesirable <br />weeds in the uplands provide seed sources that spread into the neighboring wetland/riparian <br />habitats. Also, over-grazed uplands provide poor transitional habitat to buffer wetland/riparians <br />because it lacks protective groundcover. <br /> <br />In combination, these six factors have limited the extent and condition of wetland/riparian <br />habitats within the MA, but these limitations can be corrected with the proper mitigation <br />measures, which are described below in Chapter 3, "Mitigation Plan". <br /> <br />-16- <br />