9494

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9494
• Author: Briggs, M. K.
• Title: Editor
• USFW Year: Series
• USFW - Doc Type: 1996
• Copyright Material: YES

1/ An Overview

Riparian ecosystems are the vegetation, habitats, and ecosystems associated
with bodies of water or dependent on the existence of perennial, ephemeral, or
intermittent surface or subsurface drainage (Arizona Riparian Council 1996).
The riparian ecosystems of the southwestern United States are some of the
most productive ecosystems in North America (Johnson and Jones 1977;
Johnson and McCormick 1978). In addition, they indirectly affect the stability
and quality of surrounding ecosystems by reducing flood peaks, acting as
sediment and nutrient sinks, controlling water temperature, and increasing
groundwater recharge (Schmidt 1987). Despite their relatively small expanse
(riparian ecosystems associated with perennial waters in Arizona constitute
less than 1 percent of the total land area of the state, for example), ripar-
ian areas play a critical role in the life cycles of an inordinate number of
wildlife species and provide important recreation opportunities for outdoor
enthusiasts.
Riparian ecosystems are declining throughout the southwestern United
States, and many have disappeared completely. The rapid decline of these
valuable ecosystems has made riparian conservation a focal issue in the public
eye, as well as for many federal, state, and private organizations. Nevertheless,
progress toward checking their decline has been marginal. This is due, in part,
to the fact that the science of repairing damaged riparian ecosystems is rela-
tively young; we are still investigating fundamental questions on riparian eco-
system processes and the impacts of human activities. In addition, we have
learned little from past riparian recovery efforts because the results of only a
relatively small number of projects to improve the condition of damaged ripar-
ian areas have been evaluated for the benefit of future projects.
Current research findings serve as the foundation for this guidebook, which
is designed to help ecosystem managers evaluate degraded riparian ecosystems
so that effective strategies for improving their condition can be developed. The
practical nature of this book begins to fill the gap in riparian conservation
literature between the academic world and practitioners in the natural re-
source field. Although a technical document, the book is written so that those