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Riparian Vegetation <br />Functions of Riparian Vegetation: <br />• Stabilize stream banks <br />• Slow flood water and capture sediment <br />• Filter and purify water <br />• Provide high-quality wildlife and fish habitat <br />Riparian Meadows - Riparian meadows occur on <br />small, first-order streams on the plains, wet reaches of <br />montane rivers, and saturated areas next to subalpine <br />creeks. Healthy riparian meadows have a lush, thick <br />growth of grasses and wildflowers. There are no or very <br />few non-native weeds present. Ground compaction is <br />minimal, and the creek shows no signs of accelerated <br />erosion to the banks. The herbaceous vegetation roots <br />are thick and firmly hold the top 10 cm (4 inches) or so <br />of the soil in a cohesive layer. <br />Riparian Shrublands - Shrubby riparian vegeta- <br />tion, when healthy, has very thick growth with little <br />space in between shrubs. The shrubs are well rounded <br />and full, not sheared or pruned. Good condition shrubby <br />riparian areas also have little soil compaction, few to no <br />non-native weeds, and no excessive bank erosion. <br />Cottonwood Gallery Forests - Multiple age <br />stands are an indication of a properly functioning <br />stream. Large, meandering rivers typically have the most <br />pronounced suite of young and older stands. Healthy <br />cottonwood gallery forests have a thick herbaceous layer <br />and often a shrub layer associated with it. Healthy <br />cottonwood stands have few non-native herbaceous or <br />woody species. <br />x <br />U <br />v <br />c? <br />0 <br />0 <br />11 <br />Conejos River