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<br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STREAK FLOW TO MAINTAIN RIPARIAN <br />VEGETATION ALONG LITTLE DRY CREEK: <br />IN GREENWOOD VILLAGE, COLORADO <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />by: <br /> <br />David J. cooper, Ph.D. Ecologist <br />3803 Silver Plume Circle <br />Boulder, CO 80303 <br /> <br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />Riparian vegetation occurs on the banks and floodplains of <br />streams. This vegetation provides a number of important <br />ecological functions, such as streambank stabilization, aquatic <br />food-chain support, wildlife habitat, and recreation <br />opportunities. Riparian vegetation requires a significant amount <br />of water for healthy growth and new plant establishment. This <br />water is derived from surface and groundwater systems. <br />Maintaining the appropriate hydrologic regime is essential for <br />maintaining healthy riparian ecosystems. <br />Many riparian areas are affected by water development e <br />projects which can reduce or eliminate flooding, stabilize <br />streambanks and floodplains, and reduce the amount or elevation <br />of groundwater. streams in urban areas many times are affected <br />by development. Creating a riparian protection strategy is an <br />excellent means of planning ahead to determine how to best <br />maintain the riparian vegetation. <br />An essential question to answer is -- what is the origines) <br />of water that supports the riparian ecosystem? Typically <br />riparian plants root to groundwater which is their primary water <br />supply. However, the groundwater could be fed by an adjacent <br />stream, or it could be fed from off site. Of course a <br />combination of the two could occur as well. <br />Recent research using isotopic ratios of deuterium and <br />180xygen has shown that some riparian vegetation is supported by <br />stream water (Busch et al. 1992), while in other areas it can be <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />e <br />