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<br />51 <br /> <br />CHAPTER 3 <br /> <br />RIPAlIAN ECOilYSTEMS <br /> <br />Introduction <br /> <br />..>'."---,-" <br />The term "riparian" evolved from thE! latin word Wrip(~)" mE!aning of I <br />adjacent to, or living on the ballk of a Iltream, lakE! or pond. Although <br />there is no simple definition for "riparJ.an ecosystE,m" that is universally <br />endorsed by all ecologists, there is agrE,.ment that the "riparian zone" <br />generally parallels the linear and branching configuration of all stream <br />channels. For analytical purposes the riparian zonE' may be considered <br />synonymous with the term "riparian ecosystem" or as a component part of a <br />much larger drainage, catchment or watershed system. Therefore, the <br />riparian, aquatic and wetland "zones" of stream ecos:ystelllS are Bill <br />component parts of the Ialch larger waters.hed ec08yat:em concept (Odum 1971). <br /> <br />Losses of Ripari~n Habitat <br /> <br />Historically, riparian zones were frequently the first area.s settled <br />by European immigrants. Streams and fertile valley floodplains provided an <br />abundance of game, fish and other easily harvestable natural resources <br />needed by settlers until they could bring lands into production. Many <br />streams provided the only means of transporting large quantities of <br />supplies and goods. Water power was harnessed to grind grain, saw wood, <br />and accomplish many other necessary tasks. The same fertile, alluvial <br />soils that provided such excellent wildlife habitat also provided excellent <br />farm lands after they were cleared of the dense stands of riparian <br />vegetation. Water from the stream ecosystems was often used to irrigate <br />croplands during times of drought. The major disadvantage of living within <br />the riparian zones was the frequent floodIng of farms and villages. <br />However, early settlers were willing to accept and adapt to the <br />inconvenience of floods in order to capitalize on the many assets offered <br />by the riparian, aquatic, wetland and floodplain zones. <br /> <br />Numerous studies have reported that t'iparian ecosystems (on a world <br />wide basis) are disproportionately more important to wildlife and <br />concentrated human activity than other types of ecological habitat. <br />Unfortunately, the concentrated human activity within the riparian zones <br />has led to their wholesale destruction and prompted some authors to declare <br />them "threatened" and in "danger" of becoming "extin,ct." Recently reported <br />estimates indicate that 70 to 90 percent of the natural riparian ecosystem <br />habitat in the United States has been lost to human .activities (Council on <br />Environmental Quality 1978, Warner 1979, Swift and B.arclay 1980). <br /> <br />This crisis of riparian ecosystem degra.dation has been recognized by <br />several federal agencies which ha"e issued position papers, directives and <br />sponsored national symposia concerned with protectioll, maintenance, and <br />enhancement of riparian lands (Almond and Krohn 1978, Benson 1979; U.S. <br />Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management 1979; National Academy of <br />