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<br />~t~n!i'F~ <br />. - <br /> <br />..~o ~....--......-. <br />.. uu l'i,. <br /> <br />"- '--. "- <br /> <br />P,08 <br /> <br />l. <br /> <br />CONCLUSION'S <br /> <br />Riparian eoosystens arc among the most valuable, yet most heavily r.lcdlfle:1 and <br />threatened ecosystel'ls in the western United States (Smith et a1. 1991, <br />Strolll~erg and Patt-en 1990). These af'eas have been reduced by greater than 8o~ <br />since pt'esettleMlent. Umes (51!:1t.f1 et al. 1991) <br /> <br />Instrean flow needs of most riparlarl species are not well known. The revlel.'ed <br />literature reveals that cott.on~ood, willow, and to a degree alder are the most <br />ctudlcad riparian speCli:.>. nr1;:~l;: Hoody 3pac1es are all present withln the <br />proposed Piedra Wilderness. It has been ShOWTl that cottonwood and willow <br />require flooding if significant reproduction and recrultnent Is to OCCur. This <br />process Is ongoing within the Piedra River and its associated riparian zone. <br />Few, if any, studies evaluate the respon~e of herbaceous rIparian vegetation to <br />streamflow diversion. <br /> <br />Dar::s and diversions often modify the frequency, intensity, and duration of <br />10l"-C1agnl tude flood flows. They do not, however, eliminate infrequent <br />large-~agnitude flood flows which could increase danage to the riparian <br />vegetation of regulated streams (Scromberg and Patten 1991). Within the <br />proposed Piedra Wilde~ness an~ significa~t alteration of streamflow patterns or <br />quantitie~ should be expected to re:Jult in adverse ~l'lpD.cts to the riparian <br />ecosystem. This, In turn, would have secondary i!'Jtpacts on other wilderness <br />related resource components. <br /> <br />The literatur'e revIewed during research for this paper is presently <br />state-of-the-science relative to tha understandIng of levels and duratIons of <br />Instrear.l f!o~.s required for establishment nnd dynan1c l'Jaintenance of riparian <br />systens, None of the reviewed articles 3pecifically addressed the Piedra River <br />and, as su~h, exact levels :;\!'ld du:-ations of necessary strea:nflcws for the <br />proposed wilderness are d![!icult. to deter;:;lne. All articles ajjressed <br />pri:'!~ipl(>s 0: ripa!'f.",!1 ~cology 3.nd th~ir re\aticnsni;:ls to iost.ream. floh's. <br /> <br />Co!:ecti:;,f\ a:-:d e.r.1ty,,;es of ::It lef..';t .Jne gr~....,:":g st'3.Jcn of data would be <br /> <br />IiCCe5.,arv t."J rl::'illj: t.h,~ r'8CC -Il"r:".,dc-'; r i;:al' l3;"l fi.ws. <br /> <br />It is equllll)' possible <br /> <br />t(E",t :'hIsjat:s. c0'Jld E'l t':e' 1~';"2a:'l' or i!1c.rc;'\~.3 the ~ecor..:c.ended clai~ <br /> <br />nC;:<:-S5"~'J ':.'J :::."d~t.:lir' t:,,:!, w:ld.: <br /> <br />S~ .h~r~cLpr:sLi~~ cf ~he 3rea. <br />