Riparian corridors in the California Central Coast Region
Contents
Summary
Riparian habitats support a large number of species when compared to other landscapes. They are often utilized by wildlife for movement, and buffered stream zones have been documented to facilitate dispersal of animals. Designating protected buffer zones around streams and rivers is an important tool toward preserving connectivity.
Location
The issue occurs most likely in most watersheds to some degree. Documented studies have been conducted in Northern California and Queensland Australia to name a few.
Resource/s at stake
Primary resource at stake is biodiversity, but other benefits from buffering riparian zones exist. Streamside vegetation slows the runoff into waterways, and increases the infiltration of water by soil. Floodplain forests and riparian wetlands minimize the effects of floods, by storing the flood water. Streamside vegetation stabilizes stream banks and beds, as well as traps and filters pollutants and sediments entering the waterways. Riparian vegetation also serves as a water temperature regulator by shading the stream surface.
Stakeholders
In the central coast region the stakeholders would comprise of private and public land owners whose lands border or contain riparian habitats, governmental agencies such as Fish and Wildlife service, Forest Service, National and State Parks, conservation agencies such as Nature Conservancy, and agriculture interest groups.
Laws, policies, & regulations
...What laws, policies, and/or regulations are involved?...
Systems
The issue deals with the hydrological system, and the riparian ecosystem surrounding it. Specifically it deals with aquatic and terrestrial biota.
Science
...What scientific studies are or would be relevant / already completed?...
Tools
...What analytical (e.g. modeling) tools were or could be used?...
Future research
...What knowledge gaps remain?...
...Suggest a CWSP MS thesis topic that could contribute to the issue...
...Suggest a topic for a hypothetical study that had unlimited resources...
References
...Proust, M. 1901. Poetica nausea. J. Nauseum. pp 1-9999.
Disclaimer
This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.
