I’ve heard the word “riparian” a lot. Does that just mean streamside?
Essentially, yes. Riparian areas are lands adjacent to streams, rivers, and lakes. The dynamic interactions between land and water create diverse and productive habitat for plants and animals. The availability of water, rich soils and a variety of plants make the area attractive to wildlife, livestock and people. Riparian areas are critical for maintaining the ecological health of streams. Healthy streams and riparian areas provide fish and wildlife habitat, clean water, and natural flood and sediment control. Download the Riparian Areas factsheet (PDF download).
