What are riparian areas and why is it important to protect them?
Riparian areas have been defined in several ways, but they are essentially the narrow section of land that border creeks, rivers or other bodies of water. The health of riparian habitat is essential to a variety of species including birds, fish, reptiles, invertebrates, and mammals for feeding, nesting, cover, and breeding. In some cases, these areas are the sole habitat for many species and are often of prime importance to threatened, endangered, and sensitive species. Although riparian areas may occupy only a small percentage of the area of a watershed, they represent an extremely important component of the overall landscape.
