What is a riparian area? What is a wetland area?
Riparian and wetland areas are the green zones bordering lakes, reservoirs, estuaries, potholes, springs and seeps, peatlands, wet meadows, vernal pools, and ephemeral, intermittent, or perennial streams. The riparian zone is the interface or linkage between the upland (terrestrial) zone and the deep water (aquatic) zone. Riparian and wetland ecosystems are important islands of diversity within extensive upland ecosystems and provide an important functional linkage between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. They are of prime importance to water quality, water quantity, stream stability, and fisheries habitat. Abundant water, forage, and habitat attract a proportionately greater amount of use and conflict than their small area would indicate. They are vital to the livestock grazing industry, mining, and many are also well suited for development as high quality agricultural farmland. In addition, many riparian and wetland areas are excellent timber producing sites. Most wetland sites pr
