The Near Complete Destruction of Riparian Areas by Saber Lyman

The Near Complete Destruction of Riparian Areas

Saber Lyman

Arizona State University Herberger Institute of Design and the Arts Fall 2017 - Spring 2018

Contents Introduction

Preliminary Observations

Preliminary Research

Issue

Design Proposal Statement

Design Plan

Data

Final Design

Conclusion

Future

Bibliography

Introduction

Water is the source of life, every organism on planet Earth depends on it. Based on prevalent history, Mesopotamia is considered one of the first human civilization. Mesopotamia meaning between rivers, specifically the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in ‘now’ Iraq. All this that exists around us is because of a water source that was able to provide an abundant food supply. The dependency on this source will most likely never change. However, millenniums after the first civilization humans have migrated all across the globe. Living in the harshest climates in the world, including Arizona. That migration was possible because of all the water that is there and the surrounding vegetation. This area between the water shore and the rest of the environment is called the ‘Riparian Area’. After a century from Arizona’s commencement as a State, it has lost more than 90 percent its Riparian Areas. The adverse effects of this loss will surely hinder the capability of survival for many organisms including the human population in the surrounding areas. Identifying the reasons for this major loss is crucial in finding a solution to restore the areas to its previous state. Understanding that no matter what plan or solution is developed it will not be instantaneous.

“Our remnants of wilderness will yield bigger values to the nation’s character and health than they will to its pocketbook, and to destroy them will be to admit that the latter are the only values that interest us.” - Aldo Leopald

Preliminary Observations

Walking through many urban areas, one comes to wonder about many things. One thing that was very intriguing was the lack of all wildlife, as if it was scared and forced away from the area. Is this what urbanization has done? Can humans not coexist anymore? To answer these questions, one must look at their immediate surroundings and observe how that location interacts with wildlife. A great example of this is Tempe Town lake, hardly anyone is there. The city designed and payed lots of money to have a public park that brings water and nature to the people. Why is no one there to enjoy it? Urban parks and man-made structures had a deep flaw that many planners seem to forget, the transition from nature into urban areas. Tempe Town Lake goes from water to solid concrete walls then to a walkway and then into some grass. This would never occur in nature, which led to the study of how this transition could be achieved and what is currently known about the subject.

Figure A - Tempe Town Lake (courtesy of Grigio)

Preliminary Research Research Methods

Determining which type of research to do is a crucial step in collecting accurate data. Using the methods below have helped greatly in the understanding of Riparian Areas and the problems associated with it. Each method brings a specific and unique perspective that the other cannot provide.

Historical Research

Literature Review

Observational - Archival

Naturalistic Observation

Historical Research Comprises the techniques and guide- lines by which historians use primary sources and other evidence, including the evidence of archaeology, to research and then to write histories in the form of accounts of the past. The question of the nature, and even the possibility, of a sound historical method is raised in the philosophy of history as a question of epistemology. The study of historical method and of different ways of writing history is known as historiography. Literature Review [Method] A text of a scholarly paper, which includes the current knowledge including substantive findings, as well as theoretical and methodological contributions to a particular topic. Literature reviews are secondary sources, and do not report new or original experimental work. Most often associated with academic-oriented literature, such reviews are found in academic journals, and are not to be con- fused with book reviews that may also appear in the same publication. Literature reviews are a basis for research in nearly every academic field.

Observational - Archival A social research technique that involves the direct observation of phenomena in their natural setting. This differentiates it from experimental research in which a quasi-artificial environment is created to control for spurious factors, and where at least one of the variables is manipulated as part of the experiment.

Naturalistic Observation A research tool in which a subject is observed in its natural habitat without any manipulation by the observer. During naturalistic observation, researchers take great care to avoid interfering with the behavior they are observing by using unobtrusive methods. Naturalistic observation involves two main differences that set it apart from other forms of data gathering. In the context of a naturalistic observation, the environment is in no way being manipulated by the observer nor was it created by the observer.

“Research is what I’m doing when I don’t know what I’m doing.” - Wernher von Braun

Literature Review

Abstract In the last 100 years, Arizona has lost more than 90% of its Riparian Areas due to many causes. “Riparian areas make up only about 2% of the land in Western U.S. and only 0.4% of arid Arizona.” (“Riparian Areas: Rivers”, n.d.) Although this land is very small in comparison to the grand scale, its functions and values are far greater than its size. Much of the wildlife in Arizona depend on these lands, “As much as 60% of the resident wildlife in Arizona depends on riparian areas for food, water, shelter, and space for reproduction and/ or survival.” (“What is Riparian Habitat?”, n.d.) The survival of Riparian Areas are the key to survival for human life in Arizona, many of the functions and wildlife that exist because of Riparian Habitats affect the everyday lives people.

Definition After understanding that Riparian Areas are endanger of extinction, the main question comes to mind; What are Riparian Areas? After much research, there is no actual universal meaning for ‘Riparian Area’. Every organization, institution, and government has its own definition, including the Environmental Protection Agency. Which also states in the “National Management Measures to Protects and Restore Wetlands and Riparian Areas for the Abatement of Nonpoint Source Pollution” (2005) that “Because those definitions do not always use scientific concepts, they might differ between states or even localities with in a state.” Besides the matter of having no set definition, the EPA does provide a descriptive definition. “A vegetated ecosystem along a water body through which energy, materials, and water pass. Riparian areas characteristically have a high water table and are subject to periodic flooding and influence from the adjacent water body. These systems encompass wetlands, uplands, or some combination of these two landforms. They will not in all cases have all the characteristics necessary for them to be also classified as wetlands.” The definition of Riparian Areas contained in the “2017 Nationwide Permits, General Conditions, District Engineer’s Decision, Further Information, and Definitions1” (2017) is as follows: “Riparian areas are lands next to streams, lakes, and estuarine-marine shorelines. Riparian areas are transitional between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, through which surface and subsurface hydrology connects riverine, lacustrine, estuarine, and marine waters with their adjacent wetlands, non-wetland waters, or uplands. Riparian areas provide a variety of ecological function and services and help improve or maintain local water quality.”

The definition from “U.S. Department of Agricultural Natural Resources Conservation Service” (USDA-NRCS, 2005) “Riparian areas are ecosystems that occur along watercourses or water bodies. They are distinctly different from the surrounding lands because of unique soil and vegetation characteristics that are strongly influenced by free or unbound water in the soil. Riparian ecosystems occupy the transitional area between the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Typical examples would include floodplains, streambanks, and lake shores.” This definition is from the “U.S. Forest Service” (USFS, 2000) “Riparian areas are geographically delineated areas, with distinctive resource values and characteristics that are comprised of the aquatic and riparian ecosystems, floodplains, and wetlands. They include all areas within a horizontal distance of 100 feet from the edge of perennial streams or other water bodies…. A riparian ecosystem is a transition between the aquatic ecosystem and the adjacent terrestrial ecosystem and is identified by soil characteristics and distinctive vegetation communities that require free and unbound water.” “Bureau of Land Management” (BLM, 1999) “A riparian area is an area of land directly influenced by permanent water. It has visible vegetation or physical characteristics reflective of permanent water influence. Lake shores and stream banks are typical riparian areas. Excluded are such sites as ephemeral streams or washes that do not exhibit the presence of vegetation upon free water in the soil.”

“U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service” (FWS, 1998) “Riparian areas are plant communities contiguous to and affected by surface and sub-surface hydrologic features of perennial or intermittent lotic and lentic water bodies (rivers, streams, lakes, or drainage ways). Riparian areas have one or both of the following characteristics: (1) distinctively different vegetation species than adjacent areas, and (2) species similar to adjacent areas but exhibiting more vigorous or robust growth forms. Riparian areas are usually transitional between wetlands and uplands.” “Society for Range Management and Bureau of Land Management” (Anderson, 1987) “A riparian area is a distinct ecological site or combination of sites in which soil moisture is sufficiently in excess of that available locally, due to run-on or subsurface seepage, so as to result in an existing or potential soil-vegetation complex that depicts the influence of that extra soil moisture. Riparian areas may be associated with lakes, reservoirs, estuaries, springs, bogs, wet meadows, muskegs and intermittent and perennial streams. The distinctive soil vegetation complex is the differentiating criteria.” There is even a paper published by the Ecosystem Management and Restoration Research Program [EMRRP], “Riparian Terminology: Confusion and Clarification” (EMRRP, 2001). The paper discusses why there is confusion, the importance of consistent terminology, and some recommendations as how to bring more consistency. However, even after several attempts from a great many individuals, there seems to be some large-scale misinformation within the governments and entities that are in charge of these Riparian Habitats.

Common Factors One thing that these entities seem to agree upon is using the term ‘Riparian Area’ instead of anything else, such as Riparian Habitat or Riparian Corridor. Main commonalities in the definitions, according to (Kusler, 2016) A. Geomorphic form shaped by periodic flooding and/or saturation. B. Vegetation determined by degree of flooding and/or saturation. C. Stream bed and bank erosion, stream meander. D. Ecologically important functions and values. E. Legal “riparian rights and duties” Location In Arizona, what most scientist consider to be ‘true’ riparian areas are only about 0.4% of all the land mass. Due to major losses, those habitats have decreased even more. However, these habitats can be found nearby with a little knowledge. Tempe town lake and the Salt River that runs near Arizona State University in Tempe actually has some riparian areas. Although some wouldn’t consider this to be a true riparian habitat because it has been altered by humans so much that it is no longer in its natural state. This is including the reconstruction of the river and the dams that are attached to it. Even if this to be true, it could still be considered a riparian habitat by others because of its proximity to a water source and the type of vegetation that thrives nearby.

Functions As stated earlier, the function and values of a riparian area far exceed its size. A riparian areas most important functions are to (Schultz et al., 2000) 1) Support animal habitat and enhance fish habitat. 2) Filtrate and retain sediments and nutrients from terrestrial upland runoff or out-of-bank floods. 3) Reduce chemical inputs from terrestrial uplands by immobilization, storage and transformation. 4) Stabilize stream banks and build-up new stream banks. 5) Store water and recharge subsurface aquifers. 6) Reduce floodwater runoff. According to (Hubbard, 1977) â&#x20AC;&#x153;in Arizona, eighty percent of all vertebrates spend some portion of their life cycle in riparian areas.â&#x20AC;? This fully brings a large amount emphasis on the importance of riparian areas. Protection The concept of protection is a large-scale endeavor that not only would be expensive but extremely time consuming.

Priority Actions for Protecting/Restoring Riparian Areas according to (Kusler, 2016)

A. Joint Actions a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k.

States, local governments, federal agencies, and the private sector need to collectively build upon existing wetland, floodplain, watershed, and water quality regulations, planning programs, and habitat protection/restoration efforts. States, local governments, federal agencies, and, others need to jointly adopt a common definition for “riparian” areas. States, local governments and federal agencies should apply to riparian areas the no net loss functions and values standard presently applied under the Clean Water Act to wetland functions and values and the no adverse impact standard applied to floodplain areas. States, local governments and federal agencies should apply “sequencing” requirements to permits for activities impacting riparian areas similar to those being applied to wetlands under the Clean Water Act. States, local governments and federal agencies should apply “mitigation” requirements to alterations for riparian areas similar to those now being applied to wetlands. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USGS and other agencies should continue to jointly develop models and other techniques for evaluating the natural, beneficial functions of riparian areas. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USGS and other agencies should continue to jointly develop riparian area maps. The U.S. EPA, Fish and Wildlife Service, USGS and other agencies should continue to jointly develop water quality standards for riparian areas. States, local governments, and federal agencies should cooperatively control invasive species in riparian areas such as Salt Cedar. States, local governments and federal agencies should reflect climate change in management policies for riparian protection and restoration areas such as setbacks for development. States, local governments and federal agencies should work with land trusts to acquire, protect, and restore riparian zones through removal of levees, removal of drainage tiles, filling of ditches, control of invasive plant and animal species, and other approaches.

B. State Actions a. b. c. d.

States should impose riparian protection conditions on their approval of Clean Water Act Section 401 permits. States should develop and apply water quality standards including non-degradation standards for riparian areas. States should establish riparian protection policies as part of their Wildlife Management planning efforts. States should require building set-backs from rivers and streams as part of their comprehensive zoning, watershed management, and storm water management regulations

C. Federal Actions a. b. c. d.

Federal agencies and Congress should clarify the definition of “Waters of the U.S.” under the Clean Waters Act by explicitly including floodplain and riparian areas. Federal agencies should more consistently apply the Wetland and Floodplain Executive Orders in implementing public land use plans and carrying out NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) evaluations for actions that may affect the environment. EPA should require protection of riparian areas as part of water quality regulations under Sections 401, 402 and other sections of the Clean Water Act. FEMA (The Federal Emergency Management Agency) should give credit to communities for protecting and restoring riparian areas as part of the flood insurance Community Rating system. This agency should also continue its “buy out” policies for areas subject to sever flood damages.

D. Local Actions a. b. c. d. e.

Local governments should require building set-backs from rivers and streams as part of their comprehensive zoning, watershed management, or storm water management regulations. Local governments should amend existing floodplain and wetland ordinances to apply to riparian areas. They should also amend existing regulations to include ecological criteria for riparian areas. Local governments should adopt special riparian protection regulations to prohibit or tightly control drainage, diking, and fills in riparian areas. Local governments should include riparian protection as part of their floodplain management and disaster mitigation planning efforts. Local governments should prepare and adopt greenway plans for riparian areas.

Projects Chaparral Watershed â&#x20AC;&#x153;The effect of upstream shrub control on the establishment of riparian vegetation was evaluated on a chaparral watershed in central Arizona. The response of riparian vegetation to increased water yield through shrub control treatments was evaluated. Studies indicated that the community of flow had a greater effect on enhancing the riparian zones than did total streamflow increases.â&#x20AC;? (Debano and Brock, 1984)

Ramsey Canyon “The Nature Conservancy acquired an in-stream water rights certificate for its Ramsey Canyon Preserve in the Hauchuca Mountains. The certificate gives the Arizona Nature Conservancy the legal right to maintain in-stream flows in the stretch of Ramsey Creek along their property, which in turn preserves in-stream and riparian habitat and wildlife.” (Lorenzi, 1992) Tres Rios Project “The Tres Rios Demonstration Constructed Wetlands Project was originally initiated to meet current and future NPDES discharge requirements for the 91st Avenue wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Phoenix. For 60 months, 12 acres of wetland system were created and monitored. This project has been underway since 1995. The use of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment is preferred because the cost of initial upgrades to existing WWTP facilities to meet future NPDES charges were estimated at $625 million, and wetland treatment is estimated at $82 million. Other benefits would include habitat; environmental education; flood control; aesthetics; and reduction in vandalism, dumping, and nuisance conditions in the river corridor.” (ICMA and NACO, 1999)

Flood Prone Elevation

Overbank Elevation Bankfull Discharge Elevation Average Water Elevation

Toe Zone

Bank Zone

Overbank Zone

Transitional Zone

Upland

Figure A - Drawing of Riparian Area Section

The above drawing are the typical zones for a Riparian Area. Starting from the edge of the water [Toe Zone] all the way to the Uplands which typically change in vegetation and altitude. The drawing also shows the altering vegetation types that coincide with water levels. 22

Issue

After much deliberation, there is one main problem that seems to be causing the rest of the problems; which is not having a set definition across all entities. Each agency and each organization creates their own definition to meet their own needs, which is the wrong way to approach science. Even other government agencies state that there is no cohesiveness across their systems, the National Park Service stated that â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is no universally accepted definition for riparian areas. There are many reasons for this, including the pact that riparian areas can be found in a dizzying array of places, from tropical forests to deserts. Even in Arizona there is great variation in riparian areas. Some riparian areas as permanent while others are intermittent or ephemeral-the latter two are the types found in the park, including Puerco River and many washes.â&#x20AC;? (NPS, 205). A clear and concise definition is needed to create a more direct approach of categorizing the areas to be better protected.

How can I questions

1. How can I help Riparian Habitats? 2. How can Riparian Habitats be healed? 3. How can the community help? 4. How can Riparian Habitats be saved? 5. How can I inform the public about Riparian Habitats?

Design Proposal Statement

Create a more clear and accurate definition for ‘Riparian Area’ so that a uniform understanding of the fragile and important ecosystem can be protected and restored. Also creating a classification system that can determine whether or not a specific area is a ‘Riparian Area’ or not.

Design Plan

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Create a new definition for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Riparian Areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Create a classification system for Riparian Areas Test the new definition and classification system Make Adjustments Test Again Results with examples

Data

To start off, one must understand where the term Riparian Area came from and its break down. For this one must look at the Etymology of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Riparian Areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and its related terms.

Riparian LATIN bank

ripa

LATIN

ENGLISH

of a river bank

riparius

-an

riparian mid 19th century

Figure 1 - Riparian Etymology Chart of Origin

Etymology ‘Riparian Area’ was first used in the mid 19th century, picking up its use in the early 1950’s and 60’s. Yet its use dramatically dropped soon after. Another topic to discuss is the multiple variations in ‘Riparian Area’, such as ‘Riparian Habitat, Riparian Zone, and a few others. Riparian – Relating to or situated on the bank of a river Habitats – The place or environment where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives & grows. Area

– A particular extent of space or surface or one serving a special function: such as a) a part of the surface of the body b) a geographic region

Corridor – A usually narrow passageway or route – An area or stretch of land identified by a specific common characteristic or purpose Zone – One of the sections of an area or territory created for a particular purpose

Other Related Terms Canyon – a deep narrow valley with steep sides and often with a stream flowing through it Lotic – [ecology] (of organisms or habitats) inhabiting or situated in rapidly moving freshwater Lentic – [ecology] (of organisms or habitats) inhabiting or situated in still, freshwater Perennial – present at all seasons of the year Perennial Stream – is a stream or river (channel) that has continuous flow in parts of its stream bed all year round during years of normal rainfall Seasonal – of, relating to, or varying in occurrence according to the season Temporary – lasting for only a limited period of time; not permanent. Aka Intermittent River - cease to flow every year or at least twice every five years.

80 Terms for Bodies of Water

Arroyo

a dry creek bed that can temporarily flood after rain

Artificial Lake

a man-made lake

Barachois

is a coastal lagoon separated by the ocean by a sand bar that may periodically get filled with salt water when the tide is high

Bay

an inlet of the sea or other body of water usually smaller than a gulf

Bayou

very slow moving water, generally a tributary of a lake or river that is sluggish and marshy and filled with vegetation

Beck

another term for small stream

Bight

is a wide indent of the shore, like a bay but smaller and broader

Billabong

where a river changes course and creates an isolated stagnant pool of backwater behind where the former branch dead ends.

Bourn

a small stream that flows intermittently or seasonally

Brook

a small stream used in old English

Brooklet

a small brook

Burn

a large stream (in Scotland and England)

Canal

an artificial waterway meant for travel, usually connecting two other water bodies

Channel

is constrained on two sides by banks, but is specifically a bed of water than joints two larger bodies of water

Cove

a small recess or indent in the shoreline that forms a sheltered nook with a narrow entrance

Creek

a smaller natural stream

Crick

different pronunciation of creek

Delta

the location where a river flows to. Can be the ocean, lake, reservoir, etc.

Distributary

a stream that branches off from the main river and flows away from it

Draw

a dry creek bed that can flood during heavy rains. (like arroyo)

Estuary

is where a river empties into the sea - the place where the mouth of the river meets out the ocean tide

Firth

a regional word used in Scotland, is similar in that it’s a narrow inlet of the sea, or a large sea bay, or long arm of the sea

Fjord

is a long, narrow inlet flanked by steep cliffs on three sides and is connected to the sea. It’s formed when a glacier cuts a U-shaped valley below sea level that fills with sea when the glacier retreats. They’re common along the Norwegian coast, an elongated arm of the sea that’s longer than it is wide.

Freshet

a sudden flow of freshwater from rapid heavy rain or melting snow after a spring thaw

Ghyll

a narrow stream or rivulet, or a ravine through which small stream flows

Glacier

a large chunk of frozen ice that moves slowly down a mountain

Gulf

a part of an ocean or sea extending into the land

Harbors

as any area where ships can anchor and be sheltered from the rough waters and winds of the open ocean

Headwaters

is the source, the very beginning of a river or stream

Impound

a man-made body of water created by a damming source, it is often used as flood control

Inlet

where the sea projects inland - either as an indent in the shoreline like a bay or gulf, or as a more narrow water passage opening form the coastline

Kettle

a pothole formed from retreating glaciers or draining floods, hollowed out when buried blocks of glaciers melts

Kill

old dutch term in colonial New York for creek or stream

Lagoon

a shallow elongated body of water separated from a larger body of water by a sandbank, coral reef or other barrier

Lake

a large body of water surrounded by land on all sides

Lee

a natural body of running water flowing under the earth

Loch

a lake or inlet of the sea that is nearly landlocked

Marsh

a shallow wetland area featuring plants such as; grasses, reeds, typhus

Meander

a turn or bend in a winding river

Mere

a particularly shallow but broad sheet of standing water (old english)

Millpond

a reservoir built for the sole purpose of providing running water to watermills

Moat

a deep water filled trench surrounding something

Narrows

is a narrow water passage where a strait or river passes through a vertical bed of hard rock

Oasis

a narrow stream or rivult, or a ravine through which small stream flows

Ocean

the whole body of salt water that covers nearly three fourths of the surface of the earth

Oxbow Lake

is formed when a wide bend in a river is eventually cut off from the main stream entirely by erosion and becomes a free-standing pool of water. Named for its characteristic U-Shaped curve, resembling an oxbow.

Pond

a smaller lake

Pool

a deep body of still freshwater

Port

as any geographical area where ships are loaded and unloaded

Puddle

small and shallow, typically consisting of rainwater

Reservoir

a place to store water for various uses, can be natural or artificial

Rill

A very small brook

River

a large volume of flowing water

Rivulet

a very small stream

Roadstead

a sheltered body of water near the shore but slightly outside the enclosed harbor

Run

a small smoothly flowing stream

Runnel

a small stream

Salt Marsh

an area along the coast that is often times flooded with saltwater

Sea Arm

a narrow extension or reach of an ocean

Seas

a body of salt water of second rank more or less landlocked

Seep

body of water created by a spring

Shoal

a place where the sea, river or another body of water is shallow but the submerged sandbank is exposed at low tide

Sound

an ocean inlet even larger that a bay and wider than a fjord - specifically a part of the ocean between two bodies of land, like a wide inlet parallel to the coastline flanked by a nearby island.

Spring

when water flows up from under the ground to the surface

Strait

a more narrow channel

Stream

a body of running water, flowing on the earth

Streamlet

small stream

Subglacial Lake

lake that is permanently frozen by ice

Swamp

a wetland area that has a permanent large body of water

Syke

a small stream in which is dry in summer

Tarn

a small pool or lake found in the mountains

Tidal Creek

a creek that is affected by the tides of the ocean

Tidepool

rocky pool next to the ocean and is filled with salt water

Tributary

any stream that flows into a larger main stream or river

Vernal Pool

shallow area that occasionally holds water (seasonal)

Wadi

a dry bed that will fill with water after heavy rain

Wash

a usually dry creek bed or gulch that temporarily fills with water after a heavy rain or seasonally

Wetland

an environment characterized by saturated land

Maps HabiMap explanation for Riparian Layer on Map â&#x20AC;&#x153;Riparian areas in the Southwest are crucial habitats for wildlife sustainability and often serve as wildlife movement corridors within the landscape. Riparian communities and aquatic habitat make up less than 2% of the total land area in the arid western United States, but are considered the most productive and ecologically diverse habitats in Arizona. The role of riparian areas is disproportionate to their size because of their many ecological functions, most importantly: Fish and wildlife habitat â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 70% of all threatened and endangered vertebrate species in Arizona depend riparian areas; Increased water storage and recharge aquifers; Reduction of chemical inputs from uplands by immobilizing, storing, and transforming; Stabilization of stream banks and build up of new stream banks.â&#x20AC;? (HabiMap, 2018)

The dark blue represents a theorized area of where Riparian Areas are. These are based on being close to a water source, which is not accurate.

Figure 2 - HabiMap of Arizona 35

On this map, the blue represents waterways and major rivers. Viewed with the HabiMap[previous page] One can observe how Riparian Areas can correlate to these major waterways.

Figure 3 - Geology Map of Arizona Rivers 36

Salt River, Arizona To further explore the concept of Riparian Habitats and to learn itsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; true meaning, going out to real life locations and making observations is a great means of gaining information.

Apache Lake

Salt River

Theodore Lake

Saguaro Lake

Salt River connecting to Several Lakes; Theodore Lake, Apache Lake, and Saguaro Lake

Figure 4 - Map of Salt River 37

Figure 5 - Salt River Photograph

GiantSaguaro Cactus

Honey Mesquite

Saltgrass

River

Flood Bank

Upland Figure 6 - Salt River Section Drawing 39

Figure 7 - Salt River Photograph 2

The Salt River has many unique characteristics that other waterways do not have. As seen in the Salt River Sectional Drawing (Figure 6) From the edge of the river to the Upland is very steep. Having a near 90 degree slope in some spots along the river. Another unique characteristic is the type of vegetation and wildlife that depends on the river. Many animals solely rely on the river for hydration, as seen with the Salt River Photograph (Figure 7) of the Horses. Even threatened and endangered species heavily rely on these Riparian areas for food, shelter, and mating grounds. Protection must be a priority to preserve biodiversity within these areas. Luckily most of the Salt River and its lakes are under state parks protection so damage to them outright is prevented. Yet, there seems to be a lack of protection from the public using those lands; such as with litter. Another factor that one notices is that how much the actual community uses these Riparian Areas. The Riparian Areas provide easy access to the river and shade for families to play in. Riparian Areas are a key component in connecting the people with nature and its wildlife.

Tempe Pond, Arizona There is a body of slowly flowing water that is between to roads, which seems to attract a lot of wildlife. The water source seems to be the golf courses water system, and the drainage ends up here.

Figure 8 - Map of Pond In Tempe, AZ

Figure 9 - Photograph of Pond In Tempe, AZ

Figure 10 - Photograph of Small Waterfall In Tempe, AZ

Killdeer Charadrius vociferus Plover Family This bird is a species of shorebirds and travels far all across the North American continent. Figure 12 - Photograph of Small Bird

In this photo, the Killdeer is protecting its nest and holding its ground while it chirps at incoming animals.

Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Heron Family

Figure 13 - Photograph of Great Blue Heron courtesy of Dunes Center

Figure 11 - Photograph of Small Stream In Tempe, AZ

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Great blue herons are waders, typically seen along coastlines, in marshes, or near the shores of ponds or streams. They are expert fishers. Herons snare their aquatic prey by walking slowly, or standing still for long periods of time and waiting for fish to come within range of their long necks and blade-like bills. The deathblow is delivered with a quick thrust of the sharp bill, and the prey is swallowed whole.â&#x20AC;? (National Geographic, 2018)

Looking at this area, one can determine how much the surrounding wildlife utilize this body of water. Birds on travel spot this body of water in the middle of an urban area and land here. Which shows how much creating proper Riparian areas within Urbanized locations is vital to biodiversity. This body of water in comparison to other water sources is very small, but provides a robust growth of vegetation and wildlife surrounding the water. Even creating a small stream that connects the two larger ponds. At this location the wildlife is trying to grow, trying to deepen its roots. Using the limited sources of nutrients, if left alone for some time this location will be very rich with vegetation and wildlife.

Final Design Definition of Riparian Area

After reviewing all of this date, the most accurate definition that encompasses all forms of Riparian Areas is as follows:

Are ecosystems that are situated on the banks of a body of water and are transitional zones between the edge of the water and uplands. Which has visible characteristics that has been directly influenced by that body of water, such as exhibiting more vigorous growth of vegetation than the surrounding area.

This definition allows to cover permanent and intermittent bodies of water, while utilizing the Etymology of the two words. Using ‘habitat’ or ‘zone’ does not convey the proper message that the ‘area’ does, which ultimately made the term to focused or to broad.

Classification System

System

Riparian [R]

Lotic [A]

Subsystem

Intermittent [I]

Class

Subclass

Current State

Canyon [ca]

Cliffs [cl]

Gully [gu]

Mudflat [mf ]

Healthy [1]

Lentic [B]

Perennial [P]

Seasonal [S]

High-bench flooplain [fh] Mountain Systems [ms]

Starting to Weaken [2]

Weak [3]

Temporary [T]

Low-bench flooplain [fl] Fringe [ff ]

Almost Dead [4]

River [ri]

Mid-bench flooplain [fm] Woodlands [wd]

Dead [5]

Classification System Example

Salt River Riparian Lotic Perennial River Starting to Weaken

Salt River [R] [A] [P] [ri] [2]

[RAPri2]

Conclusion

Riparian Areas have been slowly disappearing all across the continent due to several causes. Although they only make up a very small portion of the landmass, they are crucial to biodiversity and the wildlife that depend on it. Many species that are near extinction or are endangered rely on riparian areas for a multitude of reasons such as shelter, food supply, and even mating grounds. Arizona has seen a great reduction in riparian areas in the past century, loosing more than 90% of it. (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Riparian Areas: Riversâ&#x20AC;?, n.d.) This extreme loss has come at a cost of several species extinction and endangerment, loss of major waterways, and a loss of connection to nature. After studying the Salt River and Tempe Pond, it is easy to notice how much wildlife utilize the area. Not only does the vegetation thrive, but the animals and insects prosper. Even the people visiting the areas feel more connected to nature and relaxed. After all, humans are animals as well; no matter how much we further ourselves from the animal kingdom we will never be able to overcome our natural instincts of feeling some type of connection to the planet. Riparian areas are a special ecosystem that connects the water to the land, allowing for all sorts of life to live in both environments. This is why a proper definition was necessary to ultimately create a more practical protection plan so that this ecosystem can be saved.

Further more, a proper classification system was needed to categorize all the existing riparian areas to help create a more accurate and specific plan for each and every one. Using the newly created classification system allows one to determine the health of each riparian area to prioritize which one needs help first. The experiment is lacking in more data to create a better system and was not tested enough to create any conclusive and accurate systems. However, with the limited resources the definition is more than adequate to be used universally for government and other entities for more inclusive and individualized protection plans.

Future

Moving forward, this project is a great starting block for others and other research concerning â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Riparian Areasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. It should be used a reference and help create a more immersive paper. Including more data and examples will help its purpose further. Adding date to the classification system will help deepen its information thus helping more areas be protected with special care. One last hope for this paper is that it will be a corner stone to better protection and utilization of riparian areas. Forcing officials, designers, and the public to recognize the importance of these tiny but powerful ecosystems.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his father but borrowed from his childâ&#x20AC;? - Audubon

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