Potential for enhancing riparian habitats in the southwestern United States with watershed practices
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Authors: L. F. DeBano, and L. J. Schmidt
Date: 1990
Journal: Forest Ecology and Management
Volume: 33-34
Number:
Pages: 385-403
Summary of Methods: This is a literature review of 40 published scientific articles covering potential enhancements to riparian habitats in headwater and downstream river environments with watershed practices in Southwest United States.
Article Summary / Main Points: Watershed practices aimed at improving watershed condition, increasing duration of streamflow, and stabilizing badly eroded channels benefit riparian communities. Improving watershed conditions required better range, timber, and watershed management practices, which sometimes may require supplemental cultural treatments to obtain adequate soil cover. In some cases, mechanical stabilization of channels may be necessary although they should not be constructed unless good land management is implemented throughout the watershed. Large dams used for flood control, or water storage, both stabilize erodible channels and extend streamflow duration while trapping nutrient-rich sediment in upstream deposits. Enhancing riparian communities should be included as an integral part of any current or future land management economic analyses.
Vegetation Types: Riparian and Wetlands
MLRA Ecoregions: Not Applicable
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Watershed management
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Scientific Synthesis
Keywords: watersheds, southwestern united states, erosion, management, streamflow, riparian vegetation
Annotation: This summary paper primarily focuses on the effects of physical structures (in channel and upland). Land management practices such as grazing and logging are not thoroughly discussed in this paper
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