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What are some natural features of watersheds?

watershedintroNE Ohio Watershed Map












Riparian habitat Headwater streams Wetlands
Flowing water Standing water  

A Riparian habitat is the combination of trees, shrubs and grasses alongside streams and rivers. Riparian vegetation provides several important functions that support aquatic biodiversity.

Riparian habitats...

• stabilize stream banks and control bank erosion and input of sediment

• shade waterways and help maintain low water temperatures and regulate dissolved oxygen levels

• contribute large woody debris to the aquatic system which provides in-stream habitat for aquatic life

• deposit large amounts of leaf litter, insects and other nutrients to maintain aquatic food webs.

• reduce damage caused during large floods by absorbing energy of floods.





Sources: US EPA, Where Rivers Are Born, USDA NRCS


 
   

Links for more information on riparian habitats:

Insects Need Riparian Zones -Describes the dependency of many insects upon healthy riparian zones – great pictures, too!

Info on different Riparian Zones -Discusses the differences between free-flowing rivers, run-of-the-river impoundments, and storage reservoirs. Information is from Sweden, but shows how similar our ecology can be to theirs!

“Streams Need Riparian Zones” -Great analogies of the importance of riparian zones to healthy streams and rivers. Also compares Ohio rivers to those across the country in different areas.

    

 
   
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