Riparian Zone
The riparian zone is a vegetated buffer between nearby lands and a stream or river (see Figure 4-6). These areas are important in controlling the introduction of sediment and nutrients into a river or stream channel. The riparian zone includes the stream bank and portions of the floodplain that are periodically covered by flood waters.
Interaction between the riparian zone and a stream is vital for the health of the stream. For example, in flood-prone areas where streams are channelized for flood control, vegetation, with the exception of grasses, is removed from the banks. The riparian zone of a channelized stream does not offer much in the way of protection from surrounding land uses, in contrast to a riparian zone retaining a wide band of native vegetation.