Download Stream and Riparian Zone - North Carolina Wildlife Resources

Wildlife Conservation Land
Priority Habitat Management Guidelines
Stream and Riparian Zones
Habitat Description
Stream and riparian zone habitat is defined as the land area adjacent
to and including a perennial or intermittent water body. The
riparian zone generally extends from the water’s edge at base flow
(stream water from groundwater, not runoff) to the place where the
stream does not interact with or influence the type and density of
vegetation present; generally where the upland ecological
community begins.
It encompasses the stream banks and floodplain with their plant
communities as well as plant material (natural debris such as grass,
leaves, twigs, branches, trees) likely to enter the stream. Stable
riparian zones contain stream banks that are not eroding and have
diverse plant communities that are generally undisturbed.
Protected species
associated with riverine
systems within stream and
riparian zones include
manatee, river frog,
Eastern spiny softshell,
Neuse river waterdog,
water shrew, hellbender,
mudpuppy, stripeneck
musk turtle, and American
alligator.
Stream and riparian zone habitat, as designated by the Wildlife
Conservation Land Program (WCLP) refers to riverine aquatic
communities, floodplain forests, and aquatic river basins in all three
of the eco-regions in North Carolina. These are described in the
North Carolina Wildlife Action Plan (NCWAP). Stream and
riparian zone habitat is critically important to a wide range of
terrestrial, semi-aquatic, and aquatic wildlife.
Unfortunately, land use in and around these areas has contributed to
a drastic decline in the quality and quantity of the remaining
wildlife habitat.
Threats to the Resource
In addition to direct habitat loss from land use conversion and
development, water quality deterioration and habitat degradation
are serious problems that affect wildlife in stream and riparian
zones.
North Carolina Wildlife
Resources Commission
1722 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1722
Phone: (919) 707-0050
ncwildlife.org
Clean water is critical to a host of species that live in rivers and
streams for all or a portion of their lives but can be negatively
impacted by runoff.
Direct input of contaminants occurs when runoff from poorly
managed crop and animal agriculture operations, from commercial
and residential development, and from other point and non-point
sources is allowed to enter the waterway. The resulting water
pollution can kill aquatic species and contaminate the food chain for
other wildlife. Increased sediment loads from land disturbing
activities can irreparably damage the integrity of aquatic systems.
In addition,
Direct
input fragmentation
of contaminants
andoccurs
loss ofwhen
upland
runoff
habitat
frominpoorly
riparian
managed
zones pose
cropsignificant
and animalchallenges
agricultureto
operations,
priority
species
fromsuch
commercial
as neotropical
and residential
migratorydevelopment,
birds that nest
and
in from
floodplain
other forests.
point and non-point sources
equ
is allowed to enter the waterway. The resulting water pollution can kill aquatic species and
contaminate
the Strategies
food chain for
other wildlife.
Increased sediment
loads from(WCLP)
land disturbing activities
Management
– Wildlife
Conservation
Lands Program
can irreparably damage the integrity of aquatic systems.
Well vegetated buffers can help mitigate or prevent impacts from pollution and sedimentation into
North
Carolina’s
waterways.
In addition,
fragmentation
and loss of upland habitat in riparian zones pose significant challenges to
priority species such as neotropical migratory birds that nest in floodplain forests.
Perennial or intermittent blue-line streams (waterways that are designated on a USGS topographic
map, streams that are shown to be present using LIDAR data or a professional field delineation can be
Management
Strategies – Wildlife Conservation Lands Program (WCLP)
enrolled under the Stream and Riparian Zone category of the WCLP.
Well
vegetated
buffers
can help
mitigate
prevent
impacts
from pollution
andsalamanders.
sedimentationSmall
into
Ephemeral
streams,
springs,
seeps
can beor
very
important
breeding
habitats for
North
Carolina’s
waterways.
streams, springs, and seeps will need to be considered on a case-by-case basis
Under
the or
WCLP,
the riparian
areastreams
will be (waterways
delineated by
measuring
horizontally
from topographic
the top of the
Perennial
intermittent
blue-line
that
are designated
on a USGS
stream
bank.
The
minimum
width
for
qualifying
aquatic
habitat
shall
be
30
feet
on
each
side ofcan
the be
map, streams that are shown to be present using LIDAR data or a professional field delineation
stream
an average
of 60and
feetRiparian
total; theZone
minimum
width
for qualifying
enrolledorunder
the Stream
category
of the
WCLP. terrestrial habitat shall be 15
feet on each side of the stream; and the maximum width will be 300 feet or the width of the
floodplain,
whichever
is greater.
may justify
a narrower
minimum width
Ephemeral streams,
springs,
seepsSite
canspecific
be very conditions
important breeding
habitats
for salamanders.
Small
dependent
on property
lines,will
road
restrictions,
and other
fixtures.
streams, springs,
and seeps
need
to be considered
onpermanent
a case-by-case
basisIt is important to note
that there is no single riparian width statewide that will maintain and enhance a fully functional
aquatic
andWCLP,
terrestrial
The minimum
widths above
have been
noted for minimal
Under the
the habitat.
riparian area
will be delineated
by measuring
horizontally
from thewater
top ofquality
the
benefits
to wildlife.
All landowners
will
be encouraged
maximize
benefits
through
fully
stream bank.
The minimum
width for
qualifying
aquatictohabitat
shallwildlife
be 30 feet
on each
side ofa the
functional
stream
andofriparian
means a width for
larger
than 30 terrestrial
feet.
stream
or an
average
60 feetzone
total;which
the minimum
qualifying
habitat shall be 15
feet on each side of the stream; and the maximum width will be 300 feet or the width of the
The
riparianwhichever
zone shallisnot
extendSite
beyond
the watershed
as adelineate
the ridgeswidth
floodplain,
greater.
specific
conditions boundary
may justify
narrowerbyminimum
surrounding
the
watershed.
The
stream
area
included
in
this
habitat
type
shall
be
the
area astomeasured
dependent on property lines, road restrictions, and other permanent fixtures. It is important
note
between
the
top
of
the
banks
along
the
channel.
A
diversity
of
stream
bank
vegetation
should
be
that no one width can fit all aquatic and terrestrial habitat needs statewide. However, for statewide
retained
to prevent
sloughing
erosion. Stable
application
within the
Wildlifeand
Conservation
Landsriparian
Programzones
and tocontain
recognistream banks that are not
eroding and have vegetation that has not been disturbed within the last 3 years.
The riparian zone shall not extend beyond the watershed boundary as delineate by the ridges
The riparian zone must be protected from damage from livestock with permanent fencing. Cost-share
surrounding the watershed. The stream area included in this habitat type shall be the area as measured
from various agencies may be available.
between the top of the banks along the channel. A diversity of stream bank vegetation should be
retained riparian
to prevent
sloughing
and erosion.
Ideally,
zones
will contain
a diverse plant community composed of native trees, shrubs, vines,
grasses, sedges, and other herbaceous plants, as well as woody debris such as rootwads and logs of
The
riparian
be protected
from
damage from
livestock
with permanent
Cost-share
downed
trees.zone
Thismust
structural
diversity
is especially
important
to neotropical
birds fencing.
and to amphibians
from
various
agen
cies
may
be
available.
using these areas.
Ideally,infestations
riparian zones
will contain
a diverse
plant
communityreduce
composed
of nativeoftrees,
shrubs,
vines,
Heavy
of invasive
exotic
plants can
dramatically
the diversity
riparian
native
grasses,
sedges, andControl
other herbaceous
well within
as woody
such
as may
rootwads
and logs of if
plant
communities.
of invasiveplants,
exoticasplants
the debris
riparian
zone
be recommended
downed
trees.
This
structuralcovers
diversity
especially
important
to neotropical
birds
to amphibians
the
extent
of the
infestation
overis50%
of the area.
Approved
herbicides
andand
surfactants
will be
using
areas.
of
lowthese
toxicity
to aquatic wildlife.
Restoration
may beof
warranted
the site
is badly
degraded. An
assessment
can beof
completed
by a
Heavy infestations
invasive ifexotic
plants
can dramatically
reduce
the diversity
riparian native
resource
professional
and recommendations
to restore
hydrology
native
plant ded if
plant communities.
Control
of invasive exoticdeveloped
plants within
the riparian
zoneand/or
may be
recommen
communities
as
deemed
necessary.
the extent of the infestation covers over 50% of the area. Approved herbicides and surfactants will be
of low toxicity to aquatic wildlife.
This and other priority habitat types are listed as habitats of concern in the North Carolina Wildlife
Action Plan (NCWAP) and more detailed information concerning each habitat type may be found at
Restoration may be warranted if the site is badly degraded. An assessment can be completed by a
www.ncwildlife.org/fs_index_07_conservation.htm.
resource professional and recommendations developed to restore hydrology and/or native plant
communities as deemed necessary.
This and other priority habitat types are listed as habitats of concern in the North Carolina Wildlife
A i Pl (NCWAP) d
d il d i f
i
i
h h bi
b f
d
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission