Fish - Riparian life of another type
Fish and other aquatic creatures below the surface have a unique
relationship with riparian areas.
  • Stream banks provide habitat "edge" with high diversity. Fish live on the edge of streams and make more use of channel sides than the middle of the channel.
  • Stream channels and banks provide cover so predators, including anglers, aren't as effective. Instream cover also helps control water velocities so fish don't constantly fight the current.
  • Well-established, well-vegetated channels maintain better water depths, key to fish survival.
  • The vegetation canopy on banks and over stream channels moderates water temperatures, shading water in the summer and reducing the temperature. In winter the canopy insulates streams, decreases heat loss, reduces ice build-up and provides better overwinter survival of fish.
  • Vegetation captures and binds sediment that other- wise would settle in streams on food producing areas, on fish spawning and rearing sites or in pools, where sediment build-up reduces winter survival space.
  • A healthy, functioning riparian area collects, stores and releases water to maintain stream flow. Without sustained flow throughout the year, fish will not survive.
  • Healthy stream habitats contain many times the trout populations of degraded areas. In these degraded areas trout populations will continue to decline and will disappear unless the habitat trend is reversed.




    • A simple formula: no water - no fish. Healthy riparian areas produce habitat for fish.
    Principles that
    Promote Healthy
    Riparian Vegetation

    Good range management practices imitate the natural system and foster healthy native plant communities. The four key principles of good range management are:
  • Balance animal demand with the available forage supply
    - this means harvesting forage but leaving enough carryover or grass residue to protect plants and soil, plus trap sediment.

  • Distribute livestock evenly
    - this means choosing from a long list of management tools to spread the grazing load over the landscape.

  • Avoid or minimize grazing the range during fragile or vulnerable periods
    - for riparian areas this may be when stream banks are saturated with moisture and vulnerable to trampling.

    - it could include times when grasses have cured and woody plants are still green.

  • Provide effective rest after grazing
    - give plants time to rest when growing conditions are favourable to rebuild roots, energy supply and vigour. disappear unless the habitat trend is reversed.

    - to restore woody plants, more rest may be needed than for other range plants.
    • 19