Riparian areas, or river and streamside corridors, make up less than 5 percent of the land in the western United Sates, but provide critical habitat for many wildlife species.

Corridors of diversity

“Ribbons of life,” that’s how wildlife biologists, hunters and anglers often characterize riparian corridors.

Riparian areas, or river and streamside corridors, make up less than 5 percent of the land in the western United Sates, but provide critical habitat for many wildlife species. Riparian areas are not exclusive to aquatic species. A wide variety of terrestrial wildlife, including wild turkeys and sensitive species such as neo-tropical migrant songbirds and bald eagles, also call these places home. Riparian areas also are important for trapping sediment and filtering run-off, flood control, groundwater recharge, water quality, and serve as a source of water for people.

The NWTF is concerned about the declining state of riparian areas because these wooded zones provide wild turkey roost trees in the prairie-dominated regions of the West. Many upland game birds also use riparian areas for loafing, escape cover and finding critical winter food. Big game hunters know that mule deer, elk and white-tailed deer use riparian areas for water, browse and escape cover. Obviously, riparian areas are as important to western hunters as they are to their quarry.

Threats to riparian areas

A healthy western riparian area is composed of plants that include rushes, sedges, grasses, and trees like willows and cottonwoods. Unfortunately, exotic plant species such as Russian olive and salt cedar, and aggressive natives like red cedars out-compete native species in many western waterways.
Cottonwoods are the primary roost trees in western riparian habitats and are experiencing a long-term downward trend across the West. Altered stream flows, unmanaged livestock grazing and increased competition from invasive plants have negatively affected cottonwood regeneration.
Other factors affecting riparian areas include increased energy development, continued alterations of natural water flow and off-site diversions.

Cottonwoods are primary roost trees in western riparian habitats.

What can be done?

Riparian problems like stream flow alterations by dams and irrigation systems are difficult to reverse. But there are effective measures to combat invasive species, better manage livestock grazing and encourage cottonwood growth.

The NWTF identified threats to riparian corridors and corresponding solutions in the North American Wild Turkey Management Plan. Through regional habitat programs such as the Southern Great Plains Riparian Initiative (SGPRI) and the Northern Plains Riparian Restoration Initiative (NPRRI), we are at the forefront of restoration efforts.

The NWTF and its partners have already spent more than $3.7 million to improve the riparian areas in the West and to educate others about the critical role riparian areas play for wildlife and water quality. Projects include the creation of special riparian pastures through fencing to better manage livestock grazing on many public lands, including the Custer National Forest in Montana and the Nebraska National Forest in Nebraska. Cottonwoods have been planted in areas such as the Grand River National Grasslands in South Dakota and on the Packsaddle WMA along the Canadian River in Oklahoma.

The NWTF also is combating invasive plants across the West, with emphasis on projects that demonstrate the most effective eradication methods, such as the coordinated control effort on the Yellowtail Wildlife Habitat Management Area in Wyoming and the long-running demonstration project at the Gene Howe WMA in Texas.

A commitment to action

The NWTF is committed to understanding and combating threats to riparian habitat. Through the SGPRI and the NPRRI, we will continue riparian restoration projects to ensure these areas persist for future generations to enjoy and appreciate. And riparian restoration aimed at wild turkeys also will benefit a host of wildlife species that call these ribbons of life home. — NWTF Director of Conservation Operations Brandon Houck and Regional Biologist Jared McJunkin