Range Forum
Science based rangeland discussion in North Dakot
Jeff Repp
Riparian Ecological Site Development, Concepts and Application
Rangeland Mgmt. Specialist, N.R.C.S.
Monday,
July 19, 2010
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.,
Plant Materials
Center Conf. Rm., Bismarck
Although
they occupy a relatively small area of the entire landscape, riparian areas
are of consummate importance to numerous plant and animal species, and the
transport of water, sediments, nutrients, and propagules through catchments.
Landowners, managers, and others are increasingly held accountable for proper
management of relatively scarce riparian services (water, habitat,
heterogeneity, forage, recreation, fish, etc.). Many people are looking for
information on how to identify the different types of riparian areas and how
they function at various scales. NRCS has long developed ecological site
descriptions for upland rangeland and forestland sites; development and
classifying ecological site descriptions in riparian areas requires a
different approach that identifies fluvial geomorphology, hydrology, and
transported materials as the primary drivers of vegetation change. The
primary drivers of upland sites, climate and soils, may be of secondary
importance in riparian sites. In addition, a new way of looking at the often
patchy mosaic of riparian plant communities and procedures and protocols to
measure them is needed. This presentation looks at the outcomes and progress
of a concerted interdisciplinary effort to develop concepts, procedures,
protocols, and guidance in developing these complex ecological sites and to
develop riparian ecological site descriptions on selected perennial streams in
the west.
Forums
Contacts
- A.R.S.
- Ducks Unlimited
- Land Department
- ND Game and Fish
- NGP SRM
- N.R.C.S.
- Research Stations
- U.S. Forest Service.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife
- Range Manager's Forum
- Links to Resources
C.E.U.
Forums are from 12:00 noon to 1:30. Bring a brown bag lunch and feel free to come and go as you like.Qualifies for 1 C.E.U.