What is A Riparian Zone
The riparian zone is the green ribbon of life alongside a stream. This ribbon is a mixture of vegetation types, which varies greatly from place to place. Riparian vegetation along a desert stream may be small and sparse while the vegetation along a mountain stream may be tall and lush.
The riparian zone is critical to the health of every stream and its surroundings environment. It connects the upland zone to the aquatic zone, controlling the flow of water, sediment, nutrients, and organisms between the two. Without a proper functioning riparian zone, the other zones suffer.
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