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Chapter 7: Human Alterations to Riparian Areas
Vegetation Manipulation for Increased Stream Flow
- At one time, significant research was conducted based on the idea that stream flow increase would result when transpiration rates along a stream were reduced.
- Reduction of transpiration (Figure 3.2, page 3, chapter 3) would be achieved by removing high water use riparian vegetation and replacing it with vegetation that had low water use.
- This is not always true.
- It is important to also consider that removal of the riparian vegetation eliminates other riparian functions and values such as:
- stabilizing the soils of the stream, or
- providing shade, food, and habitat for terrestrial and aquatic organisms.
- Significant research on vegetation manipulation at the watershed scale has been conducted in the Beaver Creek Experimental Watershed in Arizona (Figure 7.7). More information can be found in the following link: http://cals.arizona.edu/OALS/watershed/beaver/index.html
Figure 7.7. Vegetation manipulation at the watershed scale to increase forage production and stream flow in the Beaver Creek Experimental Watershed in Arizona.
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