A simple definition of a Riparian Zone is the area or corridor where land and water meet. It is a zone of transition for vegetation and an important environmental area for flora, fauna and increasingly erosion control.
Where do we find riparian zones.
A range of areas where wet areas are found go to make up Riparian zones and corridors, these include :
- On the edges of lakes
- Beside rivers and streams
- Surrounding wetland areas that are subject to seasonal flooding
- On the edges of swamps
- In gullies where permanent water may not be present however dampness creates suitable conditions.
As riparian zones are often the most fertile and productive land they are also subject to over use.
Used for cropping, large areas have been cleared, destroying wildlife habitat and over time leading to land degradation and erosion.
Why Riparian Zones require management.
It would be simple to say that riparian zones require management to provide habitat for wildlife. However erosion control is of even greater importance in terms of long term land management.
Erosion control in conjunction with planting to improve water quality by filtering sediment before it reaches waterways are two major issues in these areas.
Riparian Vegetation
Vegetation in Riparian zones varies greatly.
Sedges, grasses, trees, shrubs and ferns are all included and vary depending on the location of the zone.
Why are Riparian Corridors Important?
These areas act as a transition zone between waterways and other land use. A well maintained Riparian corridor will greatly decrease erosion and improve water quality both in the immediate area as well as downstream.
Advantages of good management of riparian zones
- Erosion Control
- Provide wildlife habitat
- Reduction of nutrient flow to waterways which can assist in prevention of algae.
- Improved habitat for fish
- Improved land value
Wetland Plants
Wetland plants are not only widely used in land reclamation and wetland projects for native birds, they are also an important part in providing bio filters and working with flood mitigation and erosion control in retarding basins and the like.
Not only do these plants help with erosion, they also oxygenate and help purify the water, great for fish and other aquatic species.
The choice for wetland plants broader landscaping, large scale land restoration and erosion control projects is usually a native Australian species. These tend to be more tolerant of Australian conditions and less likely to be invasive as some exotic species can be.
Three of the most important wetland plants in Australia are Eucalyptus camaldulensis, better known as the River Red Gum. Marsilea species or ‘Nardoo’, a fascinating plant that grows in water, however is also drought tolerant. Juncus species commonly called rushes, which are found in seasonal wetlands,
Typha species, also known as ‘Cumbungi’, very vigorous and useful in some applications.
Some species will grow in water, others are more suited to the constantly damp soils, while some are marginal and will cope with both conditions.
Some species are also suited to saline, or brackish water, others are fresh water plants only.
Ornamental species include both native and exotic species, grown more the the foliage and flower heads than for environmental reasons.
It is not only grasses that are suited for use as wetland plants, large trees such as the River Red Gum, thrive on seasonal inundation and form a vital part of the ecosystem.
List Of Wetland Plants With Common Names
- Alisma plantago-aquatica – Water Plantain
- Amphibromus nervosus – Swamp Wallaby Grass
- Bolboschoenus caldwellii – Sea Clubrush
- Carex appressa – Tall Sedge
- Carex fascicularis – Tassel Sedge
- Carex tereticaulis – Hollow Sedge
- Centipeda cunninghamii – Sneezeweed
- Crassula helmsii – Swamp Stonecrop
- Cyperus gunnii – Flecked Flat Sedge
- Cyperus lucidus – Leafy Flat Sedge
- Eleocharis acuta – Common Spikerush
- Eleocharis sphacelata – Tall Spikerush
- Ficinia nodosa – Knobby Clubrush
- Gratiola peruviana – Austral Brooklime
- Isolepis fluitans – Floating Clubrush
- Isolepis inundata – Swamp Clubrush
- Juncus bufonius – Toad Rush
- Juncus holoschoenus – Joint-leaf Rush
- Juncus kraussii – Sea Rush
- Juncus pallidus – Pale Rush
- Juncus pauciflorus – Loose-flower Rush
- Juncus planifolius – Broad-leaf Rush
- Juncus procerus – Tall Rush
- Juncus sarophus – Broom Rush
- Lomandra longifolia – Spiny-headed Matt-rush
- Marsilea drummondii – Common Nardoo
- Marsilea mutica – Smooth Nardoo
- Myriophyllum crispatum – Upright Milfoil
- Myriophyllum simulans – Amphibious Milfoil
- Myriophyllum variifolium – Milfoil
- Neopaxia australasica – White Purslane
- Persicaria decipiens – Slender Knotweed
- Philydrum lanuginosum – Woolly Waterlily
- Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum – Jersy Cudweed
- Poa labillardierie – Silver Tussock Grass
- Ranunculus inundatus – River Buttercup
- Ranunculus amphitrichus – Small River Buttercup
- Schoenoplectus pungens – Sharp Clubrush
- Schoenoplectus tabernae-montani – Lake Clubrush
- Triglochin procerum – Water Ribbons
- Villarsia reniformis – Running Marsh Flower
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