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Home , Riparian zone

Position Paper:

Protection and Management of Riparian : Activities and Views of. the U.S. and Service 1 2 Allan Hirsch and Charles A. Segelquist3

Abstract. --Riparian ecosystems are vital to the continued well-being of many of the Nation's fish and wildlife resources. However, land use changes and water resource development activities are jeopardizing these valuable environments. Current activities of the Fish and Wildlife Service providing for the protection of riparian resources are described, and several initiatives are outlined to strengthen riparian protection and management programs.

Riparian ecosystems support some of the IMPORTANCE OF RIPARIAN ECOSYSTEMS TO most productive and diverse wildlife FISH AND WILDLIFE populations in the United States. They also play an important, if not essential, role in There is no single definition of riparian maintaining wildlife populations in adjacent ecosystem endorsed by all ecologists, but uplands and in supplying energy and nutrients there is general agreement that these systems to riverine, lacustrine, and estuarine have certain common features. Riparian systems. These important riparian resources ecosystems are characterized by or are being lost and degraded at an alarming riverside plant communities with more hydric rate throughout the country as a result of or mesic growth habits than adjacent upland developmental activities. Inasmuch as communities. They range from only a few feet riparian ecosystems play a critical role in in width along small western to maintaining fish and wildlife several miles across along major southeastern and diversity, more vigorous efforts are . Riparian plant communities are needed to protect and manage these valuable dependent upon high water tables or overbank resources. flooding to meet their moisture requirements. They usually depend on overbank flooding for the of substrates and nutrients necessary for regeneration, establishment, and maintenance. 1Paper presented at the National Symposium on Strategies for Protection and The linear configuration of the riparian Management of and other system, its proximity to the aquatic system, ... Riparian Ecosystems, Callaway Gardens, and the physical and chemical interchanges Georgia, December 11-13, 1978. between the riparian and aquatic systems provide an astonishing number and variety of 2Chief, Office of Biological Services, that are occupied by a multitude of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, organisms from all trophic levels. This DC. results in complex food webs that support some of the most productive and diverse 3Wildlife Ecologist, Eastern Energy and wildlife populations of any ecosystem type. Land Use Team, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Certain species of wildlife are restricted entirely to the riparian zone for all their life requirements, but many more are dependent on the riparian system for some critical element of their life cycle such as

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------food, cover, or breeding . Numerous availability of riparian cover. The other species also make extensive use of extension of eastern species into the West is these areas even though they are not determined in large part by these fingers of dependent upon them. riparian extending along rivers and streams. Riparian zones also provide As the riparian system interfaces with migratory or dispersion pathways for many the aquatic system, it has many functional species of wildlife. The north-south attributes that strongly influence the latter riparian zone of the James in South system. To a large extent, the riparian Dakota is used as a migration corridor by system regulates the productivity of the over 160 species of waterfowl, shorebirds, aquatic system by supplying organic detritus songbirds, and raptors. The wild turkey is to the stream. Streamside also especially dependent on bottomland serves to filter and other for communal roosts. pollutants prohibiting them from entering the stream. The shading effect of riparian Riparian ecosystems are no less vegetation has a strong influence on water important to wildlife in the East. At least temperature. and fallen provide 300 species of migratory and resident birds critical habitat features for numerous utilize the Atchafalaya River floodplain at species of aquatic organisms. some time during the year. Large numbers of waterfowl use flooded bottoms for wintering The ecological influence of the riparian areas, mast from floodplain timber frequently system is not limited to the immediately providing the bulk of their winter diet. In adjacent aquatic system. Comprehensive Louisiana over 90 percent of the white-tailed research on the relationship between woodland deer are found in bottomlands even though stream productivity and adjacent forested this type makes up only 50 percent of the ecosystems reveals that much of the energy potential deer range in the State. The and hydrocarbons in aquatic food webs largest trophy bucks are also found in these originates in the system. Nutrients fertile bottomland forests. There are vast and detritus derived from riparian forests numbers of reptiles and amphibians in are also picked up by the flooding river and bottomland ecosystems and many of the transported to the coastal where furbearers make frequent use of these they serve a major role in maintaining riparian zones. productivity.

Historically, riparian ecosystems have LOSSES OF RIPARIAN HABITAT been studied much more intensively in the arid regions of the West than in the East, Although riparian ecosystems are still and we know more about western systems. extremely important fish and wildlife Western birds have an especially strong habitat, explOitation and development of affinity for the vertically stratified these systems have had serious impacts on habitat provided by riparian . Over fish and wildlife resources. Riparian zones 50 percent of all species of birds along the were frequently the £irst areas settled by Verde River in Arizona depend exclusively on European immigrants. Rivers and fertile riparian woodlands for breeding. Many river valleys provided the abundance of fish, ungulates in the mountainous regions of the game, and other easily harvestable natural West winter in lowland riparian areas. resources needed by settlers until they could depend heavily on riparian woodlands bring lands into production. Rivers provided for food and construction material for lodges the only means of transporting large and dams. Although data have not been quantities of supplies and goods. Water adequately summarized for all vertebrates, it power was harnessed to grind grain, saw wood, is widely recognized that many other western and accomplish other needed functions. The species are dependent upon the unique set of same fertile, alluvial soils that provided characteristics provided by the land-water such excellent wildlife habitat also provided interface of the riparian ecosystem. excellent farm lands after they were cleared of their dense forest stands, and water from In the States, fringes of the river was often used to irrigate riparian woodland along the major rivers and croplands during times of drought. The major their smaller provide the major, difficulty experienced from living next to and frequently the only, source of woodland the river was the frequent flooding of farms cover in these predominantly or and villages; however, early settlers were agricultural regions. In the colder willing to accept and adjust to these latitudes riparian areas are critical sources occasional and somewhat predictable of winter cover for non-migratory species. inconveniences in order to capitalize on the Pheasant populations in some northern prairie many assets that derived from their location. regions are closely correlated with the

345 As development continued, people began and Riparian/Stream Ecosystems" conducted by looking for ways to enhance riverine Unlimited just last month in Denver, transportation; maintain or increase water Colorado. supplies for agricultural, industrial, and urban uses; and protect crops, homes, and Bottomland hardwoods in Missouri have industries from flooding. Various declined by 96 percent. Along the lower combinations of draining, diking, diverting, , at least 180,000 acres that leveeing, damming, and channeling were used were once part of a wide riverine floodplain to accomplish these goals, but with have become valuable croplands as a result of increasing protection came additional constriction of the river by channelization clearing and converting of natural riparian and stabilization activities and changed environment to other uses. hydrologic regimes resulting from upstream impoundment for control and navigation Initially, the impacts of man's purposes. Lake Oahe alone on the upper alteration activities may have actually Missouri in South Dakota has inundated increased the production of wildlife 300,000 acres of land, including all riparian resources along rivers and streams by areas along a 200 mile reach of the river. increasing habitat diversity and total Conversion of bottomland hardwoods to production. Those species of wildlife not agricultural crops have exceeded 95 percent adapted to the often extensive climax in some Mississippi delta counties in riparian woodlands benefited from the Arkansas. diversity created by patchwork clearing, and agricultural crops provided a preferred food Quantification of riparian ecosystem for many species of wildlife. Thus, alteration has not been accomplished on a increased abundance and diversity of wildlife systematic basis throughout the United was often associated with early developmental States, but it is probably reasonable to activities. However, the cumulative impact assume that from 70 to 90 percent of all of continuous development, land use changes, natural riparian areas have been subjected to overgrazing, inundation, stream channel extensive alteration. Furthermore, alteration, water diversion, and other alteration is continuing at a steady pace. modifications of the hydrologic regime, has Overgrazing and water diversions in the West, resulted in adverse effects on fish and stream channel alteration in the Prairie wildlife habitats. Where habitat changes States, urban and industrial expansion in the have been especially severe, certain species East, and drainage and forest land conversion of plants and animals have become in the South; all these activities and more increasingly scarce, threatened, or even are eating away at the few still relatively endangered. Of the 236 species of plants and undisturbed riparian ecosystems. Nowhere is animals on the Department of the Interior IS this more dramatically illustrated than in list of threatened or endangered species, 69 the delta hardwoods of Mississippi where are directly or indirectly dependent upon bottomland woodlands were reduced by 60 riparian ecosystems. Twelve riparian habitat percent from 1970 to 1976. areas have been designated as critical habitats. CURRENT ACTIVITIES OF THE Losses of lands and FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE associated wildlife have been most dramatic in the West and Midwest because of the Protection of riparian systems has high relative scarcity of these types and the priority in the programs of the Fish and tremendous demand man has placed on the water Wildlife. Service. The Service's role in and land resources of these regions. Along riparian protection involves three main lines the in California, croplands of activity: land acquisition; participation cover over 66 percent of the terrace lands in the environmental planning and regulatory that once supported riparian forests. process; and conduct of research, studies, Conversion has been close to 100 percent and inventories. Fish and Wildlife Service beyond the levee. On the involvement in riparian protection originally , cottonwood communities have stemmed from the agency's responsibilities declined from an estimated 5,000 acres to for protection and management of migratory only about 500 acres as a result of changing birds, particularly waterfowl. However, as hydrologic regimes resulting from upstream both public environmental awareness and the impoundments. There are still some 2,800 Service's own responsibilities have acres of -cottonwood stands along the broadened, its programs have reflected river, but most are invaded by salt cedar, an concern for the full range of environmental exotic introduction of much lower value to values inherent in protecting riparian wildlife. Overgrazing in the riparian zone ecosystems. of western rangelands is an extremely serious problem as attested by the "Forum -

346 Land Acquisition In perhaps the most ambitious effort ever proposed by the Fish and Wildlife The Fish and Wildlife Service has about Service to protect valuable riparian lands 35 million acres in National Wildlife Refuges threatened by development, the agency has and Waterfowl Production Areas which it recently advanced a proposal to acquire acquired under one or more of the following 443,000 acres of the lower Atchafalaya River authorities: The Migratory Bird Conservation floodplain for the purpose of flood control, Act of 1929; the Migratory Bird Hunting and fish and wildlife conservation, and public Conservation Stamp Act of 1937; the recreation. This proposal advocates the Loan Act of 1961; the Land and Water purchase of the floodplain by the Federal Conservation Fund Act; as mitigation for Government as part of a mUltiple purpose plan Federal water development projects; and other to protect existing environmental values legislative provJ.sJ.ons. Many additional while providing a floodway for passage of thousands of acres also have been acquired by excess floodwaters from the Mississippi and the States through the Federal Aid in Red River drainages. Wildlife Restoration Program. Lands acquired by the Service through the Migratory Bird The estimated purchase price of this funds are for waterfowl breeding, migration, area is $85 million. However, the fish, and wintering areas. The Land and Water wildlife, and recreational resource values of Conservation Fund has been used to acquire the lower Atchafalaya floodway alone are unique ecosystems such as those supporting estimated to be approximately $97 million endangered or threatened species or having annually. At lease 300 species of birds, other important natural resource values. numerous mammals, 65 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 90 species of fish, crawfish, While most of the lands currently within crabs, and shrimp occupy the floodway. When the National Wildlife Refuge System are not continuing values for flood protection, riparian ecosystems, many refuges do contain pollution abatement, and other natural sizable quantities of riparian lands. resource functions are included, maintenance Examples are the White River Refuge in of this riparian system becomes even more Arkansas, the Santa Ana Refuge on the Rio important. Unless the floodway is protected Grande in Texas, the Havasu Refuge on the and managed to sustain these resources, the Colorado River in Arizona, the Columbia Atchafalaya floodplain will be cleared and White-Tailed Deer Refuge on the Columbia converted to agricultural crops, as have River in Washington, and the Upper millions of acres of other Delta hardwoods. Mississippi River Wildlife Refuge. All of these are largely riparian areas that benefit many species of fish and wildlife. Participation in Environmental Planning and Regulation Current and planned acquisitions with Migratory Bird and Land and Water Even under the most favorable prospects, Conservation Funds will include many riparian only a small portion of the riparian areas lands. As part of an accelerated waterfowl meriting protection will be subject to direct acquisition program currently underway within Federal acquisition. The majority of these the Fish and Wildlife Service, major areas will depend upon other means of Migratory Bird Fund acquisition efforts are protection from development or . being initiated in key waterfowl wintering Thus, participation in the environmental areas; a 21,000 acre tract on the upper planning and regulatory process is another Ouchita River in Louisiana has just recently important component of the Service's role in been purchased. The Service is also wetlands preservation. currently in the process of identifying unique ecosystems for each State. Initial identification should be completed by the end Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Activities of the year. From these assessments, national priorities will be established to The principal authority for the gUide the Service in its Land and Water Service's program in environmental planning Conservation Fund acquisitions. Many of the and regulation is the Fish and Wildlife areas being identified by this process are Coordination Act. Through the authority of riparian ecosystems, especially those in the the Act, the Service evaluates the impact of Southeast and the Southwest. Land is federally funded, permitted, or licensed presently being acquired for the Minnesota water resource development projects and Wildlife Refuge and plans are underway recommends measures for the mitigation and/or to acquire lands along the lower Suwannee enhancement of fish and wildlife resources in River in Florida with Land and Water conjunction with the development project. In Conservation Funds. response to this legislative mandate, the Service has become deeply involved in

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• consulting on and reviewing water and related been instrumental in saving thousands of land resource development proposals, both acres of wetlands and riparian areas from those which are federally financed and destruction. For example, recently concluded authorized by the Congress and those which joint SCS-FWS channelization guidelines are private and require issuance of a Federal should do much to facilitate Fish and permit or license. Wildlife Service input into future small watershed projects. These projects run the gamut from large water resource development projects These guidelines suggest methods for constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation and protecting stream and riparian ecosystem Corps of Engineers to private construction of resources in small small structures such as docks and piers in activities. Channel modification and navigable waters under Federal permits. destruction of streamside vegetation will Water resource projects proposed by public or normally be considered only as a last resort private agencies which require Federal under the guidelines. permits or licenses under the Coordination Act include construction activities in In addition to providing national policy navigable waters; construction of direction, which has helped assure that the hydroelectric power projects; fossil and Service's views concerning Federal activities nuclear-fueled power plants involving water would receive greater consideration, NEPA has diversion or transmission lines; of added an additional dimension to the pollutants; and discharge of dredged or fill Service I s advisory activities. The Act material into wetlands. These actions are covers a wide array of development projects, regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of beyond the water projects traditionally Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Federal reviewed by the Service. By participating in Energy Regulatory Commission, the Department of the Interior's review and Environmental Protection Agency, the Nuclear comment on impact statements, the Service is Regulatory Commission, and others. Many of able to work with numerous other Federal these activities are prime causes of loss or agencies to advise them on ecological values modification of riparian systems, and it is and environmental protection needs. through its implementation of the Coordination Act provisions that the Service The President's recent Executive Orders has worked to prevent this. on Protection of Wetlands and Floodplain Management provide additional policy guidance It is important to remember that to Federal agencies, which should further regardless of the action being taken, whether strengthen the importance of the Service IS it be by Federal, other public, or private recommendations. These Executive Orders entity, and regardless of which agency specfically direct Federal agencies to avoid, ultimately issues the license or permit, the to the extent possible, long and short term Service can only advise of the consequences adverse impacts associated with the to fish and wildlife and recommend measures destruction, occupancy, or modification of to prevent damage, or when appropriate, to wetlands and by direct or improve fish and wildlife resources. The indirect developmental activities wherever Service has no enforcing power, except in there is a practicable alternative. those few cases where the proposed actions would take place on Service-administered Better analytical methods can also lands. Its role under the Coordination Act contribute to more effective consideration of is an advisory one. In the case of Federal habitat protection needs in project projects proposed by the Corps of Engineers formulation. To quantify changes in fish and or the Bureau of Reclamation, the Service IS wildlife habitat values resulting from water advice, in the form of a Coordination Act resource development projects , the Fish and Report, must be made a part of the request Wildlife Service in concerted efforts with for project authorization and transmitted to State Game and Fish agencies, private Congress. Where permits are involved, the conservation groups and other Federal Service's comments are made part of the agencies has developed, and is continuing to documentation reviewed by the decisionmaking refine, Habitat Evaluation Procedures. These official. procedures combine habitat quality and quantity values into an index that provides However, we have developed a strong, decisionmakers with a method of assessing positive working relationship with various existing habitat conditions, evaluating the construction and regulatory agencies. consequences of alternative sites and plans, Particularly since the advent of the National and determining compensation requirements. Environmental Policy Act, we believe that the Development of these procedures to date has Service's recommendations have carried focus~d primarily on assessing habitat values increasing weight and that this advice has in riparian areas that will be impacted by

348 f water resource development activities. Thus, morphology will reduce bank and D these procedures provide an important suspended concentrations by d analytical tool for dealing with riparian dissipating stream energy. Best Management s issues. Practices that incorporate the maintenance of d riparian vegetation and natural stream 1 Another technique being developed by the morphology will not only reduce Fish and Wildlife Service in cooperation with and improve , but will preserve other Federal and State agencies to assess and enhance fish and wildlife resources. r impacts of stream alteration activities on n fish and wildlife is an incremental t. methodology for physical instream habitat Endangered Species Act of 1973 j evaluation. This methodology allows L quantification of potential habitat available The Endangered Species Act of 1973 has t for various species of fish at different special importance to the planning processes streamflow regimes with different channel of all Federal agencies. All Federal configurations and slopes. Through some agencies are reqUired by the Act to consult , modifications presently being considered, the with the Fish and Wildlife Service when their incremental methodology may be useful for activities or programs may affect endangered quantifying effects of stream alteration or threatened species or their critical activities on riparian as well as instream habitats. Critical habitats are determined habitats. by the Service after consultation with the affected States. Once this critical habitat has been delineated, all agencies must insure Environmental Planning that actions authorized, funded, or carried out by them do not jeopardize the continued Recognizing that the best way to existence of threatened or endangered species m1n1mize environmental impacts is through or result in the destruction or modification input early in the planning process, rather of this habitat. At this time there have than after a project has been formulated, the been 34 final determinations of critical Service has sought to increase its planning habitats, 12 of which involve riparian involvement in various ways. Two of these, ecosystems. The only two plant species for which are particularly germane to riparian which critical habitats have been designated protection, will be mentioned here. are both located in unique riparian sand areas in the Sacramento-San Joaquin The first of these is coastal zone floodplain. management. Increasingly, the Service has been assisting States in the development of their programs under the Coastal Zone Research, Studies, and Inventories Management Act by providing guidance which will preserve important fish and wildlife As discussions at this Symposium have habitats such as those in coastal highlighted, a central aspect of any national floodplains. We are also participating in effort must be development of information the Federal review and approval process for necessary for riparian protection and State coastal zone management programs. management. Information concerning the relative values, sensitivities and importance The second involves Fish and Wildlife of various riparian areas will become even Service participation in water quality more crucial as developmental threats and planning through Section 208 activities of pressures increase in future years. The Fish the Clean Waters Act. The development and and Wildlife Service has been heavily implementation of "Best Management Practices" involved in development of such information to control non-point sources of pollution and expertise. will have a strong positive influence on riparian resources along smaller streams and tributaries in agricultural areas. Best National Wetland Inventory Management Practices incorporate those soil and water conservation measures that help to The National Wetland Inventory of the keep water where it falls, restrict soil Fish and Wildlife Service is inventorying, erosion, and keep sediment and chemical mapping, and determining status and trends of pollutants out of the stream. Research those portions of riparian ecosystems indicates that natural streamside vegetation classified as wetlands. However, some can reduce from the riparian areas, such as the transition zones uplands to the stream, that nearstream along western streams or some areas of vegetation will moderate water quality bottomland hardwoods in. the East, have not problems associated with temperature, and been 'classified as wetlands and will not be that allowing streams to maintain a natural included in the Wetland Inventory data base.

349 Research and Investigations and wildlife needs in the riparian area. A five-member Riparian Habitat Team has been Research is being sponsored or conducted formed to develop and test strategies and on many issues relating to management of techniques for the protection and enhancement riparian systems. Of particular interest to of riparian ecosystems. The Team has a broad the topic of this Symposium is a program of background in terrestrial and aquatic eco­ research on the impacts of stream systems with extensive experience in Federal channelization and other alterations on water project planning. The Team is stream ecosystems. currently in the process of identifying and inventorying valuable riparian resourc~s; About 15 research projects are nearing developing alternative strategies to completion or have recently been completed. supplement traditional Fish and Wildlife These studies were conducted by various Service efforts to protect riparian habitats; Fishery and Wildlife Cooperative Research and supporting, through contracts, efforts to Units and through contracts with universities develop methods for reestablishing riparian and private consultants. Results of some of vegetation. these projects have been presented at this Symposium. Studies in this program include PROGRAMS NEEDED TO PROTECT investigation of the fish and wildlife values RIPARIAN ECOSYSTEMS of national riparian ecosystems; impacts of stream alteration activities on land use Although there are no legislative changes, habitat values, and fish and authorities specifically addressing riparian wildlife populations in riparian areas; ecosystems as such, there are mechanisms for development of remote sensing techniques to achieving reasonable levels of protection monitor changes in riparian areas; dynamics through existing floodplain, wetland, coastal of bottomland hardwood growth patterns under zone, water quality, soil and water changing hydrologic conditions and conservation, endangered species, wild and assessments of the effects of altered stream scenic river, and other environmental flows on fish and wildlife in riparian legislation. Despite this protection and the ecosystems. multitude of State and Federal programs developed in response to these legislative In addition to research studies, mandates, natural riparian ecosystems conducted for the purpose of increasing continue to be destroyed and degraded. Among general understanding of riparian systems, the reasons for this continuing environmental numerous field investigations are being degradation are economic pressures and conducted by the Fish and Wildlife Service, programs that encourage conflicting uses, often in concert with other Federal agencies, lack of public awareness of the important to assess the impacts of specific development values associated with the maintenance of projects. Field studies include investiga­ healthy riparian ecosystems, and failure of tions of riparian habitat changes on the governmental agencies to fully implement Platte River where instream diversions are environmental regulations and guidelines. resulting in encroachment of riparian vegetation on sandbar habitats used by It is clear that if we are to reduce thousands of ducks and geese, sandhill future losses and protect the increasingly cranes, and the endangered whooping crane as precious remaining riparian systems, a a staging area during migration. Other concerted effort must be mounted. In our studies include rates and causes of riparian judgment, that effort should include the habitat losses on the Mississippi River as follOWing measures: related to water resource development activities, effects of fluctuating water 1. First, we must strengthen our research, levels on riparian vegetation on the Columbia surveys, and inventories to build a River, and estimates of fish and wildlife better information base on riparian values of Atchafalaya floodplain habitats. systems and their management. This While these and other studies are being includes: conducted to determine site-specific solutions, usually directly in support of the a. Better documentation of the Service's efforts to protect these areas multiple values of riparian ecosystems, under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination or including the contribution these systems Endangered Species Acts, they are also con­ make to flood control, pollution tributing greatly to our overall abatement, , streambank understanding of riparian systems. stabilization, waste treatment, ground w.ater recharge, fish and wildlife For example, a special effort has been productivity, recreation, and initiated in the Service I s Southwestern aesthetics. Region to facilitate consideration of fish

350 b. Identification of functional b. Effective compliance with President relationships of riparian systems Carter's Executive Orders 11988 and relative to biological, chemical, 11990 on Floodplain Management and and physical interaction of water, Protection of Wetlands issued last soils, plants, and animals. From year will be a major step forward, the standpoint of fish and wildlife with respect to Federal and resources, it is particularly federally supported projects. important that we obtain better These orders specifically charge information on the area, shape, and all Federal agencies to restore and characteristics of riparian habitat preserve the natural and beneficial necessary to support various values served by floodplains and species and populations, and the wetlands. exten't to which they can tolerate habitat disturbance. c. In June 1978, the President delivered to the Congress water c. Development of mitigation methods, policy initiatives designed to such as improved techniques for improve the efficiency in planning reestablishing riparian plant and management of Federal water communities in disturbed areas to resource programs, provide a new enhance fish and wildlife values. national emphasis on water con­ servation, provide more Federal­ d. Identification of riparian State cooperation in State water ecosystems where particularly resource planning and, give more important fish and wildlife attention to environmental quality. resource values still exist, as Attention to these improvements well as those where potential for will do much to resolve problems in the reestablishment of such values riparian ecosystems. Five of the is high. suggested initiatives have special t significance to protection of 2. Next, we must provide information to the riparian ecosystem values. These public, planners, and decisionmakers, to are: increase their awareness of riparian values. We need public recognition and a. Requiring the explicit support of these values equivalent to formulation and consideration that which has developed for coastal of a primarily nonstructural ecosystems in recent years and has plan as one alternative resulted in effective action to reduce whenever structural water coastal wetland loss. In the long run, projects or programs are unless the public comes to recognize and planned. support the value of riparian ecosystems, many of these areas will continue to be b. Requiring that mitigation lost. funds for fish and wildlife damages be provid~d con­ 3. Third, we need to work towards a more currently and proportionally vigorous and effective mobilization of with construction funds. the various tools of environmental planning and regulation already c. Requiring that States and available. We have been provided with Federal agencies give special many of the necessary mechanisms; now we attention to protecting and must use them effectively. For example: managing and main­ taining instream flows needed a. The Clean Waters Act of 1977 for fish and wildlife. provides major opportunities for protecting riparian systems, d. Requiring that the Departments particularly through Sections 208 of the Interior and Commerce and 404 and through the implemen­ promulgate regulations and tation of Best Management Practice other Federal agencies prepare prov1s1ons relating to non-point formal procedures for sources of pollution. The Rural implementing the Fish and Clean Water Program being developed Wildlife Coordination Act. by the Department of will have special significance to e. Requiring that the SCS give riparian problems on privately full consideration to the owned agricultural lands. stream channelization guidelines in small watershed projects, insist that land

351 treatment measures be accel­ One new approach is the Department of erated in conjunction with the Interior's Area of National Concern structural methods, and concept, which recognizes that there are implement post-project large areas of valuable resources where monitoring to assure the best solution to protection is to compliance with recommended focus the combined resources and land treatment measures. capabilities of local, State, and Federal governments and the private 4. Acquisition, or other special protection sector in developing a long-term of especially valuable and highly comprehensive management plan for threatened ecosystems will be required, natural resource protection and including: enhancement. Two criteria are involved in the Area of National Concern approach: a. Continued acquisition by the Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the a. That the resource involved is of National Wildlife Refuge System. sufficient national concern to For example, protection of merit some Federal participation important riparian areas in the beyond that of the Land and Water arid Southwest and in southeastern Conservation Fund program; and bottomlands has high priority in the Service's acquisition program. b. That the resource, even though it has intrinsic national quality, b. Acquisition by State and private should not be included 1n the organizations, such as the traditional park, forest, or refuge Conservancy and Audubon Society. systems due to excessive cost of In this regard, the National purchasing the vast amount of land Heritage Program being developed by necessary to protect the values of the Heritage Conservation and the area, management considerations, Recreation Service, and involving a or other factors. coordinated network of State heritage programs, could be an The idea is to avoid Federal acquisition especially valuable tool. and to exploit existing local, State, and Federal protection tools and incen­ c. Inclusion in the Wild and Scenic tives wherever possible. This concept Rivers System. This is another is first being applied in New JE:rsey' s important mechanism for protecting Pinelands and might well be applied to particularly valuable riparian other systems in the future. habitats. Fortunately, the National Parks and Recreation Act In outlining the above program of action, of 1978 added 8 new rivers to the we have not limited ourselves to responsi­ system, as well as including 17 new bilities of the Fish and wildlife Service. rivers to the study list as On the contrary, we recognize that our agency potential candidates. alone can only do a small part of the job. However, in working with the National Park 5. In the final analysis, however, many Service and the many other agencies and riparian ecosystems are likely to remain organizations which co-sponsored this in private hands where economic Symposium, we in the Fish and Wildlife inducements to convert them into Service were encouraged by the tremendous agricultural and other uses will be interest and support expressed for protection great. Existing environmental controls of riparian ecosystems. are generally not an effective mechanism for addressing changing land use Hopefully, the spirit of cooperation patterns such as these. New strategies that has made this Symposium possible will to discourage destruction of key carryover into the development of inter­ riparian areas should be explored. agency strategies for addressing land and These might include imaginative use of water resource needs that maintain, as far as land use zoning mechanisms and various possible, the functional integrity of tax incentives to encourage protection. riparian systems.

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