Taking Care of Streams in Eastern Washington, Eastern Oregon, and Idaho: a Homeowner's Guide to Riparian Areas (Oregon State

Archival Copy. For current information, see the OSU Extension Catalog:https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu

Taking Care of Streams in AA s a homeowner in the Pacific Northwest, you Eastern Washington, have a unique opportunity to help maintain or It’s all about plants Eastern Oregon, and Idaho improve the health of streams and riparian areas. Healthy riparian areas include a variety of types and A Homeowner’s Guide to A riparian area is the area of land adjacent to a stream, ages of plants, including trees, shrubs, grasses, and other Riparian Areas lake, or wetland. Most healthy, natural riparian areas groundcovers. Plants adapted to local rainfall, climate, have moist, fertile soils that support many types of insects, and soil conditions tend to be easier to care for Taking Care of moisture-loving plants. These plants provide food and because they need less water and pesticides. For more information shelter to numerous fish and wildlife. EPA literature review on low-impact development techniques Most native plants are well adapted to their region. In http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lidlit.html Healthy riparian areas: the drier regions of the inland Pacific Northwest, a few Landscaping with Native Plants in the Inland Northwest of the common native riparian plants are: (T. Fitzgerald, revised 2001, Washington State University Cooperative Extension, MISC 0267) • Reduce the chance of flooding http://pubs.wsu.edu • Improve water quality Life on the Edge: Improving Riparian Function • Provide habitat for fish and wildlife • Black cottonwood • Lupine streams (D. Godwin, 2000, Oregon State University Extension Service, EM 8738) streams • Bunchgrass • Ponderosa pine http://eesc.oregonstate.edu/agcomwebfile/edmat/EM8738.pdf Why do riparian areas matter? • Coyote and • Quaking aspen Stream Corridor Restoration—Principles, Processes, and Practices in Eastern Washington, Plants in healthy riparian areas: sandbar willows • Red-osier dogwood (The Federal Interagency Stream Restoration Working Group, Eastern Oregon, and Idaho 1998, revised August 2000) • Provide wood to streams, creating fish habitat and • Golden currant • Snowberry http://www.usda.gov/stream_restoration • Tufted hairgrass • Woods’ rose slowing the stream current after storms. EPA Region 10 Idaho • Shade streams in summer. Cool water is healthier Seattle, WA University of Idaho Cooperative Extension 206-553-1200 Contact your local office or call: for many native fish species. 800-424-4372 (toll free in AK, ID, OR, WA) 208-885-7025 • Help prevent erosion by holding soil in place with http://www.epa.gov/r10earth/ http://www.uidaho.edu/wq/wqhome.html their roots. Oregon Washington • Filter sediment out of muddy runoff, keeping it Streamside plants help stabilize Oregon State University Extension Service WSU Cooperative Extension from smothering fish habitat. Contact your local office or call: Contact your local office or call: streambanks, moderate stream 541-737-4021 509-335-2885 • Allow rain to soak into the soil instead of running http://oregonstate.edu/extension/ http://wawater.wsu.edu immediately into the stream. This reduces temperatures, and provide habitat flooding and allows water to be released slowly to Funded in part by USEPA Region 10 and the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, the stream during the dry season. and Extension System. Regional Water Quality Coordination Team: Marilyn Freeman, EPA liaison; Robert L. for fish and other wildlife. Mahler, University of Idaho; J. Ronald Miner, Oregon State University; Robert Simmons, Washington State • Filter out pollutants, such as fertilizers, pesticides, University; Fred Sorensen, University of Alaska; and Sylvia Kantor, Washington State University (editor). and animal wastes. © 2002 Oregon State University. This publication may be photocopied or reprinted in its entirety • Provide important food sources, homes, shelter, for noncommercial purposes. and travel corridors for wildlife, fish, and other Published and distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914, by the Pacific Northwest Extension publishing cooperative (Oregon State University Extension Service, aquatic organisms. Washington State University Cooperative Extension, and the University of Idaho Cooperative The bottom line is: Snowberry flowers Snowberry fruit Extension System). The three participating Extension Services offer educational programs, activities, and • Less flooding during and immediately after storms materials—without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital • More water in the stream during summer status, disability, and disabled veteran or Vietnam-era veteran status—as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and • Cleaner water Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The Oregon State University Extension • Homes and food for wildlife, including many Service, Washington State University Cooperative Extension, and the University of species of fish, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, Idaho Cooperative Extension System are Equal Opportunity Employers. AA Homeowner’sHomeowner’s GuideGuide toto RiparianRiparian AreasAreas and mammals Published October 2002. PNW 557 • October 2002 • A Pacific Northwest Extension publication Oregon State University • University of Idaho • Washington State University Archival Copy. For current information, see the OSU Extension Catalog:https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu

Take care of plants Be careful when you build and the streamside • Leave as many native plants as possible near • Promote dense vegetation to reduce runoff and trap streams and everywhere! contaminants. • Plan new construction away from existing streams • Learn about native plants and use them where appropriate. and wetlands instead of modifying them. • Minimize paved areas. Keep the roof area, walkways, Nutrients and pollutants associated with stormwater runoff can increase • Restore eroded streambanks with help from a professional. and driveways as small as possible, and direct runoff to the amount of algae in streams. (Photo courtesy of the Center for Watershed • Leave wood and other natural materials in streams. Protection) landscaping or another filtering system where possible. • Don’t straighten channels or place rubble or rip-rap on • Use gravel or bark instead of pavement for paths and streambanks. driveways. How do people • Use a small switchback trail to reduce erosion in steep • Always observe local ordinances and get proper change riparian areas? areas. Install a bark path instead of pavement. Quaking aspen permits. Removing or damaging plants through construction • Leave as wide a vegetation buffer as possible next and landscaping, especially in the riparian area, can Grow and maintain a to the stream. harm streams. Plants, particularly trees and shrubs, catch stream-friendly garden and lawn rainfall and allow it to soak slowly into the ground • Plant native plants—they can be easier to care for because There’s more you instead of running quickly into streams. When water they often are more tolerant of insects and low summer can do around the house runoff from storms reaches streams too quickly, more rainfall. • Don’t pour soapy water, automobile oil, paint, erosion and flooding occur downstream. More rain- • Minimize the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. household chemicals, or pesticides down storm drains. water, pesticides, fertilizers, and soil reach the stream in Consider using natural, slow-release fertilizers. Drains often are connected directly to streams. areas without riparian plants to slow and filter water. • Locate compost piles on flat surfaces away from streams or • Direct gutters away from streams, When streams and riparian areas are not healthy, drainage areas, and keep them covered during the wet pavement, and septic drain fields, and people feel the consequences. winter months. Do not dispose of grass clippings near into areas where water can seep Don’t dump waste. Drains often connect to streams or groundwater. streams. • Recreational areas are lost or degraded. slowly into the soil. • Apply compost to gardens only during the growing season. • Fish and wildlife decline, reducing opportunities • Inspect your septic system for hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing. annually, and pump the tank as • Increased flooding may cause erosion and property necessary. damage. • Keep pet waste away from • The region may lose economic opportunities Teach your children streams, riparian areas, and because people avoid unattractive and unhealthy what is healthy and unhealthy paved areas. Put pet waste in a areas. bag and place it in the trash. for streams and riparian areas. • Use less toxic or nontoxic Be aware of ways household cleaners. you can reduce the amount Make caring for the stream of water flowing downhill a family project. from your property. Red-osier dogwood Lupine Archival Copy. For current information, see the OSU Extension Catalog:https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu WhatWhat CanCan YouYou Do?Do?