California Riparian Systems

Ecology, Conservation, and Productive Management

Richard E. Warner, Kathleen M. Hendrix, Richard E. Warner, Kathleen M. Hendrix

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Year: 2023
• eBook ISBN: 9780520322431
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Ecology
• Index: Biological Sciences

In California's semi-arid environment, the narrow, lush strips of riparian habitats that border watercourses, springs, and seeps are critical ecosystems, supporting a remarkable abundance of plant and animal life. These rich environments once thrived across the state, from the Central Valley to the deserts of the Great Basin, providing essential habitats for wildlife and acting as vibrant corridors in otherwise dry landscapes. However, over time, the expansion of agriculture and development has drastically altered these ecosystems. Today, less than 10 percent of the original riparian vegetation remains, with much of it degraded through logging, grazing, and water diversion. This volume explores the unique ecological importance of California's riparian systems, discussing the delicate balance between productive land use and the conservation of these critical habitats. California Riparian Systems brings together the latest research and insights from experts in ecology, conservation, and land management to provide a comprehensive look at the challenges facing these fragile ecosystems. The book highlights the essential role riparian systems play in supporting diverse wildlife, from the Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Bell's Vireo, which nest exclusively in riparian thickets, to aquatic mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish that depend on the shelter and food provided by streamside vegetation. With growing public awareness and appreciation of the beauty and value of these areas, this volume serves as both a call to action and a guide for sustainable management, offering strategies to preserve and protect California's riparian systems while balancing agricultural and economic needs.

This title was originally published in 1984.
In California's semi-arid environment, the narrow, lush strips of riparian habitats that border watercourses, springs, and seeps are critical ecosystems, supporting a remarkable abundance of plant and animal life. These rich environments once thrived acro

Table of contents

• Cover
• IN MEMORIAM
• CONTENTS
• A PICTORIAL OVERVIEW OF CALIFORNIA RIPARIAN SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS
• FOREWORD
• PREFACE
• SOME RIPARIMI DEFINITIONS
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• 1 BIOGEOGRAPHY AND DYNAMICS OF CHANGE IN CALIFORNIA RIPARIAN SYSTEMS
• 2 STRUCTURE, STATUS, AND TRENDS IN THE CONDITION OF CALIFORNIA RIPARIAN SYSTEMS
• 3 HYDROLOGIC AND HYDRAULIC CONSIDERATIONS IN THE STRUCTURE, FUNCTION, AND PROTECTION OF CALIFORNIA RIPARIAN SYSTEMS
• 4 AQUATIC/RIPARIAN INTERACTIONS IN RIVERINE SYSTEMS
• 5 RIPARIAN/UPLAND INTERACTIONS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO WILDLIFE AND AGRICULTURE
• 6. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL VALUES IN RIPARIAN SYSTEMS
• 7 RIPARIAN SYSTEMS AND THE LAW: THE LEGAL AND LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR PROTECTION AND UTILIZATION
• 8 CLASSIFICATION, INVENTORY, AND MONITORING OF RIPARIAN SYSTEMS
• 9 NATIONAL AND REGIONAL RIPARIAN TRENDS: TOWARD A BROADER PERSPECTIVE
• 10 RIPARIAN RESTORATION: PROBLEMS AND OPPORTUNITIES
• 11 RIPARIAN SYSTEMS AND WATER DIVERSION PROJECTS: CAN THE CONFLICTS BE RESOLVED?
• 12 PROBLEMS AND OPPORTUNITIES OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION ON LEVEE SYSTEMS
• 13 RIPARIAN SYSTEMS AND THE ECOLOGY OF BIRD POPULATIONS
• 14 COASTAL ZONE RIPARIAN SYSTEMS: MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION CHALLENGES IN AN AREA OF RAPID DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGE
• 15 UNIQUE ECOLOGICAL AND MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS OF CALIFORNIA DESERT RIPARIAN SYSTEMS
• 16 SUSTAINED YIELD PRODUCTION IN RIPARIAN SYSTEMS: MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF ECONOMIC AND ECOLOGICAL VIABILITY
• 17 CULTURAL, ECOLOGICAL, RECREATIONAL, AND AESTHETIC VALUES: TOWARD A NEW COALITION IN RIPARIAN SYSTEM MANAGEMENT
• 18 INTEGRATED APPROACHES TO RIPARIAN MANAGEMENT: ARE THEY SUCCEEDING?
• 19 RIPARIAN INITIATIVES AT THE LOCAL LEVEL: IS A STATE MANDATE NECESSARY?
• 20 THE RIVERS AND HARBORS ACT, SECTION 404, AND RIPARIAN SYSTEM CONSERVATION
• 21 RIPARIAN SYSTEMS AND THE ECOLOGY OF NON-AVIAN WILDLIFE POPULATIONS
• 22 DEVELOPING MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR RIPARIAN LANDS IN PRIVATE OWNERSHIP
• DIRECTORY OF CONTRIBUTORS
• INDEX