Difference between revisions of "Riparian Vegetation"

Riparian Vegetation

Maintain native vegetation and wildlife habitat, in various stages of maturity, such that they are diverse, healthy, productive, self-sustaining, and ecologically appropriate.

Desired Future Condition for Native Species and Biotic Communities

Nonfish Biotic Communities:
Native non-fish aquatic biota and their habitats are sustainably maintained with ecologically appropriate distributions.
• Populations of native non-fish species (invertebrates and vertebrates, including Northern Leopard Frog).
- AMP support, actions and funding are limited to incorporation of dam operations which are conducive to restoration of extirpated species.
• Minimize the abundance and distribution of non-native species in the CRE.
• Sustainable dam-influenced aquatic, wetland, and springs plant communities and associated biological processes, including those supporting threatened and endangered species and their habitats.

CRE Riparian Domain:
Native riparian systems, in various stages of maturity, are diverse, healthy, productive, self-sustaining, and ecologically appropriate.
• Native, self-sustaining riverine wetlands, and riparian vegetation and habitat, with appropriate mixture of age classes.
• Healthy, self-sustaining populations of native riparian fauna (both resident and migratory).
• Habitat for sensitive species within the CRE
• Encourage the resolution of the taxonomic status of the Kanab ambersnail (e.g., completely describe the taxa and subspecies).
• Habitat for neotropical migratory birds, waterfowl, and other appropriate native bird species.
• Ecological functions of tributary mouths and riverside springs, including habitat for native species.

LTEMP Experimental Action: Native and Nonnative Plant Management and Experimental Treatments (BA, pages 41-42) [1]

Experimental riparian vegetation treatment activities would be implemented by NPS under the proposed action and would modify the cover and distribution of riparian plant communities along the Colorado River. All activities would be consistent with NPS Management Policies (NPS 2006) and would occur only within the Colorado River Ecosystem in areas that are influenced by dam operations. NPS would work with tribal partners and GCMRC to experimentally implement and evaluate a number of vegetation control and native replanting activities on the riparian vegetation within the Colorado River Ecosystem in GCNP and GCNRA. These activities would include ongoing monitoring and removal of selected nonnative plant species, systematic removal of nonnative vegetation at targeted sites, and native replanting at targeted sites, which may include complete removal of tamarisk (both live and dead) and re-vegetation with native plants. Treatments would include the control of nonnative plant species and revegetation with native plant species.