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Science to Inform Riparian Ecosystem Restoration and Management

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By Fort Collins Science Center November 29, 2016

Throughout the world, riparian habitats have been dramatically modified from their natural condition. Dams, non-native species and climate change are often principal drivers of these changes, via their alteration of water and sediment regimes that determine key resources for riparian plants.

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Riparian planting in the Powell River watershed in Lee County, VA, part of the Lone Mountain NRDAR restoration.
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This is a riparian planting in the Powell River watershed in Lee County, Virginia. Public domain.

Dams are often principal drivers of riparian ecosystem changes, via their alteration of water and sediment regimes that determine key resources for riparian plants. Another common perturbation in riparian ecosystems is the spread of non-native, invasive species. Climate change can interact with these variables to drive further changes to riparian areas. Because of the array of ecological goods and services provided by riparian ecosystems, their restoration have become the focus of many land and water managers. Efforts to restore riparian habitats and other riverine ecosystems have included managing flow releases downstream of dams to more closely mimic natural flows, controlling invasive species in combination with other restoration actions, and, occasionally, dam removal.

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

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Vegetation along the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon

Riparian Ecology

Riparian ecologists at the Fort Collins Science Center study interactions among flow, channel change, and vegetation along rivers across the western United States and worldwide. Our work focuses on issues relevant to the management of water and public lands, including dam operation, climate change, invasive species, and ecological restoration. Investigations take place on a range of scales. For...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Land Management Research Program, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
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Riparian Ecology

Riparian ecologists at the Fort Collins Science Center study interactions among flow, channel change, and vegetation along rivers across the western United States and worldwide. Our work focuses on issues relevant to the management of water and public lands, including dam operation, climate change, invasive species, and ecological restoration. Investigations take place on a range of scales. For...
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The Bill Williams River in Arizona. USGS photo.

Large-scale streamflow experiments

Because the underlying cause of riparian system alteration is often attributed to the effects of dams on flow regime, managing flow releases, particularly high flows, from dams is an often-advocated approach to river and riparian restoration. Our work has focused on understanding effects of managed high flow releases (a.k.a., pulse flows, controlled floods) from dams along rivers in the lower...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
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Large-scale streamflow experiments

Because the underlying cause of riparian system alteration is often attributed to the effects of dams on flow regime, managing flow releases, particularly high flows, from dams is an often-advocated approach to river and riparian restoration. Our work has focused on understanding effects of managed high flow releases (a.k.a., pulse flows, controlled floods) from dams along rivers in the lower...
Learn More
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Glines Canyon Dam on the Elwha River, during the dam removal process. Photo credit: National Park Service

Riparian Vegetation Response to Dam Removal

Dam removal is an approach to river restoration that is becoming increasingly common. In most cases, dam removal is driven by considerations other than river restoration like dam safety, but how dam removal affects aquatic and riparian systems is of great interest in many dam removals. My work in this area has had two areas of focus thus far: 1) studies of vegetation and geomorphic change...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Fort Collins Science Center
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Riparian Vegetation Response to Dam Removal

Dam removal is an approach to river restoration that is becoming increasingly common. In most cases, dam removal is driven by considerations other than river restoration like dam safety, but how dam removal affects aquatic and riparian systems is of great interest in many dam removals. My work in this area has had two areas of focus thus far: 1) studies of vegetation and geomorphic change...
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Extensive defoliation of tamarisk (orange/brown vegetation throughout mid-ground) along the Virgin River, Arizona, 2009.

Biological Invasions of Riparian Ecosystems

Beginning in the early twentieth century, non-native trees and shrubs, including tamarisk (also commonly known as saltcedar) and Russian-olive, were introduced to the United States for use as ornamental plants and in erosion-control plantings. These plants spread extensively, becoming the third and fourth most frequently occurring woody riparian plants in the American West.
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
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Biological Invasions of Riparian Ecosystems

Beginning in the early twentieth century, non-native trees and shrubs, including tamarisk (also commonly known as saltcedar) and Russian-olive, were introduced to the United States for use as ornamental plants and in erosion-control plantings. These plants spread extensively, becoming the third and fourth most frequently occurring woody riparian plants in the American West.
Learn More
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The unregulated Santa Maria River in west-central Arizona.

Streamflow-fluvial Geomorphology-riparian Vegetation Interactions

The foundation for applying science to river and riparian restoration contexts lies in a basic understanding of the factors that drive riparian vegetation dynamics. Much of our research is focused on clarifying relationships between streamflow, fluvial geomorphology, and riparian vegetation, including various feedbacks.
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program, Land Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center
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Streamflow-fluvial Geomorphology-riparian Vegetation Interactions

The foundation for applying science to river and riparian restoration contexts lies in a basic understanding of the factors that drive riparian vegetation dynamics. Much of our research is focused on clarifying relationships between streamflow, fluvial geomorphology, and riparian vegetation, including various feedbacks.
Learn More

Below are publications associated with this project.

Adaptive restoration of river terrace vegetation through iterative experiments

Restoration projects can involve a high degree of uncertainty and risk, which can ultimately result in failure. An adaptive restoration approach can reduce uncertainty through controlled, replicated experiments designed to test specific hypotheses and alternative management approaches. Key components of adaptive restoration include willingness of project managers to accept the risk...
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Michelle P. Dela Cruz, Vanessa B. Beauchamp, Patrick B. Shafroth, Cheryl E. Decker, Aviva O’Neil
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center

Floristic composition, beta diversity, and nestedness of reference sites for restoration of xeroriparian areas

In restoration ecology, reference sites serve as models for areas to be restored and can provide a standard of comparison for restoration project outcomes. When reference sites are located a relatively long distance from associated restoration projects, differences in climate, disturbance history, and biogeography can increase beta diversity and may decrease the relevance of reference...
Authors
Vanessa B. Beauchamp, P.B. Shafroth
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Fort Collins Science Center

Salinity tolerance and mycorrhizal responsiveness of native xeroriparian plants in semi-arid western USA

Restoration of salt-affected soils is a global concern. In the western United States, restoration of salinized land, particularly in river valleys, often involves control of Tamarix, an introduced species with high salinity tolerance. Revegetation of hydrologically disconnected floodplains and terraces after Tamarix removal is often difficult because of limited knowledge regarding the...
Authors
Vanessa B. Beauchamp, C. Walz, P.B. Shafroth

Planning riparian restoration in the context of tamarix control in Western North America

Throughout the world, the condition of many riparian ecosystems has declined due to numerous factors, including encroachment of non-native species. In the western United States, millions of dollars are spent annually to control invasions of Tamarix spp., introduced small trees or shrubs from Eurasia that have colonized bottomland ecosystems along many rivers. Resource managers seek to...
Authors
P.B. Shafroth, Vanessa B. Beauchamp, M.K. Briggs, K. Lair, M.L. Scott, A.A. Sher
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