Riparian habitats are commonly identified as those areas of land adjacent to creeks, streams, and rivers where the vegetation type is strongly influenced by the presence of water. Riparian vegetation or structure may also occur at seeps and spring sites. Dry washes and ephemeral streams that have not historically supported riparian vegetation are not usually included in the definition of riparian habitat (Riparian-Wetland Initiative, Bureau of Land Management, 1991).

Riparian areas strongly influence the function of associated watershed regions. A watershed is an area that collects and discharges natural runoff, such as uplands and their associated drainages that merge to form a stream system. Riparian areas comprise less than 1% of the area in the United States, but they are among the most productive and valuable of all lands (Livestock Grazing on Western Riparian Areas, Environmental Protection Agency, 1991).

Riparian habitats or zones perform specific functions within an ecosystem. A functioning riparian zone controls erosion, stabilizes banks and shorelines, regulates water temperatures, filters sediment, builds floodplains, dissipates energy, delays floodwaters, and helps with groundwater recharge (Idaho Standards for Rangeland Health, Bureau of Land Management, 1997). Figure 1.1-1 (Riparian-Wetland Initiative, BLM 1991) illustrates the typical structure found in a functional riparian ecosystem.

A riparian association of any kind (except marshes) is one that is in or adjacent to drainage-ways or their floodplains and is characterized by species or life forms that are different from the immediately surrounding non-riparian climax. Some of these riparian systems are dynamic through time (changing) while others are relatively stable. Identifying structural stages gives an indication of the health of the riparian ecosystem. Although structural stages may vary, a functioning riparian system in any stage of progression will provide the basic riparian functions (Inventory and Monitoring of Wildlife Habitat, BLM 1986). Figure 1.1-2 (Bureau of Land Management, 1995) provides an illustration of three basic stages of riparian succession.

Healthy riparian Systems are extremely important to a wide variety of wildlife. Healthy Systems support a large diversity of insect, mollusk, and crustacean species that are key resources in the food chain. Riparian habitat provides fish with cool clean water, stable channels, sustained water supply, spawning sites, hiding cover, and food sources (Riparian-Wetland Initiative, Bureau of Land Management, 1991).

Riparian habitat provides for the needs of more species of birds than all other western rangeland vegetation types combined (Livestock Grazing on Western Riparian Areas, Environmental Protection Agency, 1991). Food, cover, and nesting sites are provided by riparian habitats. Riparian zones are also important as migratory routes for many species of waterfowl and other migratory species. Riparian habitat provides both game and non-game wildlife with water, food, hiding cover, shelter, and protected pathways to adjacent habitat (Riparian-Wetland Initiative, BLM, 1991).

The treatment of riparian habitats and their current condition in the United States is alarming. It is estimated that 70-90% of the natural riparian ecosystems have already been lost to human activities. Estimates for the Rocky Mountains/Great Plains region are that 90-95% of the natural riparian systems have been lost. Over 80% of the remaining systems on both private and public lands were considered to be in unsatisfactory condition and dominated by human activities (Inventory and Monitoring of Wildlife Habitat, Bureau of Land Management, 1986).

This loss of riparian habitat is a major factor contributing to the decline of native plant and animal populations and species diversity. A majority of North American threatened and endangered species rely on or require riparian systems for survival. If our riparian ecosystems are completely lost or continue to be reduced to only vestiges of their original state, we could lose up to 80% of our wildlife species in the western US (Inventory and Monitoring of Wildlife Habitat, Bureau of Land Management, 1986).

Riparian functions and values have been widely and severely impacted by cultivation, livestock grazing, road construction, mining, urbanization, logging, and damming of rivers. Livestock grazing has had the most geographically widespread effect on riparian systems. The resultant economic and environmental losses have been devastating, leading to a growing number of individuals concerned about western watersheds (Livestock Grazing on Western Riparian Areas, Environmental Protection Agency, 1991).

Livestock grazing can negatively impact riparian systems in a number of ways. Any disturbance that leads to soil compaction, removal of deep-rooted species, or in any way alters a natural stream gradient can lead to down-cuffing and loss of the water table (Rangeland Cover Types of the US, Shiflet, 1994). Livestock grazing affects channel morphology, causing loss of temperature control. Livestock grazing can alter the timing and volume of water flow. Grazing affects water quality through increased suspended sediments and higher bacterial counts (Idaho Bird Conservation Plan, Partners in Flight, 2000).

Livestock grazing can decrease the biomass and vigor of riparian shrubs and alter the plant community and its diversity. Grazing affects the spacing and width of plants within a riparian zone, reduces age-class diversity of the riparian plant structure, and can lead to the establishment of invasive species. Grazing can suppress or eliminate regeneration capabilities of tree and shrub species. Livestock grazing can lead to the loss of the riparian greenline, the first "line" of perennial vegetation that forms a lineal community grouping. Overgrazing can lead to replacement of the riparian greenline by non-riparian species (Monitoring the Vegetation Resources in Riparian Areas, Winward, 2000).

Unless managed properly, livestock grazing can result in permanent changes in the landscape and loss of long-term productivity. Riparian areas in deteriorated conditions become even more sensitive to improper livestock grazing. Damage to riparian ecosystems through improper grazing can be severe, long lasting, and in some cases irreversible (Livestock Grazing on Western Riparian Areas, Environmental Protection Agency, 1991).

Terrestrial wildlife biologists have seldom considered the values of riparian habitats. It has only been within the past 15 years that serious consideration and research has been directed towards the importance of riparian systems to wildlife. When riparian areas are incorporated into large pastures, these valuable wildlife habitat zones become sacrifice areas where most, if not all, of the plant production is removed (Inventory and Monitoring of Wildlife Habitat, Bureau of Land Management, 1986).

Grazing management has typically been targeted towards the more extensive uplands, predominantly grasses. This is unlikely to result in proper utilization of riparian grasses, forbs, or woody species. Until very recent years, some livestock grazing manuals referred to streamside areas as "sacrifice areas" (Livestock Grazing on Western Riparian Areas, Environmental Protection Agency, 1991).

Denzel Ferguson, former director of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge stated:

Forage estimates are routinely used to calculate the AUM's (animal unit month; the amount of forage needed to sustain one cow and calf for one month) available on an allotment. As riparian zones comprise only a tiny percentage of most allotment acreage, the forage estimates come from the surrounding uplands. However, livestock tend to concentrate on and overgraze riparian areas, while under-utilizing upland forage. Setting allotment AUM's based on upland forage when riparian zones exist within allotment boundaries is unrealistic; riparian habitats need to be managed as distinct units (Inventory and Monitoring of Wildlife Habitat, Bureau of Land Management, 1986).

Agency land managers have a wide variety of published riparian standards, guidelines and years of established and ongoing research to assist them in the management of riparian habitats. It has been nearly a decade since the establishment of the Bureau of Land Management's national Riparian-Wetland Initiative. The Bureau's Final Idaho Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management were approved and published in 1997.

The Bureau of Land Management's Riparian-Wetland Initiative for the 1990's established four main goals:

• Restore and maintain riparian-wetland areas so that 75% or more are in proper functioning condition by 1997. The overall objective is to achieve an advanced ecological status, except where resource management, including proper functioning condition would require an earlier successional stage.

• Protect riparian-wetland areas and associated uplands through proper land management and avoid or mitigate negative impacts. Acquire and expand key areas to provide for their maximum public benefit, protection, enhancement, and efficient management.

• Ensure an aggressive riparian-wetland information/outreach program, including providing training and research.

• Improve partnerships and cooperative restoration and management processes in implementing the riparian-wetland initiative.

The initiative declared that the national policy goal that will guide future management is "to maintain, restore, or improve riparian-wetland values to achieve a healthy and proper functioning condition for the maximum long-term benefit of the American people."

The Final Idaho Standards for Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management was produced for the purpose of providing resource measures and guidance needed to ensure healthy, functional rangelands. This Bureau of Land Management plan states that:

In specific relation to watershed and riparian values, the Bureau of Land Management's Final Idaho Standards for Rangeland Health includes the following:

1. The amount and distribution of ground cover, including litter, for identified ecological site(s) or soil-plant associations are appropriate for site stability.
2. Evidence of accelerated erosion in the form of rills and/or gullies, erosional pedestals, flow patterns, physical soil crusts/surface sealing, and compaction layers below the soil surface is minimal for soil type and landform.

1. The riparian/wetland vegetation is controlling erosion, stabilizing stream banks, shading water areas to reduce water temperature, stabilizing shorelines, filtering sediment, aiding in floodplain development, dissipating energy, delaying flood waters, and increasing recharge of groundwater appropriate to site potential.
2. Riparian/wetland vegetation with deep strong binding roots is sufficient to stabilize stream banks and shorelines. Invader and shallow rooted species are a minor component of the floodplain.
3. Age class and structural diversity of riparian/wetland vegetation is appropriate for the site.
4. Noxious weeds are not increasing.

Similar guidelines have been incorporated into the Forest Management Plans of the National Forests. Each forest has its own Forest Management Plan, which includes standards for rangeland and riparian management. Many National Forest Service and associated publications document established methods for monitoring, measuring, and managing riparian and other grazing lands.

The Sawtooth National Forest, responsible for National Forest lands in southeastern Idaho, has established riparian and rangeland standards for the lands they administer. Although national direction had been to restore all degraded watersheds to a natural condition by 2000; the current Sawtooth Forest Plan acknowledged that this goal would not be accomplished by that date.

In relation to grazing, management practices, and improvements the Sawtooth Forest Plan includes the following statements:

A tremendous amount of research by the federal agencies, by universities, and by other organizations has gone into developing the standards for healthy range and riparian management. Many kinds of monitoring systems, types of trend studies, and other assessment tools have been tested and developed. Publications on riparian and wetland management are now extensive. Despite all of these activities and resources, problems are still widespread.

Riparian habitats are the most productive and valuable of our western rangeland habitat types. A majority of wildlife species rely on riparian habitat for all or significant portions of their life cycles. Loss of riparian habitat is contributing to the decline of our native plant and animal species, such as Ute Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis), Buxbaum's Sedge (Carex buxbaumii), Redband Trout, Mountain Quail, and Sage Grouse. Loss of watershed values and the loss of riparian values and productivity have had far-reaching environmental and economic consequences. Public interest and concern for these riparian areas has been growing.

Federal agencies have clearly defined objectives and standards in relation to the management of livestock grazing and riparian values. These same standards are available for implementation by state and other management agencies. However, despite the tremendous amount of time spent in defining and producing management guidelines for riparian habitat, a vast majority of natural riparian areas are not in proper functioning condition.