HELP??! WHaT ARE RIPARIAN AREAS?

Question

what does this question mean :

note any specific steps taken regarding riparian and coastal areas.

(im designing an ecocity...but i dont know what that question means)


THANK YOU...I LOVE YOU ALL!!

Answer 1

To put what was said above into terms that you'll understand:

A "riparian zone" is next to a river, creek or waterhole. It's the really wet area which is usually a lot greener and thicker than the rest of the surrounding land because it's got more water available to it in that the water table is more accessible to the plants which grow there.

The "specific steps" which you're probably being asked about are things like strictly limiting development, harvesting of resources and any substantial modification to the naturally-occurring vegetation because if you don't, you're more likely to pollute the waterway and thereby reducing the aquatic (or waterborne) creatures ability to survive in your ecocity.

Hope this helps!

Love and Light,

Jarrah

Answer 2

Riparian Areas - Geographically delineable areas with distinctive resource values and characteristics that are comprised of the aquatic and riparian ecosystems

Aquatic Ecosystems - Stream channels, lakes, estuary beds; water; biotic communities; and the habitat features that occur therein.

Riparian Ecosystems - A transition area between the aquatic ecosystem and the adjacent terrestrial ecosystems identified by soil characteristics or distinctive vegetation communities that require free or unbound water

The riparian area definition includes the aquatic ecosystem and that portion of the terrestrial
ecosystem substantially affected by the presence of surface and groundwater. Riparian areas
consist of perennial and intermittent streams, ponds, lakes (reservoirs), waterholes, wetlands,
and adjacent lands with soils, vegetation, and landform indicative of high soil moisture or
frequent flooding. They have variable widths that are determined by ecologically significant
boundaries rather than arbitrary distances. No single feature is used to delineate these
ecosystems.

For more info, click

http://cahe.nmsu.edu/riparian/WHTRIPAREA.html

where Terrell T. "Red" Baker, Extension Riparian Management Specialist writes:

Riparian is derived from the Latin word "ripa" meaning streambank. Although it was used much earlier in Europe, use of the term in the United States can be traced back to the early 1800Õs when it was used as a legal term to describe landowners adjacent to a stream or river as "riparians".

Answer 3

It may be referring to a form of water rights.

If one owns land bordered by a body or water. the land owner has riparian water rights. All land owners have a right to make reasonable use of their water front. If there is not enough water, their right are given in proportion of their frontage to the water source. Reasonable use is defined as relationship to other riparian owners to ensure that the rights of one riparian owner are weighed fairly and equitably with the rights of adjacent riparian owners.