state. However, the forming and reforming of plant communities due to the increased fre- 

 quency of deposited sediments limits vegetation succession to early and mid-successional 

 status. This will be the case until the geomorphic processes of aggradation slow sufficiently 

 to allow vegetation succession to proceed. 



Riparian health must be viewed with the understanding that the riparian system is inherently 

 dynamic. The condition (abundance, vigor) of the vegetation on a site would be only one 

 attribute of riparian health. The riparian health should be evaluated in terms of physical and 

 biological function in relation to tiie entire watershed. The following excerpts from Gebhardt 

 et al. (1990) introduce this concept: 



"The interaction of watershed characteristics and vegetation can be described 

 in terms of physical and biological processes and factors. Such processes 

 and factors can be grouped by physical and biological characteristics. The 

 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1989) identified the major vegetal biological 

 characteristics or responses as survival-maintenance, recruitment-reproduc- 

 tion, and community dynamics. The major physical characteristics follow 

 the watershed characteristics described above grouped as moistureAmunda- 

 tion (water quantity), physical and chemical water quality, transport/deposi- 

 tion, and channel/floodplain geometry. Our responsibility is to imderstand 

 their importance to the riparian system, particularly in terms of their rates, 

 magnitude or extent, and duration." 



The processes and associated factors controlling riparian function are listed in Appendix F. 



Riparian health should not be confused with ecological site status. A young site or an old site 

 can be in good health, as with any organism. However, one should not assume that a stream 

 in an advanced ecological condition is desirable (or even attainable) in all instances. Some 

 sites, for example, may be at an early or mid-seral ecological status and provide wonderful 

 waterfowl habitat. Provided these sites are in good health, they are serving a very positive 

 function. Another example might be a willow-dominated PNC supporting a trout population. 

 At the PPC and in excellent health, such a site might produce an abundant fish population, 

 but the vegetation density would preclude fishing. 



In summary, riparian health and ecological site status are two different characteristics of 

 riparian systems. A site in any ecological status may be in good or poor health. All sites 

 should not necessarily be managed for late serai condition, particularly if it precludes a 

 desired function or beneficial use. Riparian health should be judged on the functions that it 

 provides compared to functions that should be present in relation to the entire watershed. All 

 riparian systems should not be expected to have identical functions. 



V. Review Format 



Each classification and description procedure included in this technical reference is described 

 and discussed using the following standard format: 



Name; Name of the classification or description procedure. 



Authors: Authors and/or agencies preparing the procedure. 



References: Doomients that explain the procedure. 



