Why are riparian areas important?
Ecological Functions: Riparian areas support
the health of the ecosystem.
The above content was provided by Cows and Fish. For more info,
please go to https://cowsandfish.org/ecology-function/
![Promote Plant growth-01.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3a48a1_cc70b515b1cf4d0e8e00fb965cf1b46a~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_27,y_0,w_579,h_579/fill/w_159,h_159,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Promote%20Plant%20growth-01.jpg)
Promotes plant growth
![Reduce dissipate energy-01.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3a48a1_423d94f8e94c4374b495d062df3074c5~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_27,y_0,w_579,h_579/fill/w_159,h_159,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Reduce%20dissipate%20energy-01.jpg)
Reduces and dissipates energy
![Filter buffer water-01.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3a48a1_47e715ed44d7458bb743caf1dd5a018d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_159,h_159,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Filter%20buffer%20water-01.jpg)
Filters & buffers water
![Stores water energy-01.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3a48a1_d6b7161e175644a896ef5b922005b3cf~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_167,y_87,w_493,h_492/fill/w_160,h_159,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Stores%20water%20energy-01.jpg)
Stores water and energy
![Maintains biodiversity-01.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3a48a1_93259d47a88d4b189293300c3da4e372~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_159,h_159,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Maintains%20biodiversity-01.jpg)
Maintains biodiversity
![Maintains banks-01.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3a48a1_e3023368252643a3ba89771967863388~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_160,h_159,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Maintains%20banks-01.jpg)
Builds and maintains banks and shorelines
![Stores sediment-01.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3a48a1_656a0320440b41919bc3c0bc75aa4b54~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_128,w_600,h_601/fill/w_159,h_159,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Stores%20sediment-01.jpg)
Traps and stores sediment
![Recharges aquifers 2-01.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3a48a1_b41b3e5f39304a7c87a605473fc6725c~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_59,y_26,w_523,h_523/fill/w_159,h_159,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Recharges%20aquifers%202-01.jpg)
Recharges
aquifers
![Mergansers.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3a48a1_a847ebba7d1a48009b0b6d3e60ea1cb5~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_22,w_849,h_423/fill/w_980,h_487,al_c,lg_1,q_85,enc_auto/Mergansers.jpg)
“When you consider the many ecological goods and services that riparian areas contribute to the ecosystem, you begin to realize that this small percentage of the land base in Alberta is in a class of its own.”
— Central Alberta Farmer
Goods and Services: Riparian areas
benefit people and communities.
![Andre_Riparian Portal Project_Icons_Hunt](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3a48a1_c328d66ab5b24160a54c677d334127cc~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_159,h_159,al_c,q_80,blur_3,enc_auto/Andre_Riparian%20Portal%20Project_Icons_Hunt.jpg)
Hunting and angling opportunities
![Andre_Riparian Portal Project_Icons_Grou](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3a48a1_6f9e186132684eaaa7c270891118e466~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_159,h_159,al_c,q_80,blur_3,enc_auto/Andre_Riparian%20Portal%20Project_Icons_Grou.jpg)
Groundwater well security
![Andre_Riparian Portal Project_Icons_Wate](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3a48a1_15a87eb0fe664afe93d7450f887e4a73~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_158,h_159,al_c,q_80,blur_3,enc_auto/Andre_Riparian%20Portal%20Project_Icons_Wate.jpg)
Water storage
![Andre_Riparian Portal Project_Icons_Rec,](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3a48a1_7db283adf5064ae1830536263a31d971~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_158,h_159,al_c,q_80,blur_3,enc_auto/Andre_Riparian%20Portal%20Project_Icons_Rec%2C.jpg)
Recreational, cultural or wildlife viewing opportunities
![Andre_Riparian Portal Project_Icons_Eros](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3a48a1_0bc268b1c8324ab4b85a597904c53395~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_159,h_159,al_c,q_80,blur_3,enc_auto/Andre_Riparian%20Portal%20Project_Icons_Eros.jpg)
Erosion and sedimentation control
![Andre_Riparian Portal Project_Icons_Floo](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3a48a1_455d7e13d37e4bd39a5996800ab01d52~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_158,h_159,al_c,q_80,blur_3,enc_auto/Andre_Riparian%20Portal%20Project_Icons_Floo.jpg)
Increased resiliency to flood and drought
![Andre_Riparian Portal Project_Icons_Decr](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3a48a1_fde8e6a75c564db99bd5facbebc5d44b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_159,h_159,al_c,q_80,blur_3,enc_auto/Andre_Riparian%20Portal%20Project_Icons_Decr.jpg)
Affordable
drinking water
![Andre_Riparian Portal Project_Icons_Live](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/3a48a1_00c6e46774d54a25b36c6c24a6d2a2ab~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_159,h_159,al_c,q_80,blur_3,enc_auto/Andre_Riparian%20Portal%20Project_Icons_Live.jpg)
Livestock shelter, forage and grazing opportunities