The extent to which the waterway effects the surrounding areas lays at the heart of the dispute. Because logging can not take place within a riperian zone, the lines of that zone have become fuzzy. On one extreme, these zones can be seem as ending right over the banks of the river and on the other extreme, these zones can be seen to effect areas for miles. In this Old Growth forest, the trees which fall into this stream create breaks in the rushing water, providing salmon habitats. Salamanders and many other organisms will call this place home.
Alders are very important in the forest.
Thanks to the bacteria in their root nodules, these trees are able to fix much need nitrogen into the soil.