Along stream banks and lakeshores, trees and other vegetation near the water's edge provide shade for fish and other aquatic life and help keep the water cool in summer. These plants also support many insects that provide food for fish. Branches and trees that fall into the water become hiding and feeding places for fish. It also provides an area of groundwater recharge and helps maintain reliable stream flows year-round. Proper management of the riparian zone minimizes streambank and shoreline erosion and reduces sedimentation downstream, which in turn lowers waterway maintenance and water treatment costs.
Excess sediment can also destroy fish spawning habitat and turn beaches into quagmires.
Management Approach Riparian areas can be managed to allow livestock use while maintaining the integrity of water, soils and vegetation in the zone. Access to the Water Traditionally, livestock have had unrestricted access to the water. This can result in many problems. Cattle that spend time in the water and mud are susceptible to diseases such as foot rot and mastitis. The water becomes contaminated with livestock waste, providing a medium for the transfer of many other livestock diseases.