6199 Riparian areas occur throughout the United States as linear areas along rivers, streams, and other aquatic habitats. The most extensive riparian areas in the United States are vast forests of bottomland hardwoods that occur along broad river floodplains in the East. However, riparian areas are also important components of many western landscapes.
Riparian areas are among the most diverse, dynamic, and complex biological systems on earth.
However, most streams and riparian areas have been significantly altered or destroyed. These ecosystems often extend beyond the boundaries of jurisdictional wetlands. The majority of these projects are constructed along streams and rivers having adjacent riparian zones. The construction and operation of projects for flood control, water supply, navigation, and hydropower exert considerable stress on the riparian zone at many CE projects. These projects often modify natural flows and flooding regimes and divert ground and surface waters, thus producing substantial alterations to the riparian zone.