Wetland vegetation provides food and shelter for wildlife and habitat for a variety of insects, amphibians and birds. Stream Bank Stabilization Large stones, placed along the stream bank, help protect a mature maple tree from the erosive forces of flood flows. The structure deflects water away from the stream bank which had been eroding previously. The tree's root system will help stabilize floodplain sediments during flood flows and prevent further stream bank erosion. Also, trees in the floodplain or bordering streams provide shade which reduces the in-stream water temperature during warm weather months.
Trees provide habitat for a variety wildlife, birds and insects throughout the year.
Buffers A heron seeks shelter under a foot bridge spanning the stream channel. Notice the lush streamside buffer which includes an abundance of herbaceous vegetation and mature trees. Streamside vegetation forms a buffer that reduces storm flows and traps sediment and nutrients before they reach the stream. In-Stream Habitat Looking upstream, a small pool has formed beneath a cross vein which provides habitat for fish and a variety of macroinvertebrates that live on the channel bed. Stabilization Structures Looking downstream, the cross-vein helps to stabilize the stream bank and directs flow toward the center of the channel.