Riparian ecosystems also provide aesthetic benefits, recreational opportunities, increased timber production, increased hay production opportunities, and increased wildlife habitat. Several management plans in the study provide direct benefits to the riparian ecosystem including increased protection and enhancement by preventing degradation to the ecosystem. Others prevent channel modifications and some set guidelines on how the riparian ecosystem should be established to provide maximum benefits. There are several ways these plans are implemented. The most common is voluntary participation, although some administrative and legislative actions have been taken.
Several plans manage the riparian ecosystem for multiple benefits and multiple uses.
The plans in the study all have strong points regarding the protection of agricultural riparian ecosystems. However, there is plenty of duplicity between the goals and intent of the plans. There is an opportunity to have one plan administered by one agency with oversight by the other agencies with riparian ecosystem protection programs. Due to the benefits that healthy riparian ecosystems provide to the whole state, legislative action should be taken to provide direct protection through financial and tax incentives to landowners.