Wild and Scenic Rivers:Fish, Wildlife, Ecology & Botany

Why healthy riparian areas?

Did you know...

Photo by Tim Palmer

The flow of waterthrough ripariansoils regenerates

ground water.

Freshwater animalsare disappearing five

times faster thanland animals.

Estimates indicatethat 70% of the

riparian habitat in theUnited States has

been lost or altered.

80% of songbirds and50% of threatened

and endangeredspecies depend onrivers and streams.

Shade provided byriparian vegetationoptimizes the light

and temperature forfish, aquatic plants,

and resident animals.

Although riparianecosystems occupy

only 7% of thecountry, they are

more diverse and havemore plant and animalspecies than adjacent

upland areas.

To illustrate howriparian vegetation

supports water quality:One mature tree in a

riparian area can filterout as much as 200pounds of nitrate

runoff per year.

70%

Wild and Scenic Rivers and their immediateenvironments possess outstandinglyremarkable scenic, recreational, geological,fish and wildlife, historical, cultural, or othervalues that are unique or truly special.

Riparian areas are lands along rivers andother water bodies. While their appearanceand boundaries vary, their soil andvegetation are unlike their neighboring'uplands' due to the dominant influence ofnearby water.

Of the more than 200designated Wild and

Scenic Rivers, 74% areprotected for fish, 67%

for wildlife, 22% forbotany, and 17% for

ecology.

Wildlife

Photo by Tim Palmer

The entire river providesoptimal summer and winterhabitat for big game fromboth sides of the Cascades,and the upper meadowssupports diverse wildlifehabitat. The northernmostbreeding population ofendangered Sandhill Cranesalso lives here.

Salmon Wild and Scenic River,Oregon

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Fish

The Lamprey River'sshoreline, natural floodplain,and wetlands support thelargest quantity offreshwater fish in the GreatBay watershed andnumerous freshwater musselspecies.

Lamprey Wild and ScenicRiver, New Hampshire

Botany

Hells Canyon, carved by theSnake River, is one of thedeepest and most imposingriver gorges in the West. Fewlocations equal this canyon inthe concentration andnumber of rare or endemicplant species, such as theSnake River Goldenweed,found only in the canyon andon its adjacent slopes.

Snake Wild and Scenic River,Idaho

Wild and Scenic Rivers andtheir immediateenvironments are importantfor wildlife. They provide:

-habitat -connectivity -wildlife viewing -wildlife interpretative and   educational opportunities

Wild and Scenic Rivers maybe judged by fish populations,diversity, habitat, or acombination of these river-related conditions. SomeWild and Scenic Rivers areprotected for the fish thatmake the river their home.Protection of free-flowingwater is critical to fishhabitat and life for these fish.Some Wild and Scenic Riversare integral producers ofresident or migratory fish,including federally listedspecies.

Areas near Wild and ScenicRiver corridors includeupland, riparian, and wetlandhabitats and a rich variety ofplant communities. Plants inriparian areas supportpollinator insects and seeddispersers.

Photo: Lelia MellenPhoto: Diane McAllister Photo: Oregon Deparment of Agriculture