riparian zone
The riparian zone is the interface between land and a stream, creek, or river. It includes the area directly adjacent to the waterway where soils are influenced by regular moisture, flooding, or a high water table. These zones support a rich diversity of water-loving plants, such as willows, alders, sedges, and ferns, and provide critical habitat for birds, amphibians, insects, and mammals.In the Santa Cruz Mountains, riparian zones are often shaded, biologically rich corridors that stabilize streambanks, filter runoff, and serve as migration pathways for wildlife. They are essential to both biodiversity and watershed health.
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