Understanding River Landscapes
Maintenance and Enhancement of Agricultural Production
Riparian land is often the most fertile and productive part of the landscape, in terms of both ecosystems and agriculture. This is a result of the wide range of habitats, the fertile soils and an abundance of food and water. The natural vegetation on riparian land usually reflects the better soils and greater moisture found in the lower parts of the landscape. Its productivity makes it vulnerable to over-user and to practices that cause it to deteriorate, creating additional problems. Good management of riparian land within an agricultural enterprise is essential for the sustainable management of a property or landscape.
Explore the elements on the picture below to discover more about aspects of riparian management that increase agricultural productivity:
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<tr valign='top'><td><img src="graphics/map2f_lib.gif" alt="Ephemeral Streams" width="393" height="218" border="0" align="top">
<p>Benefits to production of ecologically sustainable riparian management:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="#waterquality">Maintaining high water quality</a>
<li><a href="#exotic">Controlling feral animals</a>
<li><a href="#erosion">Erosion control</a>
<li><a href="#flooding">Flood control</a>
<li><a href="#stock">Controlling stock</a>
<li><a href="#nativeveg">Providing native vegetation</a> for production
</ul>
<p><a name="waterquality"> </a></p>
<h3>Water Quality</h3>
<p>There is evidence that animals drinking water polluted from upstream grow less quickly than those with clear water supplies. Stock may also contract bacterial infections when drinking polluted water. When water is contaminated with silt, manure or algae, animals are less inclined to drink, resulting in a drop in production.</p>
<p>Click for more about <a href="waterquality.htm">Maintaining high water quality</a>.</p>
<p><a name="exotic"> </a></p>
<h3>Feral Animals</h3>
<p>Degraded river landscapes tend to favour feral or exotic animals over native wildlife. Feral animals can be predators of native wildlife, compete for food or occupy habitat at the expense of wildlife. This can include exotic fish such as carp. Feral animals also impact upon agricultural production by preying on stock or eating crops and pastures. When developed as part of a long-term integrated strategy to minimise the spread of new pests, riparian management can be used to provide environments that favour native species in preference to feral or exotic species.</p>
<p>Click for more about Controlling <a href="exoticspecies.htm">feral animals</a>.</p>
<p><a name="erosion"> </a></p>
<h3>Erosion</h3>
<p>Riverbank erosion can destroy valuable productive land. Paddocks that have been cleared all the way to the rivers edge are prone to erosion. Over decades, tens of metres of land can be lost to accelerated erosion of the river bank. Preserving a strip of remnant riparian forest or woodland of just 10-30 metres is enough to slow the erosion of river banks to a natural rate. This short term sacrifice of productive land is compensated for by better long-term security of land, fences and other infrastructure.</p>
<p><a href="erosioncontrol.htm">Click for other benefits of erosion control</a>.</p>
<p><a name="flooding"> </a></p>
<h3>Flooding</h3>
<p>The inundation of agricultural land by floods, which destroy crops and damage fences and tracks, is a significant
concern to farmers. Localised removal of <a class='glossaryitem' href="glossary.htm#Large%20Woody%20Debris" onMouseover='showTerm(event,"The sticks, branches, trunks and whole trees that fall into rivers and streams.")' onmouseOut='hideTerm();'>woody debris</a> and riverbank vegetation is often used as a strategy to reduce the
frequency and severity of flooding. This usually has a small positive effect but can bring negative consequences of
increased bank erosion and increased incidence of flooding downstream. Using riverbank vegetation and woody debris to
slow floodwaters in the headwater streams, where flooding is not a problem, may reduce the severity of flood peaks in
the lower <a class='glossaryitem' href="glossary.htm#Reach" onMouseover='showTerm(event,"A length of stream or river several kilometres long, which is relatively homogenous with regard to its size and shape.")' onmouseOut='hideTerm();'>reaches</a> where flooding is most of concern.</p>
<p><a href="floodcontrol.htm">Click for more about the processes of flooding</a>.</p>
<p><a name="stock"> </a></p>
<h3>Stock Access</h3>
<p>Uncontrolled access of stock to streams may give them free access to water but it can have adverse
effects on the stock themselves. The water is often of low quality because of trampling causing the water
to become muddy and mixed with algae. Pathogens may also be ingested. Standing in muddy water or soft
clay can promote hoof diseases, and occasionally, in trying to access eroded streams, stock can fall in
the stream and drown or become bogged. Off stream watering can increase agricultural productivity by
avoiding these hazards but also by promoting a more even distribution of grazing around a farm.</p>
<p><a href="stockaccess.htm">Click for other benefits of controlling stock access.</a></p>
<p><a name="nativeveg"> </a></p>
<h3>Native vegetation</h3>
<p>Riparian vegetation can act as a windbreak and provide habitat for beneficial animals that can boost farm productivity. A windbreak provides shelter that reduces direct damage to the neighbouring crop or pasture from soil erosion, sandblasting, leaf damage and flattening of plants. Microclimate and water availability are also improved, resulting in increased plant growth. Greater plant growth results in more feed for livestock and, sometimes, higher crop yields. These production benefits vary from place to place with climate, soil type and wind.</p>
<p><a href="nativevegetation.htm">Click for other benefits of native vegetation.</a></p>
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Water quality | Feral animals | Flood control | Erosion control | Native vegetation | Stock access
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