Tag Archives: Riparian Area

Value of Riparian Areas

Miami River – Harrison Hot Springs

Riparian Areas are highly valuable ecosystems; their position in the landscape connects aquatic areas with terrestrial areas.

Native Trees and Shrubs:

• Shade aquatic habitat
• Shelter insects for birds, fish & small mammals to eat
• Offer nesting and perching places for bird
• Provide resting and foraging areas for frogs, turtles, waterfowl, songbirds and small mammals

Economic Value of Riparian Areas
When riparian areas are degraded there is a financial cost incurred by society to replace the lost ecological goods and services through:

• Increased water treatment costs
• Increased illness and health care costs due to decreased water quality
• Increased insurance costs due to flooding
• Increased costs for dredging sediment from waterways
• Decreased property value due to degraded aesthetic qualities
• Decreased swimming/fishing opportunities
• Decreased revenues from tourism activities associated with healthy ecosystems
  Source: Ducks Unlimited Canada

Ecosystem Services we receive from Restoration of the Miami River Greenway:

• Recreational Pathway Tourism Activities
• Wind break, noise buffer and visual screen
• Increased Property Value for homeowners
• Stabilization of the soil
• Runoff Control & Flood Control
• Water Filtration
• Insect control by birds, bats, frogs, small mammals etc.
• Clean air through oxygen release and carbon storage