Ecological Approaches to Riparian Restoration in Northeast Oregon

Abstract

of recovery. The degradation of riparianecosystems associated with the upper Snake river tributaries of Oregon and Idaho has contributed significantly to the precipitous declines of resident and anadromous salmonids. Given the economic, ecologic, and cultural importance of trout and salmon in the Pacific Northwest, the recovery of these ecosystems through restoration at landscape scales is necessary. Riparian zones are areas of the highest species diversity in the montane landscape of northeast Oregon. This high biotic diversity is related to high frequencies of natural disturbances such as floods, ice floes, and fire. The variable severity and frequency of fluvial disturbances results in a diverse mosaic of soil types, and in plant communities of varying composition and successional status. Riparian vegetation must be adapted to establish, survive, and successfully reproduce in these frequently disturbed areas. An understanding of the inherent resilience of riparian vegetation to disturbances is important in the restoration of these ecosystems.