Classifying rangeland riparian areas: the Nevada task force approach

ABSTRACT: A classification of riparian areas was developed by an interagency task force to facilitate communication among managers and scientists. The goal was to develop a system that is interdisciplinary, hierarchical, simple yet reliable, useful for management, related to ecological potential, and mappable. The classification begins at a broad level (physiographic region) and proceeds through steps that focus on the types of associated aquatic ecosystems, the environment and physiognomy of riparian vegetation, and the ecological site and riparian community type. Ecological sites and riparian community types are not named because they have not been identified. However, a system for naming them is proposed.