Development of vegetation and aquatic habitat in restored riparian sites of California's North Coast Rangelands

Published source details Lennox M.S., Lewis D.J., Jackson R.D., Harper J., Larson S. & Tate K.W. (2011) Development of vegetation and aquatic habitat in restored riparian sites of California's North Coast Rangelands. Restoration Ecology, 19, 225-233.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Other biodiversity: Restore habitat along watercourses Action Link

Other biodiversity: Restore habitat along watercourses

A replicated, before-and-after site comparison in 2011 in 102 riparian forest sites in California, USA, found that riparian vegetation changed over time in restored sites, for 16 of 21 measurements. Implementation options: The following metrics increased over time: species of trees, perennial plants, and shrubs and vines; density of woody vegetation, native trees, and native and exotic shrubs and vines; absolute cover of the total canopy, native tree canopy, ground cover, exposed roots, and litter (data reported as model results). The following metrics decreased over time: absolute cover of total vegetation; relative cover of annual grasses and forbs; species of annual herbaceous plants. The number of exotic tree species and the cover of native and exotic perennial grasses and forbs did not change over time. Methods: A total of 102 riparian sites from three coastal counties (Marin, Mendocino, and Sonoma) were surveyed (restored: 89 sites, 0–39 years after restoration; non-restored: 13 sites). Restoration involved willow Salix planting. Vegetation cover was estimated using a Daubenmire Frame (20 x 50 cm). Canopy density was measured with a spherical densitometer.