Protecting the Integrity of Riparian Areas

A riparian area is the area of land and water forming a transition zone from aquatic to terrestrial ecosystems along streams, lakes, and open-water wetlands. Riparian areas are among the most important and diverse part of the forest ecosystems. They support high soil moisture and a diversity of associated vegetation and wildlife, and they perform important ecological functions that link aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. To protect the functions and values of riparian areas the Natural Resources Management Department will:

• Comply with all legal requirements and Minnesota Voluntary Site-Level Forest Management Guideline requirements for riparian areas.
• Incorporate specific directions to protect riparian areas into project plans and ensure that they are communicated and understood by field operators.
• Ensure that all employees and field operators that conduct operations on County-managed lands are aware of and understand what is required to protect riparian areas.
• Regularly inspect operations to ensure compliance with project plans and legal requirements and Minnesota Voluntary Site-Level Forest Management Guidelines.