riverboat zones

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Riparian zones—it’s all about the water.

• Providing habitat (including migration routes and habitat connectors) for a diversity of wildlife,
• Helping to maintain water quality, because riparian vegetation can remove excess nutrients and sediment from surface runoff,
• Stabilizing stream banks and reducing floodwater velocity (thanks to riparian vegetation), and
• Providing recreation opportunities and scenic beauty.

The Glen Canyon riparian zone

What are the biggest threats to riparian zones at Glen Canyon?

• Climate change : Climate change is bringing warmer temperatures and drier conditions, as well as potential shifts in the amount and timing of precipitation. Precipitation is a particularly important driver of the riparian zone. Warmer and drier conditions also stress native riparian plant communities while giving a competitive advantage to some invasive plants.
• Non-native invasive plants: The invasion of non-native plants is one of the largest stressors of riparian zones. Although the park and its partners have worked to control invasive plants along the Escalante River, other riparian zones (such as along the Dirty Devil River) are heavily invaded by non-native plants.

Assessing conditions of riparian zones and other resources at Glen Canyon

Some of what we learned:.

• No impairments to water quality were reported for the streams studied in the assessment.
• Some of the subwatersheds studied were rated as low or very low for aquatic intactness, which considered human impacts from water demand, dams, diversions, developments, etc.
• There were no significant declines in annual discharge (flow) for the Escalante (1943—2020) or Dirty Devil (1948—2020) rivers. However, for the Escalante River, there has been a moderate decrease in average annual flow, annual variability in flow, and monthly variability in flow.
• Vegetation in riparian zones has remained relatively stable, but non-native species comprise many of the riparian plants along some stream corridors, particularly along the Dirty Devil River. These species include some of Glen Canyon’s most problematic invasive species.
• Overall, for the three indicators of condition used, two (water quantity and availability, and stream/watershed health) were given ratings of “fair,” and one (vegetation) was given a rating of “poor” (on a scale of “good” to “poor”).

What can park managers do with this information?

Additional Information

• For more information on non-native species, see this article on the Glen Canyon NRA website: https://www.nps.gov/glca/learn/nature/nonnativespecies.htm
• For more information on water quality in Glen Canyon NRA, see this article focusing on water in the park’s rivers and Lake Powell: https://www.nps.gov/glca/learn/nature/waterquality.htm

Part of a series of articles titled NRCA 2022: Condition of Glen Canyon's Tributary Rivers and Associated Resources .

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Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

Last updated: July 14, 2022

What are river zones?

As a Cruise Director, I have had the opportunity to travel to various destinations and experience the beauty of nature firsthand. One of the fascinating aspects of my job is educating passengers about different ecological zones and their significance. Today, I want to explore the concept of river zones and the various classifications associated with them.

River zones, also known as riparian zones, are lands that occur along the edges of rivers, streams, lakes, and other water bodies. These zones play a crucial role in maintaining the health and balance of the river ecosystem. They serve as a transition area between aquatic and terrestrial habitats, providing critical habitat for a variety of plant and animal species.

In a river stream, there are three major zones that are typically recognized:

1. Headwaters: This is the uppermost zone of a river stream where the flow is usually lowest. The slope is often steepest, resulting in higher rates of erosion compared to sediment deposition. The headwaters are characterized by fast-moving, cold water with high levels of dissolved oxygen and a low nutrient content.

2. Transfer Zone: The transfer zone is the middle range of the stream where the slope of the river stream flattens somewhat. In this zone, more flow appears, and both deposition and erosion occur. It is usually characterized by wider floodplains and meandering channel patterns.

3. Floodplains: The floodplain is the low, flat land spreading out from the river channel. It is the area that gets flooded during periods of high water flow. Floodplains are essential for maintaining the water balance within the river system and serve as crucial habitat for a wide range of plant and animal species.

The classification of river zones can be approached from a biotic perspective. In francophone communities, rivers are divided into three primary zones:

1. Crenon: This is the uppermost zone at the source of the river. It can be further divided into the eucrenon (spring or boil zone) and the hypocrenon (brook or headstream zone).

2. Rhithron: The rhithron is the second zone of a river, located further downstream from the crenon. It is characterized by fast-flowing water with high levels of dissolved oxygen.

3. Potamon: The potamon is the third zone of a river system, situated downstream from the rhithron. In this zone, the river flow is more stable, and nutrient levels are higher compared to the upstream zones.

Rivers have three distinct habitat areas: the river bed, the river banks (also known as the riparian zone), and the floodplains. The river bed refers to the water channel itself. The riparian zone includes the land, trees, and water-loving animals and plants along the channel. Lastly, the floodplains are the low, flat areas surrounding the channel that get flooded during high water flow.

Now, let’s explore some commonly asked questions about river zones:

1. What are the main zones of a river system? River systems are broadly categorized into three distinct zones: the source (or headwaters) zone, the transition (or transfer) zone, and the floodplain (or depositional) zone.

2. Which zone of a river is the most polluted? The zone of active decomposition is generally the most polluted zone. In this zone, water becomes greyish and much darker, and the dissolved oxygen levels fall to nearly zero.

3. How do you classify rivers and streams? Rivers and streams are classified based on factors such as water flow volume, land gradient, and the presence of tributaries. Generally, a stream is smaller in size with a lower volume of water flow, while a river is larger and has a higher volume of water flow.

4. Do all rivers lead to the ocean? The majority of rivers do lead to the ocean, but there are exceptions. Some rivers run into lakes or inland seas, such as the Caspian Sea, which has no outflows.

5. What is the difference between a river and a stream? While there are no strict definitions to distinguish these waterways from one another, rivers are typically larger in size with a higher volume of water flow compared to streams. Creeks, on the other hand, are smaller tributaries that feed into rivers.

6. How many zones are there in a river system? Three zones are generally recognized in a river system: the headwaters zone, the transfer zone, and the floodplain zone.

7. What are the three types of rivers? The three main types of rivers are freestone rivers, spring creeks, and tailwaters. These types vary based on their water source and characteristics.

8. What is the area around a river called? The area around a river is called the riparian zone. It is the interface between land and the river or stream, characterized by unique plant and animal communities that have adapted to the water environment.

In conclusion, river zones play a crucial role in maintaining the health and balance of river ecosystems. Understanding the different zones and their classifications can help us appreciate and protect these valuable natural resources.

About The Author

Gwendolyn McClain

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