Lesson 3 - An Introduction to Riparian Proper Functioning Condition, Information Sheet
Acknowledgement: Taken from "Living on the Land 2001"

Riparian or wetland areas function properly when adequate vegetation, landform, or large woody debris is present to:

• dissipate stream (or wave) energy associated with high waterflows, thereby reducing erosion and improving water quality,
• filter sediment, capture bedload, and aid floodplain development;
• improve floodwater retention and ground-water recharge;
• develop root masses that stabilize streambanks against cutting action;
• develop diverse ponding and channel characteristics to provide the habitat and water depth, duration, and temperature necessary for fish production, waterfowl breeding, and other uses; and
• support greater biodiversity.

The functioning condition of riparian-wetlands areas is a result of interaction among geology, soil, water, and vegetation.

When a riparian area is in functional condition but an existing soil, water, or vegetation attribute makes them susceptible to degradation, they are called "functional-at-risk."

Nonfunctional areas are those not providing adequate vegetation, landform, or large woody debris to dissipate stream energy associated with high flows, and thus are not reducing erosion, improving water quality, supporting greater biodiversity nor providing other uses. The absence of certain physical attributes, such as a floodplain where one should be, indicates nonfunctioning conditions.

Proper Functioning Condition is a flexible assessment tool for any kind of stream that uses interdisciplinary knowledge to understand what’s appropriate in each place. It is based on the premise that each stream has its own potential to respond to management and restoration efforts or processes. Furthermore, some streams are limited in their recovery because of political, social or economic limitations that cannot be removed (for example, moving an interstate highway to improve riparian conditions).

The generic definition, as applied by an interdisciplinary team, avoids the problem of answers that are too patently simple. Yet, in most every situation, hydrology, riparian vegetation, and soils and landform are the elements of stream health. Learning which attributes are causing problems focuses attention on management actions that fit the needs.

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