SCERP Project Number: W-7
Principal Investigator: John H. Brock
Arizona State University
PROBLEM STATEMENT
The tremendous impact of man on riparian ecosystems is evident world wide and particularly in the southwest United States. Because of their location at the lane - water interface, riparian ecosystems have important influences on instream functions, water quality, soil chemistry, and sedimentation. Riparian ecosystems are also critical reserves of biodiversity and highly valued for their outstanding aesthetic qualities. While most research has concentrated on functions and values of riparian ecosystems in a wildland setting, very little research activity to date, has taken place in urban riparian ecosystems. Riparian ecosystems associated with urban areas are among the most heavily modified and highly fragmented ecosystems in existence. It is not known to what extent these ecosystems contribute to biodiversity in the urban setting. Additionally, little is known about how these highly fragmented ecosystems interact with urban runoff or the degree of bioremediation that may occur with chemical constituents of urban runoff.
The objectives of this project were: 1. To preform an extensive literature review to determine the current state of knowledge of urban riparian habitats, and associated non point pollutants. 2. To assess soil chemical status by measuring pH, reductionoxidation potentials, and electrical conductivity. A third task was added which includes measures to quantify vegetative structure of a spontaneously developing riparian plant community along an urban drainage channel.
This report provides information which may be helpful in designing future
projects. The literature review addresses the role of wetlands and riparian
areas have as being sinks, transformers, or intermediaries to pollutants.
The edaphic characteristics of urban riparian soils is discusses in the
manuscript that has been accepted by Landscape and Urban Planning journal,
and a preliminary evaluation of vegetative structure of a spontaneously
developing urban riparian habitat is presented.
REPORT CONTENT
1. Literature Review: Wetland and Riparian Function and Effectiveness in the Mitigation of Urban Nonpoint Source Pollution. Michael Farkas
2. Research Manuscript: Chemical Status of Soils in Four Urban Riparian Plant Communities. Douglas Green, John Brock
3. Research Report: Vegetative Structure of a Urban Riparian Habitat in Phoenix, Arizona. John Brock
Last updated 7/1/99