Plant Materials for Western Riparian Areas

Increasing emphasis on improvement of degraded wetlands and riparian areas in the western United States has necessitated development of appropriate plant materials and planting technology. Treatment of damaged wetlands requires restoration of proper hydrologic functioning and reestablishment of native vegetation. Restoration of native vegetation is necessary where remnant plants, vegetative materials and seeds are absent. Flooding, sediment deposition and removal and fluctuating ground water levels present challenges in the selection of appropriate species and classes of planting stock. These decisions are made more difficult as genetic variability, transfer guidelines and requirements for establishment of wetland species are largely unknown. Limited information on propagation techniques complicates production of nursery stock, planting and direct seeding. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Material Centers in the western United States are developing source-identified material of common wetland species adapted to specific geographic areas. They are also designing revegetation equipment and formulating planting guidelines. Private, state and federal nurseries are producing increasing quantities of site-adapted planting stock for wetlands. Results of recent research on propagation and establishment of selected wetland species are beginning to appear; their application should improve the success of wetland plantings.