A riparian zone is the area of land directly adjacent to a waterway (stream, river, or wetlands). Where these margin areas are healthy, they are characterized by hydrophilic plants (riparian vegetation). This vegetation plays an integral role in protecting water quality, ecological integrity and biodiversity.

Natural and restored buffer areas serve critical functions for nature and humans. Landowners benefit from production of biomass for forage, energy, timber, native prairie seeds, or berries and nuts from trees and shrubs. Land owners and users benefit from improved fishing, hunting, and wildlife habitat. All residents in a watershed and society in general, benefit from improved water quality, lower costs of cleaning sediment from major reservoirs and rivers, and increased diversity for wildlife.

Properly functioning riparian zones also can sequester, or hold, more carbon than annually cropped fields or cool-season pastures. Natural and restored riparian areas improve the quality of life for rural and urban citizens alike.

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