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Water, Wetland, and Riparian Resources
Surface waters, wetlands, and their associated riparian areas are essential for people and wildlife. In addition to providing habitat for multiple Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) (Vermont Wildlife Action Plan Team, 2015), they provide and recharge drinking water sources. Wetlands, river corridors, floodplain forests, and riparian forests are also an important water resource as they help to filter out and attenuate sediments, excess nutrients, and other contaminants damaging to water quality and habitat. Taken in concert with Vermont’s priority forest blocks—see the Forest Block, Connectivity, and Resiliency Resources—the interconnected network of large forest blocks, streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and riparian corridors allow for movement of wildlife and plants across the landscape, as well as continuity of other ecological processes critical to Vermont’s waterways and biodiversity (Sorenson and Zaino, 2018).
References
Vermont Wildlife Action Plan Team. 2015. Vermont Wildlife Action Plan 2015. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. Montpelier, VT.
Zaino, R., Sorenson, E., Morin, D., and J. Hilke. 2018. Vermont Conservation Design-Part 2: Natural Communities and Habitats Technical Report. Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. Montpelier, VT. |