Photo: RV Taylor

Many small streams dissect the Zumwalt Prairie and support a variety of riparian vegetation. These aquatic and riparian ecosystems provide vital ecological services and provide habitat for many plant and animal species, many of which are of conservation concern. Despite their small overall area, aquatic and riparian ecosystems hold significant amounts of biodiversity.

Throughout the American West, aquatic and riparian ecosystems are threatened because of intensive human use. The Zumwalt Prairie is no exception and these important ecosystems are impacted by both current and past land use practices including incompatible livestock management, exurban development, pushup dams/culverts/channelization, and the introduction and spread of non-native plant species. 

More information is available: 

Biological Inventory

Physical Condition and Vegetation

• Photomonitoring of Aspen Enclosures (2003-10)
• Upper Camp Creek and Pine Creek Shrub Inventory (2007)
• 2006 Pine Creek (Zumwalt Prairie Preserve) Photopoint Survey
• Zumwalt Prairie Upper Camp Creek Photo Monitoring (2005-2009)
• Monitoring of headcuts on Camp Creek (2003-2007)
• Baseline photographic survey of Pine Creek on the Zumwalt Prairie Preserve (2006)
• Effectiveness of Ungulate Exclosures in Restoring Woody Vegetation in Riparian Areas along Camp Creek on the Zumwalt Prairie Preserve (2006)
• Comparison of select photographs of Camp Creek (2002-2005)
• Riparian vegetation monitoring report (2004)
• Assessment of the physical and biological condition of Camp Creek by The National Riparian Service Team (2002)

    
For a complete list of the Conservancy's reports concerning aquatic and riparian ecosystems of the Zumwalt Prairie click on the Files & Pages Tab on the left margin and then browse by keyword.