Riparian areas are the vegetated (trees, shrubs and herbs) zones adjacent to rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands. A riparian area is considered a transition zone or interface between a waterbody or wetland, and the surrounding drier upland.

The purpose of Riparian Area Management is to conserve, enhance or restore riparian areas to provide:

• improvements to surface water quality, by capturing sediments, pathogens, nutrients and pesticides;
• water storage and flow reductions that reduce downstream flooding during high water events;
• greater landscape resiliency to the impacts of climate change;
• carbon storage and sequestration;
• riverbank and shoreline stabilization and erosion control; and
• wildlife habitat and continuity, and greater biodiversity through the re-establishment or rehabilitation of riparian vegetation.

Eligible Practices:

• Alternative livestock watering systems (solar, wind, grid power, pipeline)
• Riparian fencing  
• Improved livestock crossings (establishment of new or improvement to existing)

Funding: 

Riparian Fencing- $1.25 per foot; $90 per corner; $150 for solar electric fencer. Max of $4000 for waterway fencing and max of $1000 for dugout fencing.

Alternative Watering Systems- 75% NRWD and 25% landowner. Max of $7500 for alternate to waterway, max of $5000 for alternate to dugout, and max of $750 per trough.

Livestock Crossings- 75% NRWD and 25% landowner. Max of $1000.