MANAGEMENT OF RIPARIAN VEGETATION IN THE NORTHCOAST REGION OF CALIFORNIA’S COASTAL ZONE

Northwestern California riparian systems include a complex of biological and economic resources seldom surpassed in richness. Riparian systems provide nesting and foraging areas for a diverse wildlife fauna, protect water quality essential to anadromous fisheries, hold substantial commercial timber, and affect floodwaters and sediment movement in ways essential to local agriculture. State and local policies encourage protection of all of these values—a policy mandate requiring government officials to balance competing goals. Developing policies which can be implemented and are technically sound and politically acceptable is a difficult task. The northcoast region of California’s coastal zone includes the seaward portions