IV. Plants
The most conspicuous plants of the riparian corridor are the trees which extend
from the river mouth inland (Warner and Hendrix 1984, Smith 1980, Barbour
et al. 1993). North from the Carmel River, much of the riparian habitat
around sanctuary river mouths was cut down many decades ago. For example,
the mouth of the Salinas River was surrounded by extensive riparian forest
150 years ago, when the first Coast and Geodetic Survey maps were made (Gordon
1996, Margolin 1978, Blackburn and Anderson 1993). There are now a handful
of isolated willow trees. On the other hand, hundreds of tree cuttings and
saplings were planted along the southern river bank this year and thousands
more will be planted to restore some of the riparian forest along the Salinas
River Wildlife Area. The recovery of riparian forest along Redwood Creek
at Muir Beach (just north of the MBNMS) is the best model for success at other river mouths. Here
the red alders flourished with the removal of intensive cattle grazing which
prevented tree recruitment. The recovered corridor is wide, high, and full
of wildlife (Phil Williams and Associates 1993).
Like the riparian corridors, marsh habitats have been dramatically reduced
in size and grossly modified by ditching and diking wet corridors (Lydon
1985, Gordon 1996, California Coastal Commission 1994). At the river mouths,
the low marsh communities grade from plants with high tolerance to salt
water, such as pickleweed, to those with much less tolerance, e.g. rushes
and sedges. As a result of ditching, drying and land use conversion of areas
which were formerly freshwater marshes feeding into river mouths, there
is now very low water retention along these wet corridors, and therefore
lower freshwater input to the river mouths (Watershed Institute 1995, 1996).
Next - Section V. Animals
River Mouths, Brackish & Estuarine Wetlands
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