Edwards Plateau Riparian

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Nature Serve ID: CES303.652

Geology

This system usually occupies Quaternary deposits along headwater streams. These may be alluvial or gravel deposits and are often within drainages dominated by limestone or other calcareous substrates on the Edwards Plateau or where substrate is influenced by outwash from the Edwards Plateau.

Landform

Riparian systems occupy small streams, either intermittent or perennial. These sites tend to be in erosional situations, as opposed to broad alluvial depositional sites.

Soils

By definition, this system is mapped in areas upstream of significant development of bottomland soils on soil types of the surrounding uplands.

Parent Description

Riparian vegetation may be characterized as woodlands, shrublands, or herbaceous vegetation. These erosional sites may be gravelly, cobbly, or rocky, and generally occupy the upper reaches of streams. Woodlands may have Quercus fusiformis (plateau live oak), Platanus occidentalis (American sycamore), Taxodium distichum (baldcypress), Fraxinus pennsylvanica (green ash), Fraxinus texensis (Texas ash), Ulmus crassifolia (cedar elm), Celtis laevigata (sugar hackberry) (including var. reticulata), Acer negundo (boxelder), Prosopis glandulosa (mesquite), Quercus buckleyi (Texas oak), Juniperus ashei (Ashe juniper), Salix nigra (black willow), and/or Sapindus saponaria (western soapberry). Shrub species that may be encountered in the understory of these woodlands (or, in some cases, may form shrublands lacking a significant overstory canopy) include Juglans microcarpa (little walnut), Chilopsis linearis (desert willow), Baccharis spp. (false-willow), Salix nigra (black willow), Juniperus ashei (Ashe juniper), Sapindus saponaria (western soapberry), Cornus drummondii (roughleaf dogwood), Sophora secundiflora (Texas mountain-laurel), Sideroxylon lanuginosum (gum bumelia), Diospyros texana (Texas persimmon), Ungnadia speciosa (Mexican buckeye), Prosopis glandulosa (mesquite), Cephalanthus occidentalis (common buttonbush), and/or Aloysia gratissima (whitebrush). Substantial patches of herbaceous cover may be present and often include species such as Andropogon glomeratus (bushy bluestem), Panicum virgatum (switchgrass), Cladium mariscus var. jamaicense (sawgrass), Tripsacum dactyloides (eastern gamagrass), Setaria scheelei (southwestern bristlegrass), Nassella leucotricha (Texas wintergrass), Eleocharis spp. (spikerush), Brickellia spp. (brickellbush), Justicia americana (American water-willow), Hydrocotyle spp. (water penny), and/or Muhlenbergia lindheimeri (Lindheimer muhly). Frequently, Cynodon dactylon (bermudagrass) and/or Bothriochloa ischaemum var. songarica (King Ranch bluestem) dominate these grassland sites. Sorghum halepense (Johnson grass) is also a commonly encountered non-native grass. This system includes vegetation along very small streams, reaching upstream to spring heads and runs.

Ecological Mapping Systems

Edwards Plateau: Riparian Ashe Juniper Forest

Mapping System ID: 1401

Forest or woodland on riparian sites dominated by Juniperus ashei (Ashe juniper). Otherwise, this type fits the description of forest or woodland occurrences of the system, with some deciduous species and Quercus fusiformis (plateau live oak) present in the canopy.

Distribution Map

Edwards Plateau: Riparian Ashe Juniper Forest

Photos

ep_riparian_juniper_site1310.jpg

Edwards Plateau: Riparian Live Oak Forest

Mapping System ID: 1402

Forest or woodland on riparian sites dominated by Quercus fusiformis (plateau live oak). Otherwise, this vegetation type generally fits the description of forest or woodland occurrences of the system, with some deciduous species and Juniperus ashei (Ashe juniper) present in the canopy.

Distribution Map

Edwards Plateau: Riparian Live Oak Forest

Photos

epriparian_liveoak_forest_site826.jpg

Public Land Occurrence

Edwards Plateau: Riparian Hardwood / Ashe Juniper Forest

Mapping System ID: 1403

Forest or woodland on riparian sites co-dominated by evergreen species (Juniperus ashei (Ashe juniper) and/or Quercus fusiformis (plateau live oak)) and deciduous species as mentioned in the system description.

Distribution Map

Edwards Plateau: Riparian Hardwood / Ashe Juniper Forest

Photos

epriparian_hardwood_juniper_forest_site138.jpg

Edwards Plateau: Riparian Hardwood Forest

Mapping System ID: 1404

As described for woodland or forest occurrences of the system, with deciduous species dominating the canopy.

Distribution Map

Edwards Plateau: Riparian Hardwood Forest

Photos

epriparian_hardwood_foreswt_site1245.jpg

Public Land Occurrence

Edwards Plateau: Riparian Ashe Juniper Shrubland

Mapping System ID: 1405

Shrublands on riparian sites dominated by Juniperus ashei (Ashe juniper).

Distribution Map

Edwards Plateau: Riparian Ashe Juniper Shrubland

Photos

epriparian_juniper_shrubland_site745.jpg

Public Land Occurrence

Edwards Plateau: Riparian Deciduous Shrubland

Mapping System ID: 1406

Shrublands on riparian sites dominated by one or more of the shrub species mentioned in the system description.

Distribution Map

Edwards Plateau: Riparian Deciduous Shrubland

Photos

Example Edwards Plateau: Riparian Deciduous Shrubland.jpg

Public Land Occurrence

Edwards Plateau: Riparian Herbaceous Vegetation

Mapping System ID: 1407

Riparian sites dominated by herbaceous vegetation as described in the system description.

Distribution Map

Edwards Plateau: Riparian Herbaceous Vegetation

Photos

Example Edwards Plateau: Riparian Herbaceous Vegetation.jpg

Public Land Occurrence

Edwards Plateau: Riparian Herbaceous Wetland

Mapping System ID: 1417

Riparian sites dominated by wetland herbaceous vegetation as described in the system description.

Distribution Map

Edwards Plateau: Riparian Herbaceous Wetland

Photos

Example Edwards Plateau: Riparian Herbaceous Wetland.jpg