Oregon Explorer Topics | oregonexplorer

Watersheds

People and Communities

Wetland and Riparian Habitats

Wetland and riparian habitats are found in the following places.

Westside or Coastal and Western Valley Riparian and Wetlands

These are diverse, wet habitats found along rivers and streams, and in the valley bottoms throughout western Oregon. They include riparian gallery forests, open riparian woodlands and shrublands, and valley bottomlands with willows, sedges or forbs. They are occur in small patches, so tend to be under-mapped, and are part of these ecological systems:

Montane and Subalpine Riparian Forests and Shrublands

Riparian forests, shrublands and wetlands found at high elevations in the mountains are included in this habitat. They include a diverse array of shrub, wetlands, and woodlands in many ecological systems:

Eastside Lower Montane Riparian Woodlands and Shrublands

The lowland riparian forests and shrublands in eastern Oregon (and Idaho and Washington) are part of this habitat type. They are quite diverse, including forests, woodlands and shrublands along rivers and streams, but occupy narrow strips so are poorly mapped. They are also often damaged by overuse and habitat manipulation. They are part of one of these ecological systems:

Marshes, Bogs and Emergent Wetlands

The many diverse types of bogs, marshes and non-forested wetlands found throughout the state are merged into this habitat type. They include poorly mapped habitats because most patches are either small or narrow, including 12 ecological systems:

Forested or Shrub Wetlands and Swamps

Forested and shrub-dominated swamps and wetlands are included in this rare habitat type. Lodgepole pine, aspen, willow, spiraea, and spruce are the most important trees and shrubs in this habitat, which includes three ecological systems: