Simms Park Native Plants
Riparian areas include the native trees, shrubs and grasses growing alongside water-courses. These native plants provide vegetative cover to help moderate water temperature.
In addition, they provide food (organic matter such as leaf, needle and branch litter, and terrestrial invertebrates, which contribute to the stream food web), stabilize stream banks from erosion and prevent excessive silt and surface run-off pollution from entering the water. In terms of fish habitat one of the most important functions of riparian vegetation, is the contribution of large woody debris (LWD), to the stream. Mature trees provide LWD in the form of logs, sticks and branches or other wood that falls into the stream channel. This LWD influences the flow and shape of the stream channel, increases habitat complexity and provides cover for juvenile fish.
