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Below you lies the richest home of all, a wet and wonderful riparian meadow, chock full of water and willows, bugs and beavers, moose and mallards. These plants and animals need this riparian area for food, shelter, hiding and nesting places.

But they also need each other. Like pieces of a puzzle, they are all interdependent, and together form a complete picture. If you take away the bug or the beaver, the picture is left with a piece missing. Because the riparian "picture" in front of you has all its pieces, it is an indication that the larger ecosystem supporting this habitat is healthy. Sagebrush and lupine above the winding Wise River.
The stream bank is like a sponge, absorbing flood waters in the spring then slowly releasing them into the stream throughout the year.

Overhanging stream banks, held together by plant roots, shade the water and provide hiding places for fish. Healthy riparian habitats are good for us all. Riparian areas provide recreational opportunities and inspire us with their beauty. Lush vegetation keeps the streambank from eroding.

Plants like willow and sedge store sediments and nutrients, and filter the water clean.

Ecosystem: The origin for "Ecos" comes from the ancient Greek word for house, oikos.