Native Vegetation Group 8 - Riparian
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Riparian Native Vegetation Map
High resolution map of Simplified Native Vegetation Group 8 (PDF - 931 Kb) - includes major roads and towns.Ecological Vegetation Class Descriptions
Bioregional Conservation Status and EVC benchmarks
8.1 Riparian Scrubs or Swampy Scrubs and Woodlands
EVC 17 Riparian Scrub/Swampy Riparian Forest Complex
Mapping unit that includes either areas of shrubland or open forest. Occurs along broad, gently sloping drainage lines where stream alluvium is present. The understorey is dominated by large sedges and amphibious herbs although species diversity is generally low due to the dense cover of shrubs.
EVC 19 Riparian Shrubland
Diverse, medium to tall shrubland occurring on rocky substrates of major streams and banks and channels of rocky creeks and along perennial streams in gorge tracts. Able to withstand frequent flooding or regenerate rapidly after such disturbance and often forming dense thickets along the stream's edge during long periods without flooding. Trees may be irregularly scattered throughout but tend to be restricted to the banks of the rivers and creeks. Sedges and rushes common to riparian environments dominate the understorey as well as an array of herbs and grasses including many ephemeral species which survive on the bare sands or in rock crevices.
EVC 40 Montane Riparian Woodland
Associated with the peat-rich flats of perennial, meandering streams which flow through Montane Dry Woodland at montane elevations. Characterised by a low open woodland with a dense riparian shrub layer lining the smaller creeks but on the larger streams may be largely non-treed. The ground layer contains a dense sward of grasses, herbs and sedges often associated with creeks or river margins.
EVC 41 Montane Riparian Thicket
Occurs in montane and sub-alpine areas, often within Montane Damp Forest along drainage lines, streams with gentle gradients and in soaks at the heads of gullies on south-facing aspects. The waterlogged soils are colluviums or alluviums rich in organic matter and it is a closed shrubland in structure, often forming a narrow, linear strip. The understorey consists of a variety of shade-tolerant species. Along the stream flats ferns are the common life form while sedges, grasses and herbs form a sparse but diverse ground layer.
EVC 53 Swamp Scrub
Closed scrub at low elevations on alluvial deposits along streams or on poorly drained sites with higher nutrient availability. The EVC is dominated by Swamp Paperbark Melaleuca ericifolia (or sometimes Woolly Tea-tree Leptospermum lanigerum) which often forms a dense thicket, out-competing other species. Occasional emergent eucalypts may be present. Where light penetrates to ground level, a moss/lichen/liverwort or herbaceous ground cover is often present. Dry variants have a grassy/herbaceous ground layer.
EVC 59 Riparian Thicket
Dense thickets of Woolly Tea-tree Leptospermum lanigerum and/or Scented Paperbark Melaleuca squarrosa with occasional emergent eucalypts that occur on broad beds of small streams or on regular flooded terraces of large streams and rivers. Ground layer is dominated by a number of ferns, tree-ferns and sedges.
EVC 83 Swampy Riparian Woodland
Woodland generally occupying low energy streams of the foothills and plains. The lower strata are variously locally dominated by a range of large and medium shrub species on the stream levees in combination with large tussock grasses and sedges in the ground layer.
EVC 126 Swampy Riparian Complex
Structurally variable vegetation typical of swampy to waterlogged, low gradient drainage-lines (or associated hillside soaks). The potential component EVCs of this mapping unit include Creekline Herb-rich Woodland, Gully Woodland, Shrubby Gully Forest, Fern Swamp, Swampy Riparian Woodland, Swampy Woodland and Swamp Scrub.
EVC 141 Sandy Flood Scrub
Structurally dominated by medium to large shrubs with occasional eucalypt emergents. The understorey may contain a range of shrubs, grasses/sedges and herbs/ferns depending on location and period of inundation. Occupies alluvial terraces with coarse to fine sandy soils of permanent streams and rivers.
EVC 185 Perched Boggy Shrubland
Dense shrubland over a ground layer of herbs, sedges and often abundant Sphagnum moss occupying valleys on granitic massif plateaus in areas of high rainfall. It occurs on all aspects of very gentle slopes above drainage lines or across hillsides between drainage lines. Soils are extremely saturated sandy clay, which may be associated with an impermeable clay layer or an hydrological phenomenon creating a soak or spring effect.
EVC 191 Riparian Scrub
A dense shrubland often dominated by Scented Paperbark Melaleuca squarrosa, growing on waterlogged substrates often with a peaty surface horizon. Emergent eucalypts may be occasionally present. The understorey is often species-poor and consists typically of sedges tolerant of seasonal waterlogging. Occurs along creeks and minor stream tributaries of the lowland plains.
EVC 233 Wet Sands Thicket
Dense, impenetrable heathy scrub with occasional emergent eucalypts. Occurs on Tertiary outwash geology on deep sandy grey loams to sands.
EVC 280 Floodplain Thicket
Eucalypt woodland or scrub thicket tolerant of seasonal waterlogging. The ground layer commonly consists of sedges and restionaceous species. Occurs on flood-plains where water running off ranges onto broad alluvial flats gives rise to a multitude of interlinking channels, and it is within and between these channels that Floodplain Thicket occurs. Soils are alluviums varying from black anaerobic alluvial clay sands to pale grey silty clays.
EVC 318 Montane Swamp
Forms in drainage-lines on wet alluviums at montane and sub-montane elevations. The vegetation is virtually treeless but occasional eucalypt emergents may be present. Characterised by an open shrub layer and a ground layer with a diversity of sedges, grasses, herbs and ferns.
EVC 707 Sedgy Swamp Woodland
Eucalypt woodland with sedgy ground layer and a range of herbs tolerant of seasonal waterlogging. Occurs on poorly drained, seasonally wet flats on sandy soils over heavier subsoils.
EVC 851 Stream Bank Shrubland
Rivers and major streams where the watercourse consists of either rocky banks, a flat rocky stream bed or broad gravel banks which are often dry but are also regularly flooded by fast flowing waters. There is a sparse overstorey of trees, a dominant tall shrub layer and a ground layer of sedges and herbs.
EVC 937 Swampy Woodland
Open eucalypt woodland with ground-layer dominated by tussock grasses and/or sedges and often rich in herbs. Occurs on poorly drained, seasonally waterlogged heavy soils, primarily on swamp deposits but extending to suitable substrates within some landscapes of sedimentary origin.
EVC 948 Damp Melaleuca Scrub
A dense growth of Swamp Paperbark Melaleuca ericifolia over a sparse grassy-herbaceous or bryophytic/lichen-dominated ground-layer, lacking obligate wetland species. Occurs in low-lying areas typically subject to some seepage but effectively never inundated. Can be invasive into former grassland communities, with reduced fire-frequency an apparent factor in this process. Soils are often sandy with a high organic content to peaty, but the vegetation can extend onto fertile silty soils or clay-loams.
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8.2 Riparian Forests or Woodlands
EVC 18 Riparian Forest
A tall forest along river banks and associated alluvial terraces with occasional occurrences on soaks and springs in the heads of gullies leading into creeks and rivers. The soil is fertile alluvium, regularly inundated and permanently moist. Dominated by tall eucalypts, but also has an open to sparse secondary tree layer of wattles and scattered patches of shrubs (frequently disrupted by floods and less often wildfire), ferns, grasses and herbs.
EVC 641 Riparian Woodland
Occurs beside permanent streams, typically on narrow alluvial deposits. Woodland generally dominated by River Red Gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis over a tussock grass-dominated understorey. Tall shrubs may be present and amphibious herbs may occur in occasional ponds and beside creeks. While flooding may be common, sites are rarely inundated for lengthy periods.
EVC 818 Shrubby Riverine Woodland
Eucalypt woodland to open forest of less flood-prone (riverine) watercourse fringes, principally on levees and higher sections of point-bar deposits. The understorey includes a range of species shared with drier floodplain habitats with a sparse shrub component, ground-layer patchily dominated by various life-forms. A range of large dicot herbs (mostly herbaceous perennial, several with a growth-form approaching that of small shrub) are often conspicuous.
EVC 933 Tussocky Riparian Forest
Open forest to tall woodland of alluvial terraces of larger streams of riparian terraces with components of small trees and tall shrubs over a ground-layer largely dominated by tussock grasses and sedges.
EVC 936 Shrubby Riparian Forest
Open forest to woodland with dense ferny - shrubby understorey, ecologically intermediate between Riparian Scrub and Riparian Forest. Occurs on alluvial terraces of streams towards the fringes of high rainfall areas on frequently water-logged soils that are typically sandy/silty, with a high organic content.
EVC 972 Riparian Wet Forest
Tall, open forest with broad-leaved shrubs, ferns and tree-ferns indicative of Wet Forest and riparian species. Ground-layer is usually sparse, typically ferny to grassy/sedgy-ferny, sometimes with herbaceous patches. Occurs on riparian terraces of streams in higher rainfall areas from near sea-level to montane elevations.
EVC 1085 Mountain Valley Riparian Woodland
An open riparian eucalypt woodland over a dense shrubby understorey on alluvial deposits of swift flowing major rivers affected by cold air drainage in mountain valleys of the north-east. While flooding may occur, sites are rarely inundated for lengthy periods.
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Bioregional Conservation Status and EVC benchmarks
An EVC may have a different conservation status in each bioregion in which it is found. To look up an EVC's Bioregional Conservation Status (BCS), download the spreadsheet on the Simplified Native Vegetation Groups page.
You can also use this spreadsheet to help find the corresponding EVC benchmarks, which are listed by bioregion.
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