The interactions of climate change, water management, habitat and human needs are highly complex and pervasive, presenting challenges and solutions that vary based on the scale, setting, and goals of each particular situation. The rivers in Arizona and their associated riparian corridors provide ecological, recreational, aesthetic, cultural, and vital economic value to communities. Riparian lands are especially integral and fragile aspects of western ecosystems due to their role in maintaining water quality and quantity, providing groundwater recharge, controlling erosion, and dissipating stream energy during flood events. Trends also suggest increasing fire size, frequency, and severity in riparian ecosystems in the Desert LCC region could have dramatic effects on key biophysical processes and the ecosystem services they provide. The Desert LCC is addressing critical management questions related to how climate change, changing fire regimes, water management, and their interactions affecting the physical processes that support springs, aquatic and riparian habitats, species, and human cultures.