Vegetative impacts on hydraulics and sediment processes across the fluvial system

Abstract

Summary Vegetation creates a complicated system of feedbacks and linkages across the fluvial system that is realized through river planform shape. Interactions occur among flow hydraulics, sediment deposition and erosion, and plant morphology, density, and biomechanics. Interest in the interactions and feedback loops between vegetation and the fluvial system has grown extensively in the past few years. This interest is partially driven by the popularity of stream restoration activities worldwide that include re-vegetation of stream banks and formation of an ecosystem that is intended to encourage the growth of aquatic macrophytes. We present a review of the research into the interactions and dependencies between vegetation and the fluvial system to identify hydraulic and sediment dynamics that are consistent around vegetation located in the channel, on channel banks, and over the floodplain. We illustrate process commonalities operating across spatial locations within the fluvial system and highlight some of the current research opportunities and challenges to encourage research collaborations between those working in areas of the fluvial system traditionally viewed as disparate.