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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » National Sedimentation Laboratory » Watershed Physical Processes Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #196853
Title: MODELING STREAM CHANNEL ADJUSTMENT TO WOODY VEGETATION

Author
item BENNETT, SEAN - UNIV AT BUFFALO, NY
item WU, WEIMING - UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
item Alonso, Carlos
item WANG, S - UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI

Submitted to: Federal Interagency Hydrologic Modeling Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/4/2006
Publication Date: 4/4/2006
Citation: Bennett, S.J., Wu, W., Alonso, C.V., Wang, S.Y. 2006. Modeling stream channel adjustment to woody vegetation. In: Proceedings of the 3rd Federal Interagency Hydrologic Modeling Conference, April 2-6, 2006, Reno, Nevada. CDROM.

Interpretive Summary: Interest has been renewed in understanding the interactions between stream flows and vegetation because of the growing demand for river restoration utilizing riparian corridors. To further this knowledge, an experimental test channel was systematically vegetated with emergent, wooden-dowel clusters of varying density. Results from these tests show that channel expansion and widening, thalweg meandering, and riffle and pool development is possible using discrete plantings of rigid, emergent vegetation. These results were further verified and validated using a computer model. An important outcome of this study is to demonstrate the potential of carefully designed vegetation plantings for transforming straight, degraded stream corridors into more functional, aesthetically-pleasing meandering channels.

Technical Abstract: River restoration and bank stabilization programs often use vegetation for improving stream corridor habitat, aesthetic, and function. Yet no study has examined the use of managed vegetation plantings to transform a straight, degraded stream corridor into a more functional, aesthetically-pleasing meandering channel. Experimental data using a distorted Froude-scaled flume analysis shows that channel expansion and widening, thalweg meandering, and riffle and pool development is possible using discrete plantings of rigid, emergent vegetation. These results were verified and validated using a recently developed numerical model. A hybrid method of meander design is proposed herein where managed vegetation plantings are used to trigger the desired morphologic response, transforming a straight, degraded reach into a more functional meandering corridor.