The response in floodplain respiration of an alpine river to experimental inundation under different temperature regimes

The respiratory potential [i.e. electron transport system activity (ETSA)] of soils and sediments from five floodplain habitats (channel, gravel, islands, riparian forest and grassland) of the Urbach River, Switzerland, and actual respiration rate (R) of the same samples exposed to experimental inundation were measured. Measurements were carried out at three incubation temperatures (4°C, 12°C and 20°C), and ETSA/R ratios (i.e. exploitation of the overall metabolic capacity) were investigated to better understand the effects of temperature and inundation on floodplain functional heterogeneity. Furthermore, ETSA/R ratios obtained during experimental inundation were compared with ETSA/R ratios from field measurements to investigate the exploitation in total metabolic potential at different conditions. Lowest ETSA and R were measured in samples from channel and gravel habitats, followed by those from islands. Substantially higher values were measured in soils from riparian forest and grassland. Both ETSA and R increased with increasing temperature in samples from all habitats, while the ETSA/R ratio decreased because of a rapid response in microbial community respiration to higher temperatures. The metabolic capacity exploitation (i.e. ETSA/R) during experimental inundation was lowest in predominantly terrestrial samples (riparian forest and grassland), indicating the weakest response to wetted conditions. Comparison of experimentally inundated and field conditions revealed that in rarely flooded soils, the metabolic capacity was less exploited during inundation than during non‐flooded conditions. The results suggest high sensitivity in floodplain respiration to changes in temperature and hydrological regime. ETSA/R ratios are considered good indicators of changes in metabolic activity of floodplain soils and sediments, and thus useful to estimate the impact of changes in hydrological regime or to evaluate success of floodplain restoration actions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Landscape transformation of an Alpine floodplain influenced by humans: historical analyses from aerial images

Natural floodplains are spatially heterogeneous and dynamic ecosystems but at the same time, a highly endangered landscape feature due to climate change and human impacts such as water storage, flood control and hydropower production. Flow is considered a master variable that shapes channel morphology and the heterogeneity, distribution, and turnover of floodplain habitats. Despite their highly dynamic nature, the relative abundance of different habitat elements (islands, gravel bars) in natural floodplains seems to remain relatively constant over ecological periods and is referred to as the shifting mosaic steady state concept. In this conceptual context, we analysed spatiotemporal changes in relative habitat abundance and channel complexity of an alpine floodplain from its near natural state in 1940 before water abstraction and levee construction until 2007 using historical aerial images. Within the first decades of impairment, the relative abundance of floodplain habitats that depend on flood and flow pulses such as parafluvial channels and islands shifted toward a greater abundance of terrestrial forest and grassland habitats. After 1986, the duration and frequencies of high‐precipitation events (>60 mm 24 h^–1) triggering major, channel‐reworking floods increased substantially and caused a restructuring of the floodplain and decrease in the abundance of more terrestrial habitat types. These results are contrary to expectations of the shifting mosaic steady state concept yet suggest its potential application as an indicator of landscape transformation and human impacts on floodplain ecosystems. Last, the results raise the applied question as to whether an increased frequency of high flow events induced by climate change can contribute to floodplain restoration. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Controls on the occurrence and prevalence of floodplain channels in meandering rivers

The process of channelization on river floodplains plays an essential role in regulating river sinuosity and creating river avulsions. Most channelization occurs within the channel belt (e.g. chute channels), but growing evidence suggests some channels originate outside of the channel‐belt in the floodplain. To understand the occurrence and prevalence of these floodplain channels we mapped 3064 km² of floodplain in Indiana, USA using 1.5 m resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) derived from airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data. We find the following range of channelization types on floodplains in Indiana: 6.8% of floodplain area has no evidence of channelization, 55.9% of floodplains show evidence (e.g. oxbow lakes) of chute‐channel activity in the channel belt, and 37.3% of floodplains contain floodplain channels that form long, coherent down‐valley pathways with bifurcations and confluences, and they are active only during overbank discharge. Whereas the first two types of floodplains are relatively well studied, only a few studies have recognized the existence of floodplain channels. To understand why floodplain channels occur, we compared the presence of channelization types with measured floodplain width, floodplain slope, river width, river meander rate, sinuosity, flooding frequency, soil composition, and land cover. Results show floodplain channels occur when the fluvial systems are characterized by large floodplain‐to‐river widths, relatively higher meandering rates, and are dominantly used for agriculture. More detailed reach‐scale mapping reveals that up to 75% of channel reaches within floodplain channels are likely paleo‐meander cutoffs. The meander cutoffs are connected by secondary channels to form floodplain channels. We suggest that secondary channels within floodplains form by differential erosion across the floodplain, linking together pre‐existing topographic lows, such as meander cutoffs. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geomorphological controls on fluvial carbon storage in headwater peatlands

Geomorphological controls and catchment sediment characteristics control the formation of floodplains and affect their capacity to sequester carbon. Organic carbon stored in floodplains is typically a product of pedogenic development between periods of mineral sediment deposition. However, in organically-dominated upland catchments with a high sediment load, eroded particulate organics may also be fluvially deposited with potential for storage and/or oxidation. Understanding the redistribution of terrestrial carbon laterally, beyond the bounds of river channels is important, especially in eroding peatland systems where fluvial particulate organic carbon exports are often assumed to be oxidised. Floodplains have the potential to be both carbon cycling hotspots and areas of sequestration. Understanding of the interaction of carbon cycling and the sediment cascade through floodplain systems is limited. This paper examines the formation of highly organic floodplains downstream of heavily eroded peatlands in the Peak District, UK. Reconstruction of the history of the floodplains suggests that they have formed in response to periods of erosion of organic soils upstream. We present a novel approach to calculating a carbon stock within a floodplain, using XRF and radiograph data recorded during Itrax core scanning of sediment cores. This carbon stock is extrapolated to the catchment scale, to assess the importance of these floodplains in the storage and cycling of organic carbon in this area. The carbon stock estimate for the floodplains across the contributing catchments is between 3482-13460 tonnes, equating on an annualised basis to 0.8-4.5% of the modern-day POC flux. Radiocarbon analyses of bulk organic matter in floodplain sediments revealed that a substantial proportion of organic carbon was associated with re-deposited peat and has been used as a tool for organic matter source determination. The average age of these samples (3010 years BP) is substantially older than Infrared Stimulated Luminesence dating which demonstrated that the floodplains formed between 430 and 1060 years ago. Our data suggest that floodplains are an integral part of eroding peatland systems, acting as both significant stores of aged and eroded organic carbon and as hotspots of carbon turnover. © 2019 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Seven decades of hydrogeomorphological changes in a near-natural (Sense River) and a hydropower-regulated (Sarine River) pre-Alpine river floodplain in Western Switzerland

Hydropower alteration of the natural flow and sediment regime can severely degrade hydromorphology, thereby threatening biodiversity and overall ecosystem processes of rivers and their floodplains. Using sequences of aerial images, we quantified seven decades (1938/1942–2013) of spatiotemporal changes in channel and floodplain morphology, as well as changes in the physical habitats, of three floodplain river reaches of the Swiss pre-Alps, two hydropower-regulated and one near-natural. In the Sarine River floodplain, within the first decades of hydropower impairment, the magnitude and frequency of flood events (Q₂, Q₁₀, Q₃₀) decreased substantially. As a result, the area of pioneer floodplain habitats that depend on flood activity and sediment dynamic, such as bare sediments, decreased dramatically by approximately 95%. However, by 2013 vegetated areas had generally increased in comparison to the pre-regulation period in 1943, indicating general vegetative colonization. Between 1943 and 2013, the active channel underwent essential narrowing (up to 62% width reduction in the residual flow reach) and habitat turnover rates were very low (5% of the total floodplain area changed habitat type five to six times). In contrast, from the 1950s onwards, the near-natural floodplain of the Sense River experienced recurrent narrowing and widening, and frequent changes between bare and vegetated areas, reflecting the shifting habitat mosaic concept typical for natural floodplains. In the three reaches investigated, we found that the active floodplain width and erosion of vegetated areas were primarily controlled by medium to large floods (Q₁₀, Q₃₀), which combined with reduced time intervals between ordinary floods ≥ Q₂ most likely mobilized streambed sediments and limited the ability of vegetation to establish itself on bare gravel bars within the parafluvial zone. These findings can contribute to restoration action plans such as controlled flooding and sediment replenishments in the Sarine and other floodplain rivers of the Alps. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Active versus potential floodplains–the effect of small flood events on nutrient retention along the river Elbe corridor (Germany)

Riparian floodplains are known to retain nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. The main processes are denitrification (for nitrogen) and sedimentation (for phosphorus), which depend on the nutrient load and the flow velocity or residence time, respectively. Both are related to floodplain size and the current discharge conditions. However, it is not yet known, to which extent, how long and how often during a year riparian floodplains are inundated at the catchment scale. Small floods are not relevant for flood risk management, but they are important for the nutrient cycle. This study examined the flooding frequency, the extent and nutrient retention capacity of inundated riparian floodplains between Wittenberg and Wittenberge along the river Elbe in Germany, based on freely available data. The calculation of inundated areas was produced by the Software FLYS 2.1.3. On the basis of these results, we developed an empirical approach to predict the average yearly active floodplain as a share of the inundated floodplain on the potential floodplain depending on hydro-morphology. This hydrology dependent approach was applied to calculate the active floodplain as an average inundated floodplain area and coupled with a proxy-based nutrient retention calculation. Due to morphologic characteristics, riparian floodplains upstream and downstream from Magdeburg show significant differences in flooding frequencies, average inundated floodplain extent and floodplain widths. Assuming this average inundated floodplain as relevant for nutrient retention, we calculated an eight-fold higher retention for the downstream river section, despite a smaller potential floodplain, indicating how important regularly flooded areas are. The presented Q/MQ approach offers new options for modeling nutrient retention in floodplains even on a monthly basis and for other river systems. However, there is a strong need to consider the inflowing nutrient load for retention calculation instead of proxy values.     

An investigation of the spatial variability of the grain size composition of floodplain sediments

River floodplains have been widely recognized as important sinks for storing suspended sediment and associated contaminants transported by river systems. The grain size composition of floodplain deposits exerts an important influence on contaminant concentrations, and commonly exhibits significant spatial variability in response to the dynamic nature of overbank flow and sediment transport. Information on the spatial variability of the grain size composition of overbank deposits is therefore essential for developing an improved understanding of the processes controlling sediment transport on floodplains, and for investigating the fate of sediment-associated contaminants. Such information is also important for validating existing floodplain sedimentation models. This paper reports the results of a study aimed at investigating the spatial variability of the grain size composition of floodplain sediments at different spatial scales, through analysis of surface sediment samples representative of contemporary floodplain deposits collected from frequently inundated floodplain sites on five British lowland rivers. Significant lateral and downstream variations in the grain size composition of the sediment deposits have been identified in the study reaches. An attempt has been made to relate the observed spatial distribution of the grain size composition of the overbank deposits to the local floodplain geometry and topography. The importance of the particle size characteristics of the suspended sediment transported by the rivers in influencing the spatial variability of the grain size composition of the overbank sediments deposited on these floodplains is also considered. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Groundwater–surface water interactions in a large semi‐arid floodplain: implications for salinity management

Flow regulation and water diversion for irrigation have considerably impacted the exchange of surface water between the Murray River and its floodplains. However, the way in which river regulation has impacted groundwater–surface water interactions is not completely understood, especially in regards to the salinization and accompanying vegetation dieback currently occurring in many of the floodplains. Groundwater–surface water interactions were studied over a 2 year period in the riparian area of a large floodplain (Hattah–Kulkyne, Victoria) using a combination of piezometric surface monitoring and environmental tracers (Cl⁻, δ²H, and δ¹⁸O). Despite being located in a local and regional groundwater discharge zone, the Murray River is a losing stream under low flow conditions at Hattah–Kulkyne. The discharge zone for local groundwater, regional groundwater and bank recharge is in the floodplain within ∼1 km of the river and is probably driven by high rates of transpiration by the riparian Eucalyptus camaldulensis woodland. Environmental tracers data suggest that the origin of groundwater is principally bank recharge in the riparian zone and a combination of diffuse rainfall recharge and localized floodwater recharge elsewhere in the floodplain. Although the Murray River was losing under low flows, bank discharge occurred during some flood recession periods. The way in which the water table responded to changes in river level was a function of the type of stream bank present, with point bars providing a better connection to the alluvial aquifer than the more common clay‐lined banks. Understanding the spatial variability in the hydraulic connection with the river channel and in vertical recharge following inundations will be critical to design effective salinity remediation strategies for large semi‐arid floodplains. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Environmental heterogeneity affects input, storage, and transformation of coarse particulate organic matter in a floodplain mosaic

Quantifying spatial and temporal dynamics of organic matter (OM) is critical both for understanding ecosystem functioning and for predicting impacts of landscape change. To determine the influence of different habitats and coarse particulate OM (CPOM) types upon floodplain OM dynamics, we quantified aerial input, lateral surface transfer, and surface storage of CPOM over an annual cycle on the near-natural floodplain of the River Tagliamento in NE-Italy. Using these data, we modelled floodplain leaf dynamics, taking account of the spatial distribution and hydrologic connectivity of habitats, and using leaf storage as a response variable. Mean aerial CPOM input to the floodplain was similar from riparian forest and islands, but surface transfer was greater from islands, supporting the suggestion that these habitats act as “islands of fertility” along braided rivers. Leaves were the lateral conveyor of energy to more open parts of the floodplain, whereas CPOM was mainly stored as small wood in vegetated islands and riparian forest. Simulating the loss of habitat diversity (islands, ponds) decreased leaf storage on the whole floodplain, on exposed gravel and in large wood accumulations. In contrast, damming (loss of islands, ponds and floods plus floodplain overgrowth) greatly increased storage on exposed gravel. A random shuffle of habitats led to a storage increase on exposed gravel, while that in large wood accumulations and ponds declined. These results disentangle some of the complexities of CPOM dynamics in floodplain ecosystems, illustrate the value of models in understanding ecosystem functioning at a landscape level, and directly inform river management practice.     

Vertical surface water–groundwater exchange processes within a headwater floodplain induced by experimental floods

Restoring hydrologic connectivity between channels and floodplains is common practice in stream and river restoration. Floodplain hydrology and hydrogeology impact stream hydraulics, ecology, biogeochemical processing, and pollutant removal, yet rigorous field evaluations of surface water–groundwater exchange within floodplains during overbank floods are rare. We conducted five sets of experimental floods to mimic floodplain reconnection by pumping stream water onto an existing floodplain swale. Floods were conducted throughout the year to capture seasonal variation and each involved two replicate floods on successive days to test the effect of varying antecedent moisture. Water levels and specific conductance were measured in surface water, soil, and groundwater within the floodplain, along with surface flow into and out of the floodplain. Vegetation density varied seasonally and controlled the volume of surface water storage on the floodplain. By contrast, antecedent moisture conditions controlled storage of water in floodplain soils, with drier antecedent moisture conditions leading to increased subsurface storage and slower flood wave propagation across the floodplain surface. The site experienced spatial heterogeneity in vertical connectivity between surface water and groundwater across the floodplain surface, where propagation of hydrostatic pressure, preferential flow, and bulk Darcy flow were all mechanisms that may have occurred during the five floods. Vertical connectivity also increased with time, suggesting higher frequency of floodplain inundation may increase surface water–groundwater exchange across the floodplain surface. Understanding the variability of floodplain impacts on water quality noted in the literature likely requires better accounting for seasonal variations in floodplain vegetation and antecedent moisture as well as heterogeneous exchange flow mechanisms. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Numerical simulation of overbank processes in topographically complex floodplain environments

This article presents results from an investigation of the hydraulic characteristics of overbank flows on topographically‐complex natural river floodplains. A two‐dimensional hydraulic model that solves the depth‐averaged shallow water form of the Navier–Stokes equations is used to simulate an overbank flow event within a multiple channel reach of the River Culm, Devon, UK. Parameterization of channel and floodplain roughness by the model is evaluated using monitored records of main channel water level and point measurements of floodplain flow depth and unit discharge. Modelled inundation extents and sequences are assessed using maps of actual inundation patterns obtained using a Global Positioning System, observational evidence and ground photographs. Simulation results suggest a two‐phase model of flooding at the site, which seems likely to be representative of natural floodplains in general. Comparison of these results with previous research demonstrates the complexity of overbank flows on natural river floodplains and highlights the limitations of laboratory flumes as an analogue for these environments. Despite this complexity, frequency distributions of simulated depth, velocity and unit discharge data closely follow a simple gamma distribution model, and are described by a shape parameter (α) that exhibits clear systematic trends with changing discharge and floodplain roughness. Such statistical approaches have the potential to provide the basis for computationally efficient flood routing and overbank sedimentation models. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Long-term changes in copepods assemblages in the area of the Danube floodplain (Slovak–Hungarian stretch)

The present study investigates the relationship between hydrological connectivity and species diversity in a by-passed channel section, and in the adjacent water bodies of the Slovak–Hungarian Danube section (1,840.5–1,804.4 rkm). The study was designed to assess long-term temporal trends (from 1991 to 2013) in freshwater copepods assemblages and their ecological indices in different habitats of the Danube floodplain area. One of the purpose of this study was to monitor the species composition of copepods communities and ascertain their shift in various biotopes of the Danube floodplain system. Based on 23 years data, in the first step, the copepods habitat preferences using habitat values (HV) and indicator weights (IW), calculated from data collected over all the years of monitoring of planktonic communities of the Danube floodplain, were quantified. Subsequently, the floodplain index (FI) from a summary of the habitat values and indication weights of the current species was calculated, to evaluate changes in the connectivity of the anabranched section of the Slovak–Hungarian Danube. This confirmed the loss of active hydrological connectivity within the main river channel, ranging from the eupotamal to more or less isolated floodplain water bodies. Out of 50 recorded copepods species, 11 species manifest a preference for eupotamal habitats, 18 taxa preferred eupotamal B/parapotamal habitats and 21 species were found to prefer the plesiopotamal habitat type. The statistical analyses demonstrated that the structure of planktonic copepod communities in this area has changed since the Gabčíkovo hydropower plant was placed into operations. The NMDS analysis revealed shifts in the proportion of euplanktonic and tychoplanktonic species. Reversible community changes were found in the old river bed and in the eupotamal-B side arms.     

Geomorphic controls on floodplain sediment and soil organic carbon storage in a Scottish mountain river

River floodplains constitute an important element in the terrestrial sediment and organic carbon cycle and store variable amounts of carbon and sediment depending on a complex interplay of internal and external driving forces. Quantifying the storage in floodplains is crucial to understand their role in the sediment and carbon cascades. Unfortunately, quantitative data on floodplain storage are limited, especially at larger spatial scales. Rivers in the Scottish Highlands can provide a special case to study alluvial sediment and carbon dynamics because of the dominance of peatlands throughout the landscape, but the alluvial history of the region remains poorly understood. In this study, the floodplain sediment and soil organic carbon storage is quantified for the mountainous headwaters of the River Dee in eastern Scotland (663 km²), based on a coring dataset of 78 floodplain cross-sections. Whereas the mineral sediment storage is dominated by wandering gravel-bed river sections, most of the soil organic carbon storage can be found in anastomosing and meandering sections. The total storage for the Upper Dee catchment can be estimated at 5.2 Mt or 2306.5 Mg ha^-1 of mineral sediment and 0.7 Mt or 323.3 Mg C ha^-1 of soil organic carbon, which is in line with other studies on temperate river systems. Statistical analysis indicates that the storage is mostly related to the floodplain slope and the geomorphic floodplain type, which incorporates the characteristic stream power, channel morphology and the deposit type. Mapping of the geomorphic floodplain type using a simple classification scheme shows to be a powerful tool in studying the total storage and local variability of mineral sediment and soil organic carbon in floodplains. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sedimentation of overbank floods in the confined complex channel–floodplain system of the Lower Yellow River,China

The channel boundary conditions along the Lower Yellow River (LYR) have been altered significantly since the 1950s with the continual reinforcement and construction of both main and secondary dykes and river training works. To evaluate how the confined complex channel–floodplain system of the LYR responds to floods, this study presents a detailed investigation of the relationship between the tempo‐spatial distribution of sedimentation/erosion and overbank floods occurred in the LYR. For large overbank floods, we found that when the sediment transport coefficient (ratio of sediment concentration of flow to flow discharge) is less than 0.034, the bankfull channel is subject to significant erosion, whereas the main and secondary floodplains both accumulate sediment. The amount of sediment deposited on the main and secondary floodplains is closely related to the ratio of peak discharge to bankfull discharge, volume of water flowing over the floodplains, and sediment concentration of overbank flow, whereas the degree of erosion in the bankfull channel is related to the amount of sediment deposited on the main and secondary floodplains, water volume, and sediment load in flood season. The significant increase in erosion in the bankfull channel is due to the construction of the main and secondary dykes and river training works, which are largely in a wide and narrow alternated pattern along the LYR such that the water flowing over wider floodplains returns to the channel downstream after it drops sediment. For small overbank floods, the bankfull channel is subject to erosion when the sediment transport coefficient is less than 0.028, whereas the amount of sediment deposited on the secondary floodplain is associated closely with the sediment concentration of flow. Over the entire length of the LYR, the situation of erosion in the bankfull channel and sediment deposition on the main and secondary floodplains occurred mainly in the upper reach of the LYR, in which a channel wandering in planform has been well developed.     

Wood process domains and wood loads on floodplains

Downed large wood on floodplains creates similar geomorphic and ecological effects as wood in the active channel, but has been the subject of fewer geomorphic studies. I propose floodplain large wood process domains that are distinguished based on recruitment source at the reach to river-length scale. Wood recruited to the floodplain can be autochthonous (individual or mass recruitment from floodplain forest), fluvially transported, or transported from adjacent hillslopes via mass movements that come down the valley side slopes or down the main channel. Fluvially transported wood can be further distinguished as being deposited: within the channel and subsequently accreted to the floodplain; marginal to the channel; on the floodplain during overbank flow; or on tributary fans. The mechanism of wood recruitment to a floodplain influences the spatial distribution of the wood across the floodplain and the proportion of wood pieces within jams, which in turn influences geomorphic and ecological effects of the floodplain wood. Using published studies of floodplain wood load for unmanaged river corridors, I hypothesize that the climate-controlled balance between forest primary productivity and decay rates of downed wood is the first-order control on floodplain large wood loads. Disturbance regime and wood recruitment mechanism are second-order controls on wood load and primary controls on the spatial distribution of large wood. Understanding of floodplain large wood can be applied to quantifying the effect of large wood on river corridors; river restoration; paleoenvironmental inferences; and estimation of organic carbon stock in river corridors. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydraulic and geomorphic processes in an overbank flood along a meandering,gravel‐bed river: implications for chute formation

Hydraulic interactions between rivers and floodplains produce off‐channel chutes, the presence of which influences the routing of water and sediment and thus the planform evolution of meandering rivers. Detailed studies of the hydrologic exchanges between channels and floodplains are usually conducted in laboratory facilities, and studies documenting chute development are generally limited to qualitative observations. In this study, we use a reconstructed, gravel‐bedded, meandering river as a field laboratory for studying these mechanisms at a realistic scale. Using an integrated field and modeling approach, we quantified the flow exchanges between the river channel and its floodplain during an overbank flood, and identified locations where flow had the capacity to erode floodplain chutes. Hydraulic measurements and modeling indicated high rates of flow exchange between the channel and floodplain, with flow rapidly decelerating as water was decanted from the channel onto the floodplain due to the frictional drag provided by substrate and vegetation. Peak shear stresses were greatest downstream of the maxima in bend curvature, along the concave bank, where terrestrial LiDAR scans indicate initial floodplain chute formation. A second chute has developed across the convex bank of a meander bend, in a location where sediment accretion, point bar development and plant colonization have created divergent flow paths between the main channel and floodplain. In both cases, the off‐channel chutes are evolving slowly during infrequent floods due to the coarse nature of the floodplain, though rapid chute formation would be more likely in finer‐grained floodplains. The controls on chute formation at these locations include the flood magnitude, river curvature, floodplain gradient, erodibility of the floodplain sediment, and the flow resistance provided by riparian vegetation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Floodplain downed wood volumes: a comparison across three biomes

Downed large wood (LW) in floodplains provides habitat and nutrients for diverse organisms, influences hydraulics and sedimentation during overbank flows, and affects channel form and lateral migration. Very few studies, however, have quantified LW volumes in floodplains that are unaltered by human disturbance. We compare LW volumes in relatively unaltered floodplains of semiarid boreal lowland, subtropical lowland, and semiarid temperate mountain rivers in the United States. Average volumes of downed LW are 42.3 m³ ha^?1, 50.4 m³ ha^?1, and 116.3 m³ ha^?1 in the semiarid boreal, subtropical, and semiarid temperate sites, respectively. Observed patterns support the hypothesis that the largest downed LW volumes occur in the semiarid temperate mountain sites, which is likely linked to a combination of moderate‐to‐high net primary productivity, temperature‐limited decomposition rates, and resulting slow wood turnover time. Floodplain LW volumes differ among vegetation types within the semiarid boreal and semiarid temperate mountain regions, reflecting differences in species composition. Lateral channel migration and flooding influence vegetation communities in the semiarid boreal sites, which in turn influences floodplain LW loads. Other forms of disturbance such as fires, insect infestations, and blowdowns can increase LW volumes in the semiarid boreal and semiarid temperate mountain sites, where rates of wood decay are relatively slow compared with the subtropical lowland sites. Although sediment is the largest floodplain carbon reservoir, floodplain LW stores substantial amounts of organic carbon and can influence floodplain sediment storage. In our study sites, floodplain LW volumes are lower than those in adjacent channels, but are higher than those in upland (i.e. non‐floodplain) forests. Given the important ecological and physical effects of floodplain LW, efforts to add LW to river corridors as part of restoration activities, and the need to quantify carbon stocks within river corridors, we urge others to quantify floodplain and instream LW volumes in diverse environments. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Vegetation recruitment in an enhanced floodplain: Ancillary benefits of salmonid habitat enhancement

Widespread loss and degradation of riverine habitats due to dams, diversions, levees, and human development have led to an increase in river habitat enhancement projects in recent decades. These projects typically focus on improving either terrestrial (e.g., riparian vegetation) or aquatic (e.g., fish spawning and rearing) habitats, and do not commonly address the relationship between the two systems. However, there is abundant evidence that fundamental linkages exist between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and anthropogenic impacts such as urban expansion, agricultural activities, and river impoundment can synergistically degrade both systems. This study examines the effects of adult and juvenile salmonid habitat restoration on recruitment, density, and composition of riparian vegetation in an area heavily impacted by mining and flow regulation. For a year following in-channel coarse sediment placement and floodplain construction in an area previously covered with coarse mine tailings, we compared the abundance, richness and diversity of vegetation across four treatments: the newly constructed floodplain, isolated mine tailings, mine tailings near an access road, and a remnant riparian area that was less impacted by mining. Richness and diversity were higher in the floodplain than in any of the other treatments; we identified a total of 15 plant families in the floodplain treatments, as compared to three to five families in the other treatments. We observed significant differences in plant assemblage composition between treatments, with higher richness of primarily obligate or facultative wetland plant taxa in the floodplain treatment. This study demonstrates that restoring hydrological linkages between aquatic and terrestrial habitats, and redistribution of sediment size classes altered by mining, can create conditions that promote rapid wetland plant colonization, enhancing biodiversity and improving ecosystem function.     

River–floodplain hydrology of an embanked lowland Chalk river and initial response to embankment removal

Abstract

Rivers have been channelized, deepened and constrained by embankments for centuries to increase agricultural productivity and improve flood defences. This has decreased the hydrological connectivity between rivers and their floodplains. We quantified the hydrological regime of a wet grassland meadow prior to and after the removal of river embankments. River and groundwater chemistry were also monitored to examine hydrological controls on floodplain nutrient status. Prior to restoration, the highest river flows (～2 m³ s^?1) were retained by the embankments. Under these flow conditions the usual hydraulic gradient from the floodplain to the river was reversed so that subsurface flows were directed towards the floodplain. Groundwater was depleted in dissolved oxygen (mean: 0.6 mg O₂ L^?1) and nitrate (mean: 0.5 mg NO₃ ^?-N L^?1) relative to river water (mean: 10.8 mg O₂ L^?1 and 6.2 mg NO₃ ^?-N L^?1, respectively). Removal of the embankments has reduced the channel capacity by an average of 60%. This has facilitated over-bank flow which is likely to favour conditions for improved flood storage and removal of river nutrients by floodplain sediments.

Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz; Associate editor K. Heal

Citation Clilverd, H.M., Thompson, J.R., Heppell, C.M., Sayer, C.D., and Axmacher, J.C., 2013. River–floodplain hydrology of an embanked lowland Chalk river and initial response to embankment removal. Hydrological Sciences Journal, 58 (3), 627–650.