Influence of bank vegetation on channel morphology in rural and urban watersheds

Hession, W. Cully; Pizzuto, J. E.; Johnson, Thomas E.; Horwitz, Richard J.

doi:10.1130/0091-7613(2003)031<0147:iobvoc>2.0.co;2

Cited by 160 publications

(151 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…For these streams, narrowing was caused by bank encroachment due to herbaceous plants (mostly grasses), which are shaded out under forest cover (13,14). This same process has been described in urban watersheds in the region (17). Another study has also demonstrated that forested stream reaches exhibit 20-33% slower channel migration and lower floodplain accretion rates of sediment and thereby provide more stability than deforested channels (18).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Riparian deforestation, stream narrowing, and loss of stream ecosystem services

Sweeney

Bott

Jackson

et al. 2004

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

527

407

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A study of 16 streams in eastern North America shows that riparian deforestation causes channel narrowing, which reduces the total amount of stream habitat and ecosystem per unit channel length and compromises in-stream processing of pollutants. Wide forest reaches had more macroinvertebrates, total ecosystem processing of organic matter, and nitrogen uptake per unit channel length than contiguous narrow deforested reaches. Stream narrowing nullified any potential advantages of deforestation regarding abundance of fish, quality of dissolved organic matter, and pesticide degradation. These findings show that forested stream channels have a wider and more natural configuration, which significantly affects the total in-stream amount and activity of the ecosystem, including the processing of pollutants. The results reinforce both current policy of the United States that endorses riparian forest buffers as best management practice and federal and state programs that subsidize riparian reforestation for stream restoration and water quality. Not only do forest buffers prevent nonpoint source pollutants from entering small streams, they also enhance the in-stream processing of both nonpoint and point source pollutants, thereby reducing their impact on downstream rivers and estuaries.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Riparian deforestation, stream narrowing, and loss of stream ecosystem services

Sweeney

Bott

Jackson

et al. 2004

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

527

407

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“…The greater channelization and channel alteration in cropland streams also appeared to affect riparian zones (e.g., Hession et al, 2003). Specifically, cropland streams were associated with less vegetative protection on stream banks, reduced bank stability scores, and narrower riparian zones compared to wetland streams.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of conservation wetlands on stream habitat, water quality and fish communities in agricultural watersheds of the lower Mississippi River Basin

Shrestha

Farrelly

Eggleton

et al. 2017

Ecological Engineering

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a b s t r a c tWetland conservation programs (e.g., Wetland Reserve Program and Conservation Reserve Program) have been implemented throughout the Mississippi River Basin to reduce environmental impacts from agricultural activities. However, there is limited information on the overall effectiveness of these programs on improving stream ecological conditions. To address this issue, replicate streams from southeastern Arkansas draining watersheds containing predominately croplands (n = 4, termed "cropland") and created wetlands (n = 4, termed "wetland") were monitored monthly from August 2012 through July 2013. Although repeated-measures analyses of variance (ANOVA) detected many significant time × stream type interactions, several habitat parameters and total habitat scores exhibited a general improvement in wetland streams. Some water quality conditions were better in wetland streams (e.g., lower turbidity, total suspended solids, and nutrient) compared to cropland streams. The time (season) effect was significant (p < 0.05) for 13 of the 14 water quality parameters measured, meaning that water quality varied seasonally. Among the water quality parameters measured, three (water temperature, pH, and turbidity) exhibited significant (p < 0.05) time × stream type interaction, meaning that the stream type effect was not consistent through time (seasons). Fish community sampling collected 6543 specimens from 12 species during the study period; 4410 and 2133 fish specimens were collected from cropland and wetland streams, respectively. Fish community metrics such as species diversity, species evenness, and species richness index were not significantly (p > 0.05) greater in wetland streams. Overall, the conservation wetlands in the Lower Mississippi River Basin appear to have significantly improved stream habitat and moderately improved water quality, though no significant fish community effect was detected.

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“…The evaluation of overgrown stretches only demonstrates that the density of the woody vegetation of different regulated streams also varies and depends on a number of natural (distance to the forest, slope exposition) and anthropogenic (agricultural land) factors, whereas woody vegetation growing on the slopes of regulated streams has an impact on the morphological parameters of the riverbed [15]. An increased density of woody vegetation was observed in the regulated streams crossing a non-urbanized territory thickly overgrown with woody vegetation (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It has also been found that the cross-section of the streams overgrown with woody vegetation takes more space than that of the streams having no woody vegetation [15]. Thus, the streams with no overgrown woody vegetation and steeper slopes have higher probability for tides and destroying slopes.…”

mentioning

confidence: 88%