Tear Out In-Stream Vegetation To Prevent Flooding?

[Tim Smith]

This one hit home a bit after a trip to the South Platte last week in Denver. Every willow in sight had been chainsawed to the ground.

From the AFS Message Board

Informing instream channel maintenance works to sustain river ecosystem

functioning and biodiversity

Supervisors: Dr Jon Harvey and Prof. Ian Cowx

Project Description

Climate change is predicted to cause dramatic changes in UK rainfall

patterns

potentially leading to increased summer and winter flooding and subsequent

possible damage to property and land use.

To minimise these potential problems, many rivers are being subjected to

heavy channel maintenance works, but little is known about the impact of

these activities on aquatic ecosystems, or the ecological status of the

targeted rivers. The overall aim of the study will be to assess the impact

of

river and channel engineering works on aquatic biota, and identify remedial

measures to ensure protection of aquatic ecosystem functioning and

biodiversity.

The findings will make a major contribution to understanding of how river

and

channel engineering activities influence aquatic fauna and flora, and

provide

practical guidance environmentally friendly and socially acceptable river

engineering works

[Outside Bend]

Ditching by any other name...

[flytyer57]

When will they ever learn to leave the floodplains alone?

[mic]

Did someone say C.C.?

[Tim Smith]

Did someone say C.C.?

Sort of.