Research Publications in journals:
Dismantling artificial levees and channel revetments promotes channel widening and regeneration of riparian vegetation over long river segments
Year:2017
Research Areas
- Natural environment,
- Hydrology,
- Geomorphology,
- Engineering
Information
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Abstract
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| Longitudinal structures manipulation can re-activate channel migration and thus restore flood-dependent riparian plant communities in human-constrained floodplains. However, it has been rarely implemented over long restored river segments and has been infrequently assessed while taking into account river conditions prior to restoration. This study describes the morphological and vegetation response to this type of restoration in a project completed in 2012 along a 21.6 km river segment in the Órbigo River (NW Spain). Land cover changes and channel planform evolution in the restored segment were compared with a downstream non-restored (control) segment and to an upstream unregulated (reference) segment before (2011) and shortly after (2014) the restoration implementation. Riparian vegetation was surveyed in 18 gravel bars of the three river segments four years after restoration completion (2016). The restored segment presented the largest increase of active channel area. Rejuvenation of landforms predominated over transition toward mature stages (succession) in the restored and the reference segment, while succession predominated in the control segment. The sinuosity and braiding indexes in the restored segment increased much more than in the reference and, especially, than in the control segment. Riparian plant communities that colonized gravel bars in the restored segment resembled those found in the unregulated segment and slightly differed from that found in the non-restored segment. Withinsegment variability was much higher, indicating the dependence of riparian plant communities on local processes. Although positive, our results showed that the high stability of floodplain areas in the human-constrained rivers of industrialized societies limits the short-term effectiveness of longitudinal structures manipulation as a restoration strategy. We also showed that assessments using relatively simple aerial photointerpretation and vegetation surveys in pioneer habitats can illustrate trajectories in river restoration projects shortly after their completion. Long-term monitoring of the geomorphic trajectory and associated plant communities, however, will help define the timing of future additional interventions to assure the natural resilience of riparian habitats. | |
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International
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JCR
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Title
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Ecological Engineering |
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ISBN
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0925-8574 |
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Impact factor JCR
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2,74 |
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Impact info
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Datos JCR del año 2015 |
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Volume
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10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.08.005 |
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Journal number
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108 |
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From page
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132 |
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To page
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142 |
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Month
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SIN MES |
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Ranking
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Open Access publication
Participants
- Autor: Vanesa Martinez Fernandez UPM
- Autor: Eduardo González EcoLab (Laboratoire Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, 118 Route de Narbonne Bâtiment 4R1, 31062 Toulouse Cedex
- Autor: Juan Carlos López Almansa Departamento de Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible, Universidad Católica de Ávila, c/ Canteros s/n, 05005 Ávila, Spain
- Autor: Sofía Maura González Departamento de Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible, Universidad Católica de Ávila, c/ Canteros s/n, 05005 Ávila, Spain
- Autor: Diego M Garcia de Jalon Lastra UPM
Research Group, Departaments and Institutes related
- Creador: Grupo de Investigación: Hidrobiología
- Departamento: Sistemas y Recursos Naturales