Author(s): Riparian Vegetation; Takuya Uotani; Keiichi Kanda; Kohji Michioku
Linked Author(s): Keiichi Kanda, Kohji Michioku
Keywords: Vegetation hydrodynamics; Compound open channel; Laboratory experiment; Numerical analysis; Tree thinning
Abstract: Recently, many river channels in Japan tend to be heavily vegetated due to regime shifts in hydrological, fluvial and ecological processes. Dense vegetation on floodplains and sandbars frequently obstructs a flood flow and reduces channels' conveyance capacity. On the other hand, it is important from an environmental viewpoint to make a proper management of riverine vegetation, because trees and plants provide habitats for various species and life. They play an important role as a part of the river ecosystem. In order to preserve trees nature and keep a certain level of flow conveyance capacity, thinning and felling of riverine trees might be one of possible management strategies for a sustainable and economically feasible river management. In order to investigate effects of tree thinning on river hydrodynamics, a laboratory model experiments was carried out in a compound open channel with riparian vegetation, which is a typical ecological structure frequently observed in many rivers. Hydrodynamics were experimentally and analytically investigated under various vegetation and hydraulic conditions.
Year: 2013