Establishment and Persistence of Trees Growing in the Channel of an Intermittent Stream in a Temperate, Karst Environment

Abstract

Intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams are ubiquitous globally (Datry et al., 2017). Most research on intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams has focused on dryland areas, including hyper-arid, arid, semi-arid, and dry-subhumid regions, because low precipitation and high evaporation rates are a major driver of streamflow intermittency (Datry et al., 2017;Tooth, 2000). In temperate and humid regions, ephemeral streams are primarily found in headwaters, whereas, middle and lower reaches are often perennial (

Perennial and Non‐Perennial Streamflow Regime Shifts Across California, USA

“…Perennial streams flow continuously year‐round whereas non‐perennial streams are rivers that cease to flow for a portion of the year, including intermittent and ephemeral streams. Classifying streams as perennial and non‐perennial is critical for water resources management because their respective flow regimes are responsible for variations in aquatic and terrestrial species, sediment transport, and other distinct ecosystem functions (Bogan, 2017; Bruno et al., 2022; Christensen et al., 2022; Shanafield & Cook, 2014). Non‐perennial streams support a high diversity of aquatic and terrestrial communities that have adapted to the natural seasonal loss of streamflow connectivity (Lytle et al., 2008).…”

Experimental Observations of Floodplain Vegetation, Bedforms, and Sediment Transport Interactions in a Meandering Channel

“…These metrics have been used to inform design goals and measures of river restoration success (Hinshaw et al., 2022; Scott et al., 2022), and the physical processes that drive them have also been investigated. Specifically, within river channels, the interaction of sediment supply, particle size distribution, flow stage, discharge, wood load, live vegetation, and other biological elements produces spatially variable topographic characteristics as bedforms (Box et al., 2019; Christensen et al., 2022; Lightbody et al., 2019; White & Nelson, 2023; Wohl et al., 2022; Yang & Nepf, 2019). Although there are many studies investigating topographic patterns that emerge because of interactions of flow, sediment, and vegetation within the active channel, there are few that consider the hydrodynamic interactions between floodplain vegetation and flood‐stage conditions.…”