Urban runoff and stream channel incision interact to influence riparian soils and understory vegetation

Solins, Joanna P.; Cadenasso, Mary L.

doi:10.1002/eap.2556

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 73 publications

(110 reference statements)

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“…(2005) found that inundation duration influences vegetation species present, with more hydric species occurring in areas of the floodplain that are inundated for several weeks. In urban streams, incision has also been linked to changes in vegetation composition and abundance (e.g., Solins & Cadenasso, 2020, 2022). Although all study reaches are impacted by flow regulation similarly, we can infer that the knickpoint and subsequent impacts have influenced the differences in riparian vegetation because of the geomorphic differences between R1 and R2 and their differing proximity to the knickpoint.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Multiple studies have investigated linkages between flow, geomorphic processes and form, and riparian vegetation composition and abundance (e.g., Bywater‐Reyes et al., 2022; Diehl et al., 2017, 2018). For example, stream incision in urban systems due to increased runoff has been shown to reduce understory vegetation cover in riparian zones, as well as change riparian vegetation composition (Solins & Cadenasso, 2020, 2022). Additional geomorphic changes, such as knickpoint development, also have the potential to impact riparian vegetation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Influence of Knickpoint Development and Channel Incision on Riparian Vegetation in Semi‐Arid River Corridors

Johaneman,

Lininger,

Schook

et al. 2023

Water Resources Research

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Hydrogeomorphic processes strongly influence riparian vegetation, but few studies have determined the influence of knickpoint development on these processes. We investigate the influence of knickpoint development and channel incision on flood inundation, channel morphology, and riparian vegetation on the Fremont River in Utah. We conducted topographic surveys (n = 30 transects) and plot‐based vegetation surveys (n = 336) in three 1 km‐long reaches with varying proximities to a human‐created knickpoint. We also developed 1D hydraulic models to assess flood inundation patterns. Our data indicate that knickpoint development affects riparian vegetation composition and abundance through its influence on geomorphic and hydrologic processes. The study reach located just upstream of the knickpoint (R2) had a deeper channel, flooded less frequently, and required higher flows to inundate the floodplain compared to the study reach located 5 km upstream of the knickpoint (R1). Overall mean vegetation abundance (percent cover) was higher in R1 (55.7%) than in R2 (30.1%), and R1 had more occurrences of wet‐adapted (facultative wetland and obligate) species than R2 (198 and 79, respectively). Vegetation in the human‐created abandoned meander reach near the knickpoint (R4) was predominantly dry‐adapted (upland) species. Cross‐reach comparisons and more than 3 m of incision in the knickzone since knickpoint creation indicate that knickpoint development has resulted in channel incision in R2, shifting its vegetation toward more dry‐adapted species reminiscent of the surrounding uplands. This work informs natural resource management practices for habitat in riparian ecosystems and can be applied to rivers in drier regions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Influence of Knickpoint Development and Channel Incision on Riparian Vegetation in Semi‐Arid River Corridors

Johaneman,

Lininger,

Schook

et al. 2023

Water Resources Research

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“…However, at PSR170 km, ER experienced a significant increase of 44% during the monsoon period. The reductions in ER and GPP are most likely due to the scouring of autotrophic and heterotrophic communities and biofilms from the benthic zone but are also associated with changes in light penetration due to increased turbidity and greater flow depths [48][49][50] . Our principal component analysis shows strong relationships between discharge, turbidity, and fDOM during the monsoon period and inverse relationships between these variables and GPP and ER (Figure 4).…”

Section: Wildfire Disturbance Generation and Propagation: Impacts To ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Longitudinal propagation of aquatic disturbances from the largest wildfire recorded in New Mexico, USA

Nichols¹,

Kaphle²,

Tunby³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Wildfires generate hydro-geomorphological disturbances initiated by post-fire precipitation-runoff events. These disturbances are drivers of aquatic impairment over multiple months and years. While the impacts of wildfires on streams and rivers near burned areas have received increased attention in the last decades, it is still unclear how wildfire disturbances propagate longitudinally through fluvial networks. We deployed a rapid response team to install and maintain five high-frequency in-situ sondes to monitor water quality and stream metabolism changes over 190 km along the Gallinas Creek-Pecos River-Santa Rosa Lake fluvial network in response to the Hermit’s Peak - Calf Canyon (HPCC) wildfire, the largest in New Mexico’s recorded history. We assessed how far downstream water quality disturbances propagated along the fluvial network, the role of seasonality in that propagation, and the impact of lakes in mitigating further longitudinal propagation. Monitoring began a few days after the fire started in April 2022 and before any precipitation events had occurred. In the ten months post-fire, there were significant increases in turbidity and fDOM and reductions in gross primary production and ecosystem respiration at all monitoring sites upstream of Santa Rosa Lake. Stream metabolic fingerprints suggest increased scouring, DOC, nutrients, and suspended sediments at these sites. In contrast, the site downstream of Santa Rosa Lake did not have altered turbidity, gross primary production, or ecosystem respiration, and the metabolic fingerprints remained unchanged. These results suggest that Santa Rosa Lake, and associated water operations, buffered the propagation of wildfire disturbances ~180km downstream from the burn scar, resetting water quality parameters and metabolic activity for over ten months post-fire.

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Evaluating Water and Carbon Retention in a Low-Order, Designed River Corridor

Cockburn

Scott

Villard³

2022

Land

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As urban residential areas expand into the areas around cities, especially in North America, these areas were previously forested or were converted to agricultural uses (e.g., cropping, grazing). Many of the pre-existing channels were modified prior to residential area expansion and required modification and/or restoration in order for development permits to be granted. These pre-existing channels are often low-order, semi-ephemeral streams with hydrological and geomorphological functions and provide aquatic-terrestrial habitat and ecological linkages. Once restored, these corridors provide important services to the entire river network related to flood-risk mitigation, sediment trapping, and are potential carbon (via particulate organic matter) sinks. This research evaluated water flow and carbon trapping within a low-order tributary of East Morrison Creek in Southern Ontario, Canada in the years immediately following construction. Water level records (5 September and 30 November 2019, and 1 April and 30 November 2020) show that even in its early development this new system was functioning efficiently. Sediment samples taken throughout the 2020 field season determined particulate organic matter was being stored, especially in features where flow was attenuated. Channel roughness imposed by large wood structures promote organic matter deposition within bed sediments and were expected to increase over time. These findings highlight the importance of spatial heterogeneity imposed by the design features used in this reach-scale restoration and serve as a valuable ‘proof of concept’ for future work along the urban-rural interface of expanding cities.

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Urban runoff and stream channel incision interact to influence riparian soils and understory vegetation

Cited by 4 publications

References 73 publications

The Influence of Knickpoint Development and Channel Incision on Riparian Vegetation in Semi‐Arid River Corridors

The Influence of Knickpoint Development and Channel Incision on Riparian Vegetation in Semi‐Arid River Corridors

Longitudinal propagation of aquatic disturbances from the largest wildfire recorded in New Mexico, USA

Evaluating Water and Carbon Retention in a Low-Order, Designed River Corridor

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