HEC-RAS-RVSM (Riparian Vegetation Simulation Module)
Abstract
The purpose of this Ecosystem Management and Restoration Research Program (EMRRP) technical note (TN) is to document the riparian vegetation simulation module (RVSM) developed and integrated with the Hydrologic Engineering Center-River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) (http://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-ras/). The RVSM simulates spatially distributed seed dispersal, establishment, growth, and removal in response to dynamic hydraulic conditions. The HEC-RAS-RVSM is designed to model the interactions between flow and riparian vegetation in the floodplain and support the river ecosystem management and restoration. Riparian zones are long strips of vegetation adjacent to streams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and other inland aquatic systems (Fischer and Fischenich 2000). Riparian zones range in width from a few to hundreds of meters. Riparian vegetation is diverse in species and is associated with nearly all continental freshwater bodies and forms diverse ecotones between the aquatic and terrestrial environments. The riparian zone plays a significant role in controlling channel morphology, maintaining a favorable habitat for aquatic organisms, and improving river water quality (Tabacchiet al. 1998; Perucca et al. 2007). Riparian vegetation increases the bank resistance against erosion directly by root binding, and indirectly by enhancing local deposition of organic material and fine sediment, which increases the soil cohesion (Tal et al. 2004). By trapping organic matter and sediment as well as assimilating excessive nutrients, riparian vegetation has a strong ability to mitigate nutrients and contaminant content of adjacent rivers (Comerford et al. 1992; Dosskey et al. 2010). Riparian habitats also provide diverse foraging and breeding sites that support the coexistence of many wildlife species (Tucker and Wayne 1990).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2019
- Accession Number
- AD1074004
Entities
People
- Billy Johnson
- Blair Greimann
- Zhonglong Zhang
Organizations
- Engineer Research and Development Center