Macrophyte growth is extensive in the iconic chalk streams that are concentrated in southern and eastern England. Widespread and frequent weed cutting is undertaken to maintain their key functions (e.g. flood water conveyance and maintenance of viable fisheries). In this study, a multidisciplinary approach was adopted to quantify coincident physico-chemical responses (instream and riparian) that result from weed cutting andudto discuss their potential implications. Three weed cuts were monitored at a site on the River Lambourn (The CEH River Lambourn Observatory) and major instream and riparian impacts were observed. Measurements clearlyuddemonstrated how weed cutting enhanced flood flow conveyance, reduced water levels (river and wetland), increased river velocities, and mobilised suspended sediment (with associated chemicals) and reduced the capacity for its retention within the river channel. Potential implications in relation to flood risk, water resources, downstream water quality, instream and riparian ecology, amenity value of the river, and wetland greenhouse gas emissions were considered. Provided the major influence of macrophytes on instream and riparian environments is fully understood then the manipulation of macrophytes represents an effective management tool that demonstrates the great potential of working with nature.
展开▼
机译：在标志性的白垩流中，大型植物的生长非常广泛，这些白垩流集中在英格兰南部和东部。为了维持其主要功能（例如洪水输送和维持可行的渔业），进行了广泛且频繁的除草工作。在这项研究中，采用了多学科方法来量化杂草砍伐产生的同时发生的理化响应（河流和河岸），并讨论它们的潜在影响。在Lambourn河（CEH River Lambourn天文台）的一个站点上对三处杂草砍伐进行了监测，并观察到主要的河道和河岸影响。测量结果清楚地证明了杂草如何切割以提高洪流输送能力，降低水位（河流和湿地），增加河速以及动员悬浮的泥沙（与相关化学物质一起）并降低其在河道中的滞留能力。考虑了与洪水风险，水资源，下游水质，河流和河岸生态学，河流的舒适性价值以及湿地温室气体排放有关的潜在影响。如果充分理解了大型植物对河流和河岸环境的主要影响，那么大型植物的操作就代表了一种有效的管理工具，展示了与自然共处的巨大潜力。
展开▼
