Vegetation and Hydrogeomorphic Relations

Many hydrogeomorphic processes are poorly understood. Botanical evidence studies can improve flood or debris flow prediction for streams with short or no gaging-station records. Improvement of our understanding of the relations among fluvial geomorphology, sedimentation, mass wasting, plant chemistry, and plant ecology will provide insight into such problems as assessment of water quality, wetland loss, long-term effects of climatic variation, and the frequency and magnitude of destructive hydrogeomorphic phenomena. Botanical and geomorphic analyses may provide substantial information about variable source areas of runoff production and ground-water recharge. The general objectives of this project include: 1) the continued development of the combined use of botanical evidence and maximum likelihood estimators in flood-frequency prediction, 2) analysis and interpretation of the role of vegetation in natural and disturbed fluvial systems, including riparian and wetlands systems, 3) research in the hydrogeomorphic-plant ecological aspects of watershed dynamics, including the delineation of variable source areas of runoff production and ground-water recharge, and analyses of non-point source pollution and basic plant-landform relations and 4) use of tree-ring chemistry as an indication of ground and surface water quality.

For additional information about research studies being done by this project, see Ecological Research on Wetlands and Submersed Aquatic Vegetation. Also see the Potomac Estuary Study Bibliography for a list of and links to Potomac Estuary publications through 1996.

REPORTS PUBLISHED 1999-2008

Hupp, C.R., Schenk, E.R., Richter, J.M., Peet, R.K., and Townsend, P.A. in press. Bank erosion along the dam regulated lower Roanoke River, North Carolina: Geological Society of America, Special Publication.

Kroes, D.E. and Hupp, C.R., in press, Patterns of riparian sedimentation and subsidence along channelized and unchannelized reaches of the Pocomoke River, Maryland: Journal of the American Water Resources Association.

Schenk, E.R. and Hupp, C.R. in press. Legacy effects of colonial millponds on floodplain sedimentation, bank erosion, and channel morphology, Mid-Atlantic, USA. Journal of the American Water Resources Association.

Carter, V., Landwehr, J.M., Rybicki, N.B., Reel, J.T., and Ruhl, H.A., 2008, Linkages among submersed aquatic vegetation, nutrients, river discharge and weather in the tidal Potomac River and Estuary, in Buchanan, C., ed., Tidal Potomac River Integrated Analysis: Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin. (on-line chapter in pdf format, 1.6 MB)

Hupp, C.R., Demas, C.R., Kroes, D.E., Day, R.H., and Doyle, T.W., 2008, Recent sedimentation patterns within the central Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana: Wetlands, v. 28, p. 125-140. (on-line abstract of journal article)

Piégay, H., Hupp, C.R., Citterio, A., Dufour, S., Moulin, B., and Walling, D.E., 2008, Spatial and temporal variability in sedimentation rates associated with cutoff channel infill desposits: Ain River, France: Water Resources Research, v. 44, W05420, doi:10.1029/2006WR005260 (on-line abstract of journal article)

Rybicki, N.B., Justiniano- Vélez, E.M., Schenk, E.R., Baldizar, J.M., and Hunter, S.E., 2008, The Distribution of Submersed Aquatic Vegetation in the Fresh and Oligohaline Tidal Potomac River, 2005: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1218, 40p. (on-line only abstract or publication in pdf format, 2479 KB)

Baldizar, J. and Rybicki, N.B., 2007, Restoration potential of submerged aquatic vegetation in the tidal Pocomoke River (Chesapeake Bay, USA): Ecological Restoration, v. 25, no. 2, p. 138-139.

Gellis, A.C., Hupp, C.R., Landwehr, J.M. and Pavich, M.J., 2007, Sources and Transport of Sediment in the Watershed , in Phillips, S.W., ed., Synthesis of U.S. Geological Survey Science for the Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem and Implications for Environmental Management: U. S. Geological Survey Circular 1316, Chapter 6, p. 28-31. (on-line chapter in pdf fomat)

Hupp, C.R.  and Rinaldi, M., 2007, Riparian vegetation patterns in relation to fluvial landforms and channel evolution along selected rivers of Tuscany (Central Italy): Annals of the Association of American Geographers, v. 97, no. 1, p. 12-30. (on-line abstract of journal article)

Kroes, D.E., Hupp, C.R., and Noe, G.B., 2007, Sediment, nutrient, and vegetation trends along the tidal forested Pocomoke River, Maryland, in Conner, W.H., Doyle, T.W., and Krauss, K.W., eds., Ecology of Tidal Freshwater Swamps of the Southeastern United States: The Netherlands, Springer , p. 113-137.

Noe, G.B., and Hupp, C., 2007, Seasonal variation in nutrient retention during inundation of a short-hydroperiod floodplain: River Research and Applications, v. 23, no. 10 p. 1088-1101. (on-line abstract or on-line journal article in pdf format, 282 KB, published in 2007 by John Wiley & Sons as a U.S. Governement work in the public domain)

Rybicki, N. B., and Landwehr, J.M., 2007, Long-term changes in abundance and diversity of macrophyte and waterfowl populations in an estuary With exotic macrophytes and improving water quality: Limnology and Oceanography, v. 52, no. 3, p. 1195-1207. (on-line abstract and on-line article in pdf format, 1200 KB - published by the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography with open access)

Rybicki, N.B. and Landwehr, J.M., 2007, Submerged Aquatic Vegetation and Water Clarity , in Phillips, S.W., ed., Synthesis of U.S. Geological Survey Science for the Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem and Implications for Environmental Management: U. S. Geological Survey Circular 1316, Chapter 11, p.46-49. (on-line chapter in pdf fomat)

Rybicki, N.B., Yoon, S.N., Schenk, E.R., and Baldizar, J.B., 2007, The Distribution of Submersed Aquatic Vegetation in the Fresh and Oligohaline Tidal Potomac River, 2004 , U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1198. (on-line introduction or on-line report in pdf format, 1380 KB)

Baldizar, J.B., and Rybicki, N.B., 2006, Primary factors influencing water clarity at shallow water sites throughout the Chesapeake and Maryland Coastal Bays: Proceedings of the Joint 8th Federal Interagency Sedimentation Conference and 3rd Federal Interagency Hydrological Modeling Conference, April 2-6, 2006, Reno, NV, in CD_ROM file ISBN 0-9779007-1-1.

Hupp, C.R. and Noe, G.B., 2006, Sediment and nutrient accumulation within lowland bottomland ecosystems - An example from the Atchafalaya River Basin, Louisiana: Proceedings Hydrology and Management of Forested Wetlands, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, p. 175-187.

Schenk, E.R. and Rybicki, N.B., 2006, Exploring causes of a seagrass transplant failure in the Potomac River (Virginia): Ecological Restoration, v. 24, no. 2, p. 116-118.

Wieczorek, G.F., Eaton, L.S., Yanosky, T.M., and Turner, E.J., 2006, Hurricane-induced landslide activity on an alluvial fan along Meadow Run, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia (eastern USA): Landslides, v. 3, no. 2, p. 95 - 106.

Hupp, C.R., Walbridge, M.R., and Lockaby, B.G., 2005, Fluvial geomorphic processes and landforms, water quality, and nutrients in Bottomland Hardwood forests of southeastern USA, in Fredrickson, L.H., King, S.L., and Kaminski, R.M., eds., Ecology and Management of Bottomland Hardwood Systems: University of Missouri-Columbia, Gaylord Memorial Laboratory Special Publication No. 10, Puxico, MO USA, p. 37-55.

Noe, G.B., and Hupp, C.R., 2005, Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus accumulation in floodplains of Atlantic Coastal Plain rivers, USA: Ecological Applications, v. 15, p.1178-1190. (on-line abstract of journal article)

Yanosky, T.M., 2005, Review of "Principles of Soil and Plant Water Relations by M.B. Kirkham, Elsevier Academic Press, Burlington, Massachusetts": Journal of Environmental Quality, v. 34, no. 4, p. 1452-1453.

Yanosky, T.M., 2005, Review of "Adaptations and Responses of Woody Plants to Environmental Stresses by R. Arora, Haworth Press, Binghamton, New York": Journal of Environmental Quality, v. 34, no. 4, p. 1453.

Kemp, W.M., Batiuk, R., Bartleson, R., Bergstrom, P., Carter, V., Gallegos, C.L., Hunley, W., Karrh, L., Koch, E.W., Landwehr, J.M., Moore, K.A., Murray, L., Naylor, M., Rybicki, N.B., Stevenson, J.C., and Wilcox, D.J., 2004, Habitat requirements for submerged aquatic vegetation in Chesapeake Bay: Water quality, light regime, and physical-chemical factors: Estuaries, v. 27, no. 3, p. 363-377. (on-line abstract)

Kroes, D.E., and Brinson, M.M., 2004, Occurrence of riverine wetlands on floodplains along a climatic gradient: Wetlands, v. 24, no. 1, p. 167-177. (on-line abstract)

Larsen, C., Clark, I., Guntenspergen, G., Cahoon, D., Caruso, V., Hupp, C., and Yanosky, T., 2004, The Blackwater NWR inundation model. Rising sea level on a low-lying coast: land use planning for wetlands: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2004-1302. (on-line report- available on-line only)

Ross, K.M., Hupp, C.R., and Howard, A.D. 2004. Sedimentation in floodplains of selected tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay, in Bennett, S.J., and Simon, A., eds., Riparian Vegetation and Fluvial Geomorphology: American Geophysical Union, Water Science and Application Series. v. 8, 290 p.

Herman, J., Hupp, C., Langland, M., 2003, Watershed sediment deposition and storage, in Langland, Mi., and Cronin, T., eds., A summary report of sediment processes in Chesapeake Bay and watershed: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 03-4123, chapt. 4, p.42-48. (access to on-line chapter in pdf formataccess to on-line chapter in pdf format)

Hupp, C.R., and Bornette, G., 2003, Vegetation as a tool in the interpretation of fluvial geomorphic processes and landforms in humid temperate areas , in Kondolf, M., and Piegay, H., eds., Tools in fluvial geomorphology: John Wiley and Sons, Chichester, UK., Chapter 10., p. 269-288.

Williams, D.J., Rybicki, N.B., Lombana, A.V., O'Brien, T.M., Gomez, R.B., 2003, Preliminary investigation of submerged aquatic vegetation mapping using hyperspectral remote sensing: Environmental Monitoring and Assessement. v. 81, no. 1, p. 383-392. (on-line abstract)

Barlow, R.A., Brakebill, J.W., Bratton, J.F., Blazer, V.S., Bohlke, J.F., Bricker, O.P., Colman, S.M., Cronin, T.M., Hupp, C.R., Keough, J.R., Landwehr, J.M., Langland, M.J., Newell, W.L., Perry, M.C., Phillips, S.W., Preston, S.D., Rybicki, N.B., Simon, N.S., Willard, D.A., Phillips, S.W., 2002, The U.S. Geological Survey and the Chesapeake Bay - The role of science in environmental restoration: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1220. (on-line report)

Rybicki, N.B., and Carter., V., 2002, Light and temperature effects on the growth of wild celery and hydrilla: Journal of Aquatic Plant Management, v. 40, p. 92-99.

Rybicki, N.B., Reel, J.T., Gammon, P.T., Garrett, M.K., 2002, Vegetative resistance to flow in South Florida Everglades - Summary of vegetation sampling in water conservation area 2A, September 1999: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 02-38.

Yanosky, T.M., and Jarrett, R.D., 2002, Dendrochronologic evidence for the frequency and magnitude of paleofloods in House, P.K., Webb, R.H., Baker, V.R., and Levish, D.R., eds., Ancient floods, modern hazards, principles and applications of paleoflood hydrology: American Geophysical Union Water Science and Application Series, v. 5, p. 77-89.

Yanosky, T.M., Hansen, B.P., and Schening, M.R., 2002, Use of tree rings to investigate the onset of contamination of a shallow aquifer by chlorinated hydrocarbons: Journal of Contaminant Hydrology, v. 50, p. 159-173. (on-line abstract)

Rybicki, N.B., McFarland, D.G., Ruhl, H. A., Reel, J.T., Barko, J.W., 2001, Investigations of the availability and survival of submersed aquatic vegetation propagules in the Tidal Potomac River: Estuaries, v. 24, no. 3, p. 407-424. (on-line abstract)

Rybicki, N.B., Reel, J.T., Ruhl, H.A., Gammon, P.T., and Carter,V., 2001, Vegetative resistance to flow in south Florida: summary of vegetation sampling in Taylor Slough Everglades National Park, September 1997-July 1998: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 01-102, 117 P. (on-line report in pdf format)

Bendix, J., and Hupp, C.R., 2000, Hydrological and geomorphological impacts on riparian plant communities, in Gurnell, A.M., Hupp, C.R., Gregory, S.V., eds., Linking Hydrology and Ecology: Hydrological Processes, v. 14, no. 16-17, p. 2,977-2,990. (on-line abstract)

Carter, V., Rybicki, N.B., Landwehr, J.M., and Naylor, M.D., 2000, Light requirements for SAV survival and growth, in Kemp, M., Batiuk, R.,and others, eds., Chesapeake Bay submerged aquatic vegetation water quality and habitat-based requirements and restoration targets: A Second Technical Synthesis: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the Cheasapeake Bay Program 245-00. (on-line report in PDF format)

Elder, J.F., Rybicki, N.B., Carter, V., and Weintraub, V., 2000, Sources and yields of dissolved carbon in northern Wisconsin stream catchments with differing amounts of peat and: Wetlands, v. 20, no. 1, p. 113-125. (on-line abstract)

Gurnell, A.M., Hupp, C.R., and Gregory, S.V., 2000, Linking hydrology and ecology: Hydrological Processes (editorial), v. 14, no. 16-17, p. 2,813-3,178.

Hupp, C.R., 2000, Hydrology, geomorphology, and vegetation of coastal plain rivers in the south-eastern USA, in Gurnell, A.M., Hupp, C.R., Gregory, S.V., eds., Linking Hydrology and Ecology: Hydrological Processes, v. 14, p. 2,991-3,010. (on-line abstract)

Hupp, C.R. and Schening, M.R., 2000. Sedimentation, in Burke, M.K., and Eisenbies, M.H., eds., The Coosawhatchie Bottomland Ecosystem Study: U.S. Forest Service. Gen Tech. Rep. SRS-38, p. 14-16.

Rybicki, N.B., 2000, Relationships between environmental variables and submersed aquatic vegetation in the Potomac River, 1985-1997, Ph.D. Thesis, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA.

Rybicki, N.B., Reel, J.T., Ruhl, H.A., Gammon, P.T., Carter V., and Lee, J.K., 2000, Sawgrass density, biomass, and leaf area index: A flume study in support of research on wind sheltering effects in the Florida Everglades, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-172. (on-line abstract and to download report)

Carter, Virginia, Rybicki, N.B., Reel, J.T., Ruhl, H.A., and Lee, J.K., 1999, Vegetative characterization for Everglades studies: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-181, p. I0-II.

Carter, V., Ruhl, H.A., Rybicki, N.B., Reel, J.T., and Gammon, Patricia T., 1999, Vegetative resistance to flow in south Florida: Summary of vegetation sampling at sites NESRS3 and P33, Shark River Slough, April, 1996: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-187, 73 p. (on-line abstract and to download report)

Carter, V., Ruhl, H.A., Rybicki, N.B., Reel, J.,T., and Gammon, Patricia T., 1999, Vegetative resistance to flow in south Florida: Summary of vegetation sampling at sites NESRS3 and P33, Shark River Slough, November, 1996: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-218, 89 p. (on-line abstract and to download report)

Elder, J.F., Carter, V., and Rybicki, N.B. , 1999, Dissolved carbon mobilization in peat and/stream systems of northern Wisconsin (U.S.A.), Proc. V INTECOL, Wetlands Conf., Perth, AUS, Sept 22-28, 1996.

Hupp, C.R., 1999, Relations among riparian vegetation, channel incision processes and forms, and large woody debris, in Darby, S., and Simon, A., eds., Incised River Channels: Processes, Forms, Engineering and Management: John Wiley and Sons LTD, p. 221-245.

Landwehr, J.M., Reel, J.T., Rybicki, N.B., Ruhl, H.A., and Carter, V., 1999, Chesapeake Bay habitat criteria scores and the distribution and abundance of submersed aquatic vegetation in the tidal Potomac River and Potomac Estuary, 1983-1997: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-219, 34 p. (on-line report)

Ruhl, H.A., Rybicki, N.B., Reel, J.T., and Carter, V., 1999, Distribution and abundance of submersed aquatic vegetation in the tidal Potomac River and upper Potomac Estuary, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, 1993-1998: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-233, 39 p. (on-line abstract)

Rybicki, N.B., Reel, J., Ruhl, H.A., Gammon, P.T., Carter V., and Lee, J.K., 1999, Biomass and Vegetative Characteristics of Sawgrass Grown in a Tilting Flume as Part of a Study of Vegetative Resistance to Flow, U.S. Geological Survey Open- File Report 99-230. (on-line abstract)

Rybicki, N.B., Ruhl, H.A., Reel, J.T., and Carter, V., 1999, A survey of potential dredge disposal sites in the tidal Potomac River and upper Potomac Estuary between Washington, D.C. and the Route 301 Bridge: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-234, 10 p. (on-line abstract)

Yanosky, T.M., 1999, Tree-ring analysis in hydrometry, in Herschy, R.W., ed., Hydrometry: Principles and Practices, 2nd edition: John Wiley and Sons, p. 265-289.

For bibliographic citations by Nancy Rybicki prior to 1998, see Remote Sensing and Ecological Research in Wetlands

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PROJECT, CONTACT:
Cliff R. Hupp
U.S. Geological Survey, 430 National Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192
Email: crhupp@usgs.gov
Telephone: 703-648-5207

Nancy B. Rybicki
U.S. Geological Survey, 430 National Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192
Email: nrybicki@usgs.gov
Telephone: 703-648-5728
For additional bibliographic citations for Nancy Rybicki, see Remote Sensing and Ecological Research in Wetlands

Thomas M Yanosky
U.S. Geological Survey, 430 National Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192
Email: tyanosky@usgs.gov
Telephone: 703-648-5206

For information on additional projects in the National Research Program, see Indexes to NRP projects and bibliographies