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Effects of Vegetation on Open Channel Flow and Sediment Transport

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A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Hydraulics and Hydrodynamics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 June 2026 | Viewed by 3623

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Dr. Mengyang Liu

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Guest Editor

State Key Laboratory of Water Resources Engineering and Management, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
Interests: environmental hydraulics; solute and sediment transport; computational fluid dynamics; numerical simulation; fluvial hydraulics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Yanxu Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

College of Engineerning, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266404, China
Interests: coastal erosion and protection; wetland vegetation; sediment transport; numerical simulation; physical experiment; river and coastal hydrodynamics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aquatic vegetation profoundly influences hydrodynamic processes and sediment dynamics in open channels, shaping river morphology, ecological habitats, and sediment transport efficiency. Vegetation alters flow resistance, turbulence characteristics, and bed shear stress while modulating sediment deposition, resuspension, and nutrient retention via complex flow–vegetation interactions. These effects vary with vegetation density, flexibility, and spatial arrangement, resulting in heterogeneous velocity profiles, enhanced turbulence kinetic energy, and modified sediment transport pathways.

Recent advances in numerical methods—including large-eddy simulations, lattice Boltzmann models, and Lagrangian particle tracking—have enabled high-fidelity investigations of vegetation–flow–sediment interactions, resolving instantaneous turbulence and particle clustering mechanisms. Experimental studies further demonstrate vegetation's role in stabilizing riverbeds, mitigating erosion and enhancing ecological resilience. Nevertheless, challenges remain in modelling non-equilibrium sediment transport, vegetation-induced turbulence scaling, and multi-phase flow dynamics.

This Special Issue invites contributions addressing vegetation impacts on open channel hydraulics and sediment processes, including but not limited to, the following: turbulence–vegetation–sediment coupling mechanisms; numerical and experimental methods for resolving vegetated flows; sediment transport under unsteady or heterogeneous vegetation conditions; ecological implications of vegetation-mediated flow and morphodynamics; and applications in river restoration, flood management, and sustainable engineering.

Dr. Mengyang Liu
Dr. Yanxu Wang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

aquatic vegetation
sediment transport
vegetation–flow–sediment interaction
turbulence
eco-hydraulics
open channel flow
river morphology

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Research

20 pages, 3074 KB

Open AccessArticle

Hydro-Sedimentary Dynamics and Channel Evolution in the Mid-Huai River Under Changing Environments: A Case Study of the Wujiadu-Xiaoliuxiang Reach

by Kai Cheng, Jin Ni, Hui Zhang, Haitian Lu and Peng Wu

Water 2025, 17(21), 3147; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17213147 - 2 Nov 2025

Viewed by 500

Abstract

Within the context of global climate change, the hydrological and sediment load dynamics in the Huai River Basin are expected to continue evolving due to intensified human activities and environmental changes. Effective river management requires a clear understanding of the magnitude, causes, and characteristics of these changes, coupled with insight into the dynamic response processes of the river channel. This study applied a suite of statistical methods, including the Mann–Kendall test, Sen’s slope estimator, Pettitt’s test, double mass curve, and morphological analysis, to examine trends in streamflow and sediment load at two hydrological stations in the mid-Huai River from 1982 to 2016, and to assess channel evolution between Wujiadu and Xiaoliuxiang. The results indicate that: (1) both hydrological stations exhibited no significant decrease in annual streamflow, but a significant reduction in sediment load, with a change point detected in 1991 at Wujiadu Station; (2) compared to 1982–1990, the mean streamflow and sediment load decreased by 23% and 50% during 1991–2016, with a significant shift in the streamflow-sediment relationship; (3) while temperature and evapotranspiration increased significantly, precipitation remained relatively stable, indicating that climate change had a minor effect on hydrological elements, and sediment load reduction was primarily driven by large-scale ecological restoration and engineering activities; and (4) differential channel adjustments were observed in response to reduced sediment supply and human activities, modulated by local boundary conditions. Erosion occurred in the WJD section, resulting in a transformation from a U-shape to a V-shape cross-section, whereas the XLX section remained stable with a local adverse gradient. This study reveals the complex mechanisms of hydro-sedimentary and channel evolution under human dominance, offering scientific support for the sustainable management of the Huai River basin and similar regulated rivers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Vegetation on Open Channel Flow and Sediment Transport)

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16 pages, 6095 KB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Investigation on the Hydrodynamic Characteristics of the Confluent Channel with Different Tributary Radius-to-Width Ratios

by Yongchao Zou, Haifeng Tian, Lan Yang, Ruichang Hu and Hao Yuan

Water 2025, 17(20), 3010; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17203010 - 20 Oct 2025

Viewed by 460

Abstract

The radius-to-width ratio has an obvious impact on the flow structure within curved channels, which most natural rivers possess, but there are currently few studies on the influence of the radius-to-width ratio of a tributary (R/B) on the hydrodynamic characteristics of a confluent channel. In order to contribute to this field of research, this study employed the RNG k-ε turbulence model, which has good applicability and accuracy for confluence, to investigate the effects of the R/B and flow ratios (q*) on the hydraulic characteristics of confluence. The results reveal that the numerical model can effectively simulate the velocity distribution in the confluence. The values of the key errors are all relatively small (e.g., the value of Mean RMSE is 0.05), and the flow patterns near the bed and water surfaces are different. The maximum velocity zone (MVZ) and the scale of the separation zone (SZ) increase as R/B increases; conversely, the MVZ and the scale of the SZ decrease as the q* increases. Upstream of the confluence, turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) increases and decreases as R/B and q* increase, respectively, while TKE downstream of the confluence hardly changes. Furthermore, the size of the SF decreases as R/B increases. The value of

\bar{S_{w}}

peaks downstream of the confluence, increases with the increase in the R/B, and decreases with the increase in the q*. The results of this study will contribute to a better understanding of the hydrodynamic characteristics of confluence and provide valuable insights for the management and ecological restoration of confluent channels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Vegetation on Open Channel Flow and Sediment Transport)

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13 pages, 6994 KB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Investigation of the Effects of Backwater on the Velocity Distribution Characteristics in a 90-Degree Curved Channel

by Qihang Zhou, Zhijing Li, Zhongwu Jin, Yisen Wang, Peng Chen, Yujiao Liu and Xuhai Yang

Water 2025, 17(13), 1858; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17131858 - 22 Jun 2025

Viewed by 940

Abstract

The impacts of backwater due to large dam construction on flow may lead to navigation or flood control problems in curved rivers. This study conducted flume experiments to investigate the effects of backwater on the velocity distribution characteristics of a 90-degree bend. The experimental results show that the backwater degree (η, defined as the ratio of flow depth under backwater to that under non-backwater conditions) has significant impacts on the three-dimensional velocity distribution in the bend. The depth-averaged velocities decrease with increasing backwater degree, and the deflection degrees of depth-averaged velocities are found to be highly related to the backwater degree and cross-sectional position. In this experimental setup, the mean cross-sectional velocity decreases by 67.2% as η increases from 1.00 to 3.64 for Q = 35 L/s; 63.7% as η increases from 1.00 to 3.26 for Q = 52 L/s; and 60.1% as η increases from 1.00 to 2.80 for Q = 52 L/s. The maximum values of transversal and vertical velocities near the riverbed gradually shift to the inner bank as the backwater degree increases at the 45° cross section. The center of the high transversal velocity area shifts about 0.1 m toward the inner bank as the backwater degree increases from 1.00 to 3.26 for Q = 52 L/s, which can reduce the erosion of the riverbed near the outer bank. In the current study, we also demonstrate that the growth and decay processes of secondary flow cells under backwater conditions are similar to those under non-backwater conditions. However, the scales and positions of the secondary flow cells change continuously with different backwater degrees. From the entrance to the exit of the bend, the secondary flow intensity first increases, and then decreases, with its maximum values occurring at the 45° cross section. The findings detailed in this manuscript provide insights for navigation channel design in reservoir backwater zones. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Vegetation on Open Channel Flow and Sediment Transport)

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15 pages, 5388 KB

Open AccessArticle

From Data to Action: Rainfall Factor-Based Soil Erosion Assessment in Arid Regions Through Integrated Geospatial Modeling

by Mohamed Elhag, Mohamed Hafedh Hamza, Sarra Ouerghi, Ranya Elsheikh, Lifu Zhang and Khadija Diani

Water 2025, 17(11), 1692; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17111692 - 3 Jun 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1052

Abstract

Soil erosion poses a significant threat to natural resources and agricultural productivity in arid regions. This study applied the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model to simulate rainfall erosivity and soil erosion risk in the Wadi Allith basin, Saudi Arabia, using rainfall data from 2016 to 2018. The results demonstrated that the basin experienced a predominant slight level of erosion risk, with around 5 tons/ha annually. This study revealed that a very slight erosion risk was predominant in 2016 (97% of the basin area), 2017 (96%), and 2018 (95%), while less than 1% of the study area was exposed to severe erosion risks across all three years. An increasing trend in erosion severity was observed between 2016 and 2018, correlating with rising average annual rainfall amounts of 120 mm, 145 mm, and 155 mm. This underscores the importance of understanding how climatic factors influence soil stability, particularly in arid regions where water scarcity is typically a limiting factor. The successful application of Geographic Information Systems (GISs) and remote sensing tools integrating the various components of the RUSLE model showcases the effectiveness of these technologies in environmental monitoring and risk assessment. These tools facilitate a comprehensive analysis of the factors contributing to soil erosion, enabling researchers and policymakers to visualize erosion risk across the basin and prioritize areas for intervention. This study highlights the importance of ongoing soil erosion monitoring in arid environments such as the Wadi Allith basin, Saudi Arabia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Vegetation on Open Channel Flow and Sediment Transport)

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