River Regulation Effects on Floodplain Hydrology and Ecology

Abstract

River engineering activities that modify floodplain hydrology induce basic changes in the character of floodplain ecosystems. These may include alteration of processes, natural communities, and land use patterns. This paper focuses on patterns of change that occur within floodplain forests (bottomland hardwoods) of the southern United States. Observations from these complex and productive systems are illustrative of interactions that occur in other flood-plain ecosystems.