2026/01/29 by Václav Škarpich, Tomáš Galia, Zuzana Połedniková · 1 voice
Environmental Science · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Hydrology and Sediment Transport Processes #Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies #Tree-ring climate responses
paper · doi:10.1080/17445647.2026.2617693
openalex publication_date 2026/01/29 · openalex created_date 2026/01/30 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/15
Meandering rivers are among the most dynamic components of fluvial systems. This study presents a GIS-based spatiotemporal analysis of channel planform, riparian vegetation dynamics, and large wood (LW) distribution in a 4.1 km-long unregulated reach of the Odra River (Czechia) between 2016–2023. A series of maps (1:7000) provides a detailed view of lowland fluvial dynamics. The results indicate a persistent dominance of softwood floodplain forest, with minor expansion of hardwoods and managed grasslands. Channel metrics revealed increasing amplitude and sinuosity, indicating ongoing meandering activity. The volumes and number of LW increased over time, especially due to higher occurrence of wood jams, likely resulting from an imbalance between LW recruitment from banks and transport, as well as cessation of artificial LW removal since 2015. These findings offer guidance for river managers and conservation planners, highlighting the value of preserving meandering processes and in-channel wood to support ecosystem complexity and resilience.