Experimental dataset for riparian vegetation-sediment interactions

Channel bed elevations were collected with a Reigl LMS-Z390i laser scanner with 6 mm vertical uncertainty. Laser scans were performed before and after each experiment to monitor initial and final bed conditions as well as computing DEMs of difference for each experimental run. These data are reported for each section and zone in and around the vegetation patch.

The vegetation patch consists of 89 three-year-old willows (Salix subfragilis) and characteristics are summarized in the associated tab in the spreadsheet. Hydraulic data were produced by near-bed ADV measurements across the channel. Three cross sections were measured located 4 m upstream of the vegetation patch (D0), through the midsection of the patch (D2), and 2 m downstream of the patch (D4).

At cross sections D0 and D4 a Nortek Vectrino ADV (25 Hz, 60 s) measured the velocity at 0.25 relative flow depth from the bed (z/h). At cross section D2 through the centerline of the patch, a Sontek microADV (50 Hz, 120 s) measured velocity at 0.2 z/h. These depths were selected as they were the closest to the bed that consistently did not experience interference from mobile bedforms.

Bedload measurements were performed at three cross sections located 4 m upstream of the vegetation patch (D0), across the upstream head of the vegetation patch (D1), and across the downstream boundary of the vegetation patch (D3). Bedload measurements used a custom bedload sampler with a 21.6 cm2 orifice and the sampler was on the bed for 2-4 min at each sampling location depending on the discharge.