SEDIMENT MOVEMENT AND EXCESSIVE GROWTH OF RIVERINE TREES IN SABA RIVER WITH A LOT OF WEIRS

Abstract

A lot of weirs in Saba River have an effect on physical and ecological environment. In this study, the influence of these weirs on sediment movement and riverbed deformation was estimated using two dimensional bed deformation model. Then, we analyzed the relation between vegetation transition types from vegetation maps of 2000, 2005 and 2010 and explanatory variables such as the bed deformation during flood.

The bed deformation simulation indicates that the weirs induce the sediment deposition on flood plan and sandbar during flood and it will cause the growth of riverine trees in the downstream region of the weirs. The GLM analysis reveals that the distance from the weirs explain whether the riverine trees increase or decrease in Saba River.