Aquatic and riparian plant management: controls for vegetation in watercourses

Provides watercourse managers in flood risk management operating authorities with a framework to help inform decisions on when and how to manage vegetation.

Documents

Aquatic and riparian plant management - summary (56KB) PDF

Aquatic and riparian plant management - field guide (4MB) PDF

Aquatic and riparian plant management - technical guide (19.4MB) PDF

Aquatic and riparian plant management - case study report (8MB) PDF

Aquatic and riparian plant management - literature review (1.6MB) PDF

Aquatic and riparian plant management - decision-making spreadsheet tool (4.5MB) EXCEL

External link: Aquatic and riparian plant management webinar

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Details

The management of aquatic and riparian plants is essential to ensure the efficient functioning of many watercourses. Management needs to be cost-effective, take account of legal restrictions, and meet the needs of the greatest number of watercourse users while minimising negative environmental impacts.

The field manual, technical guide and decision-making spreadsheet tool are intended for use in catchments where aquatic and riparian plants need to be periodically controlled or removed to achieve the watercourse’s desired function. The case study report and a literature review report summarise the evidence on which the framework is based.

These resources provide watercourse managers in flood risk management operating authorities in England and Wales with a framework to help inform decisions on when and how to manage vegetation, taking into account the species present and the type of watercourse.

Updates to this page

Published 23 February 2021