Increased macrophyte growth, due to increased water quality, has resulted in higher water levels. To prevent water damage, rivers are frequently cleaned with and increased cost for water managers. Due to the negative impact of vegetation removals on the ecological value of rivers in the Nete Catchment this management tool has to be handle with caution. In addition vegetation removal techniques will favour fast growing macrophyte species resulting in even more vegetation removals to lower water levels. More information on the impact of vegetation removals is necessary to create a sustainable management technique.
In this research project some practical problems associated with vegetation removal are investigated:
-the effect of vegetation removal on total biomass and species diversity of macrophytes.
-How does timing interact with the macrophyte species composition.
-The effect of macrophyte removal on invertebrate and fish stocks
-Re-growth of macrophytes after removal
-The impact of removed macrophyte volume on the water levels.