Assessment of the effect of vegetation on the transition of the flood wave using hydraulic 2D models

¹ Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, The Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Geodesy, Institute of Environmental Engineering, C. K. Norwida 25, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
² Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, The Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Geodesy, Institute of Environmental Protection and Development, C. K. Norwida 25, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland

^* Corresponding author: krzysztof.wolski@upwr.edu.pl

Abstract

In the paper an impact of vegetation accumulation on flood wave transition is presented. The research was conducted with use of the MIKE FLOOD model which combines elements of 1D and 2D numerical models. The study area included a 5.5 km long section of the Bystrzyca River near Wroclaw, Poland. A hydraulic model was constructed, on which the simulation of water transition with the probability of occurrence p = 1% and p = 0.2% was conducted. The simulation was carried out for current bank vegetation conditions determined on the basis of precise LIDAR data and for conditions with no vegetation. In this way, the direct impact of vegetation on flood wave transition was obtained. Acquired results, a decrease in maximum water levels and a reduction of flooded area, show that the hydraulic influence of vegetation on high water bed should not be underestimated.