A substantial amount of information is available on the effects of vegetation on structures, but the consequences and benefits on embankment dams have received little attention to-date in papers and the technical press. Many engineers have actively discouraged the presence of all bar a grass cover on slopes, but recent events suggest that this approach may be misguided and larger trees and vegetation on certain parts of the embankment are not detrimental and may improve the safe functioning of a dam. Increasingly, environmental considerations require the planting or maintenance of a more substantial vegetation cover and thus there is likely to be an increasing move towards more vegetation in the future. A case history of dam instability following tree removal is given.

  • BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

  • EFFECTS OF VEGETATION ON EMBANKMENT DAMS

  • ALDENHAM RESERVOIR - REMOVAL OF TREES

  • CONCLUSIONS

  • REFERENCES

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