Seasonal macrophyte growth constrains extent, but improves quality, of cold‐water habitat in a spring‐fed river

Rooted aquatic macrophytes affect abiotic conditions in low‐gradient rivers by altering channel hydraulics, consuming biologically available nutrients, controlling sediment transport and deposition, and shading the water surface. Due to seasonal macrophyte growth and senescence, the magnitude of these effects may vary temporally. Seasonal changes in aquatic macrophyte biomass, channel roughness and flow velocity, were quantified and trends were...