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Flood damage to trees

Flood damage to trees develops in three primary ways:

  1. Acute soil and tree changes because of saturated and inundated soil conditions;
  2. Floodwater physically knocking over trees; and,
  3. Chronic problems associated with a changing environment and modified tree reactivity.

Most trees and woody shrubs are not adapted well to flooded conditions. There are a range of flood tolerance levels among different species and individuals. There are a number of growth form, anatomy, and physiology changes available in tolerant plants to try and minimize flooding damage and growth constraints.

More information on flood damage to trees:


Major Impacts of Flooding

The major impacts of flooding on the tree and site resources are:

  1. Poor Aeration — Flooding initiates an immediate constraint on oxygen movement from the atmosphere to the respiring surfaces of the tree. As a site floods with water, water moves into and occupies the macro-pores that previously held gas. The tree root interface then does not have a gaseous component. The diffusion rate of oxygen across a water interface is 7,000 times slower than across a gas interface. Available oxygen is quickly (one to three hours) used by the respiring roots and the soil microorganisms. The only area where oxygen is available is in the top tenth of an inch of soil that is in contact with oxygenated water. Lack of oxygen leads to production and accumulation of carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen and nitrogen gas.

  2. Soil Structure — Flooding alters soil structure by allowing soil aggregates to fall apart from reduced cohesion, dissolving of metallic and organic coatings, and dispersing of clay particles.

  3. Anaerobic Ecology — Flooding causes anaerobic organisms to replace aerobic organisms in the soil. Anaerobic organisms are primarily bacteria. These bacteria cause denitrification and reduction of manganese, iron, and sulfur.

  4. Reduced Chemical Activity — Flooding reduces redox potential, increases pH of acid soils, and decreases the breakdown of organic matter. The breakdown or decomposition of organic matter in normal soils helps hold cations and anions, releases essential elements, and prevents leaching of elements. This decomposition process is a rich assemblage of organisms.

    In flooded soils, the decomposition of organic matter is by anaerobic bacteria. These organisms are less diverse and much more inefficient at decomposition. Slick, slimy layers of partially decayed organic matter may be present as a result.

    In normal soils, decomposition of organic matter yield carbon-dioxide and humus. Carbon dioxide moves into the atmosphere and components of the humus are bound to clays and oxides of aluminum and iron. This binding process improves soil structure. The nitrogen in the soil that is released as ammonia is converted to nitrate. Sulfur compounds are oxidized to sulfates.

    In flooded soils, decomposition of organic matter yield carbon-dioxide, humus, methane and a large number of other materials. The gases produced included carbon-dioxide, methane and hydrogen. Other materials, some extremely volatile and some very toxic, are produced. Examples of other materials produced by decomposition of organic material under anaerobic conditions include various hydrocarbons, alcohols, carboxyls, fatty acids, phenolic acids, sulfur compounds, acetaldehyde and cyanogenic compounds. Many these materials escape as gas bubbles, dissolve in the water, or float to the water surface.

    Flooding effects trees at every stage of their development, from seed germination and flowering to sprouting and vegetative growth. At each life stage, flooding can cause injury, changes in anatomy and form, decline and death.

Seed Problems

Seed germination requires oxygen and water. As the seed takes in water, its respiration increases. Flooding fills the gas exchange pores on the seed and limits oxygen transport. Depending upon the species and duration of flooding, seed viability quickly decline.

For example, baldcypress, water tupelo and black tupelo seeds remain viable for extended period of flooding. Theses seeds do not germinate under the flood water but when the water recedes. Cottonwood, willow, and sycamore seeds can germinate under water to hasten establishment on new areas caused by flooding. Green ash and boxelder, both wetland species, have seeds that lose viability quickly after flooding.


Seedling Problems

Flood tolerance of seedlings varies greatly. Coverage of foliage with water is a critical feature to initiating flood damage - the longer the leaves are under water the worse damage becomes. Seedlings can also be buried by sediment and pushed over or swept away by flood water. Major damage can occur along the young stem and root collar area that permanently damages the tree.


General Tree Problems

Soil anaerobic conditions initiate several symptoms of flood damage including: no growth or internode elongation; poor leaf expansion; limited leaf formation; leaf chlorosis; premature senescence; and abscission (old leaves first). Leaf abscision can take from two weeks in upland species to eight weeks in wetland species after flooding. Wetland species can be damaged just as badly as upland species by growing season/warm weather flooding.

The usual symptom of a tree to flooding is a decline in growth. It is possible to have trees show in the first year after a flood an apparent increase in diameter growth. This is caused by the bark, phloem tissue, and xylem tissue producing more intercellular spaces and lower density cells. This low density material makes the tree look like it has made a large growth spurt. In some trees this growth pattern may be a prelude to decline and death.

One growth response of trees to flooding is production of proportionally greater numbers and enlargement of thin-walled cells called parenchyma. These cell types are found in both the xylem and phloem. Resin duct number are also increased in species with these features. Flooding initiates production of low density cells and more intercellular spaces in the xylem, phloem and bark. The stem becomes lower in density to facilitate oxygen transport and removal of toxic materials.


Root Problems

Tree root response to flooding is a reduction of root initiation and growth. Within seven days there is noticeable root growth loss. Many types of root limitations can be seen in normal soils with a shallow water table. Rooting depth is related to water table depth and the lower limits of adequate oxygenation. A shallow water table generates a shallow root system. Roots only grow where soil atmosphere has 5 percent oxygen.

Flooding causes a loss of extent, reach and health of the roots. Over time, decline, death and decay are the results. Additionally, pathogens such as Phytophthora fungi attack the tree roots. This fungi tolerates low soil oxygen levels and is stimulated by poor host vigor and root membrane leakage. Generally under flooded conditions, the woody roots survive and non-woody roots die. Loss of root mass through attack and decay leave the tree prone to drought damage the following growing period and to Winthrop.


Physiology Effects

Flooding effects on the physiology of the tree generically include energy production, root membrane health, and coping with toxic materials in the soil.

Within five hours, photosynthesis is shut down. Photosynthesis is limited by loss of carbon fixation enzymes, loss of chlorophyll, reduction of leaf area, and leaf abscission. Photosynthesis is an expensive system to maintain and very sensitive to internal and eternal environmental changes. Once flooding is over, it takes an extended time for photosynthetic activities to return to normal.

Root problems include the poor uptake of macro-essential elements and additional resource loss through leakage from root membranes. Nitrogen is lost in the soil and throughout the tree under flooded conditions. Nitrate in the soil is lost by denitrification to atmospheric nitrogen and through production of nitrogen oxides. At the same time. The roots are not taking-up available nitrogen, flooding also suppresses mycorrhizae fungi which are strongly aerobic. Poor phosphorous and potassium uptake is an associated problem.

Flooding initiates many growth regulator production changes and effects how they are destroyed once they have carried their message. Auxin, ethylene and abscisic acid concentrations increase in flooded trees while girrebelic acids and cytokinins decrease. The result is leaf epinasty, senescence and abscision; stem growth disruption; and adventitious root production.


Tree Growth Responses

The tree does not aerate as much of its tissues as possible. Transport modifications move oxygen more effectively from the air into lenticels and down into the roots where some leaks out to oxidize materials (like iron and manganese ions) which are toxic. The oxygen availability is through lenticel and stomate openings, moving in both wood and bark.

Flooded trees produce larger, more open lenticels which are connected to intercellular spaces and can provide more oxygen transport. Trees also can use vertical air roots to assist with oxygenation. Knees, such as baldcypress, do not effectively transport oxygen but act as structural supports for anchoring the root system.

Under flooded conditions, trees can start to generate a tissue called aerenchyma, which is thin walled cells with large intercellular spaces. This tissue forms by dissolution of cells and separation of cell walls to form a spongy cellular mass. Examples of species capable of producing aerenchyma include loblolly and pond pine.

Flooding also initiates adventitious roots on the submerged stem area. The more flood tolerant the species, the more likely the species will form adventitious roots. Adventitious roots increase the capacity of the tree to uptake materials, oxygenate the rhizosphere, detoxify soil materials and increase root growth regulators.


Flood Tolerance

Tree flood tolerance depends upon many attributes of the tree, site and flood. The extent and destructiveness of flooding on tree growth depends upon: the time of the year the flooding occurred; water quality and water oxygen content; water depth; air and water temperature; and tree stage of life, structure and health.

Flooding in the growing season is worse than dormant season flooding, especially if the air temperature is warm. The higher temperature, the faster and deeper the oxygen shortage will be felt, and the more the top of the tree will dehydrate. After only two weeks of inundated or saturated conditions the root crown area began to have many problems that can lead to decline and death.

Flooding during warm growing season periods magnify flood damage because of respiration needs and foliage water loss. Stagnant water is usually more damaging than flowing water. Flowing water has turbulent surface mixing and internal flows that move oxygen more effectively to root surfaces than standing water.

As a general rule, broad leaved trees (including baldcypress) tolerate flooding better than a conifer species. Middle-aged trees tolerate flooding better than young and old trees. Keeping foliage above the flood waters is critical. Floodwater itself is important. Stagnant water is not as good as flowing water. Flowing water does carry debris and momentum that can physically damage trees.

The role of a tree under flooded conditions is to maintain its glucose supply in all cells that it can and avoid accumulating toxins. Trees can generally be rated on a gradient ranging from flood intolerant to flood tolerant.

Table 1 provides a list of selected species in our area and their general flood tolerance.


Tree Toppling

One aspect of flood damage, especially after flash or scouring flood or conditions, is the toppling of trees. Trees stand erect against most wind and flood conditions on the brief basis of: tree weight, stiffness of the main trunk, width of the base, amount of fluid dynamics drag, fluid velocity and fluid mass.

In air, the tree tends to sway back and forth as it is loaded and unloaded. The period of the sway is set by the mechanical properties of the tree. The swaying can loosen tree roots from the soil and lead to toppling under light winds and saturated soils. When a tree is under water in a moving flow, there is more constant stress on the new tree.

Trees pushed over by flood waters:

  • Directly Proportional Components

    • Drag through reformation with velocity
    • Height to living crown and center of gravity vs. water level height
    • Water velocity
    • Weight of water + suspended and floating materials
    • Further stress from neighbor toppling
  • Inversely Proportional Components

    • Weight of tree
    • Stiffness of tree
    • Anchorage of tree (width of base

A tree stands because of its stiff, heavy, wide based trunk provides heavy weight and a center of gravity that does no move too far laterally. The relatively log drag in flowing water comes from flexible twigs and branches that bend and deform to provide a smaller area blocking the flow. Trees that grow and respond with a flexible stem utilize many roots holding under tension. As a tree falls over, the force of falling puts additional stress on downstream neighboring trees. A domino effect of tree toppling may then occur.


Long-term Growth Problems

One of the most important long-term growth problems affecting a tree is siltation. Soil fill deposited over the root system could range from zero to six feet (or more) of various textured soil. Soft fill will require a quick root response to the new soil conditions. The trees under these conditions will be generating a new root system in new locations. Some species are not effective in reacting to these kinds of changes and will decline and die.

Another problem after flooding is soil erosion. Some trees will be left without soil covering roots and may not have enough soil around and under its roots to keep it structurally stable. Additions of small amounts of soil fill can help if the roots have not already been allowed to dry out. Toppling of these trees with a wind storm is a distinct possibility.

Trees that are going to be removed as salvage must be gathered quickly if they are dead. Wood quality degradation from drying, fungi infection and insect attacks will quickly cause value loss in these trees. Standing trees that remain alive but are structurally at risk or scheduled for removal should be promptly harvested to minimize value losses. Some dead snags and downed logs may be of benefit to wildlife populations if left on site.

Over the long run, tree vigor and structural stability will be questionable on may trees. Because of the growth patterns of some trees, flood damage effects will be present two to three years in the future. Pest problems, because of the massive number of stressed trees in the areas will reach peak populations quickly and present a management problem for as many as five years into the future.


Best Management Practices

Activities that can be done immediately, or by the end of the current or most immediate growing season include:

  1. Perform an assessment of tree survival and structural hazard conditions. Expect trees to die suddenly, decline and die this year, or decline over the next few years.

  2. Use soil testing to determine proper essential element management.

  3. Provide phosphorous and potassium fertilization with some dolomitic limestone for calcium and magnesium addition. This application should be repeated in each of the next three years.

  4. Add one light dose of nitrogen, approximately 0.5 -2.0 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of open soil surface area. Very small amounts of calcium sulfate can be added to return sulfur to the soil. After this application, do not fertilize with nitrogen again until after full leaf expansion in the next growing season. In each of the next three years, apply 3 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of open soil surface area.

  5. Do not add micro elements.

  6. Do as little green-wood pruning as possible to conserve tree food supplies. Prune for safety concerns.

  7. Beware of fungal and insect attacks on stressed trees and take informed action. Both the trees under attack and the surrounding trees may need therapeutic or preventative treatments.

  8. Many things will have washed downstream in the flood. Most materials will have been extremely diluted. Be cautious with activities in flood damaged areas. Dust, soil, water and biting insects can provide biohazards and chemical hazards. The micro-topography of the land can also have changed. Beware of new holes in the soil and places where you might fall. Always wash yourself and your clothing thoroughly after activities in flood-damaged areas.

  9. In your clean-up activities, do not change land-use types or perform large-scale soil movement and major water channelization/drainage without contacting your local USDA-Soil Conservation Service (Natural Resources Conservation Service). Additionally, do not modify habitat areas and disrupt individuals of species listed on the federal and state endangered species list.

  10. Contact the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service in your county for further information and updates on your activities that can protect your resource values.

Table 1

List of selected species and their general flood tolerance


Moderately Tolerant


silver maple red mulberry american ash
sweetgum swamp chestnut oak chinkapin oak
persimmon hackberry mockernut hickory
green ash winged elm shagbark hickory
honey locust hawthorn black locust
overcup oak Osage orange sassafras
eastern cottonwood boxelder flowering dogwood
water hickory loblolly pine sourwood
black willow river birch southern red oak
tupelo gum american elm american basswood
bald cypress sycamore blackjack oak
  american holly black cherry
    shortleaf pine
    Virginia pine
    eastern red cedar
    eastern redbud
    clack walnut
    swamp hickory
    american beech
    tulip poplar
    yellow buckeye
    sugar maple
    post oak

