Vegetation development in embanked floodplains. Embankments indicated in orange. The embankment continues up- and downstream. On excavated soils pioneer forest settles and affects the discharge capacity along the Waal River (NL), one of the Dutch Rhine Branches. Coordinates 51.88° N, 5.74° E (Photo source: RWS, 2003; Geerling et al., 2008).