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Vegetation greatly affects the flow characteristics and contaminant transport in river confluences. In this study, the flow characteristics and contaminant transport in the non‐vegetated/vegetated Y‐shaped confluence were explored systematically through a series of experiments. A total of 10 scenarios were designed to answer the three main research questions: what is the difference between the flow characteristics and contaminant transport in (1) asymmetrical and Y‐shaped confluences; (2) non‐vegetated/vegetated Y‐shaped confluences; (3) vegetated Y‐shaped confluences with different confluence ratios? The experimental results revealed that vegetation remarkably changes the internal flow structure in Y‐shaped confluences. Briefly, the velocity profile can be divided into three vertical layers within the vegetated system, but it remains nearly constant in the non‐vegetated channel. Vegetation changes the circulation location and reduces the intensity of the secondary current, weakening the strength of contaminant mixing. However, the turbulent kinetic energy within the vegetated system is larger than that in the non‐vegetated case, and it peaks at the top of the vegetation canopy. Under different confluence ratio cases, the overall fluctuation of the longitudinal dispersion coefficients along the cross‐sections in the mainstream was similar but increasing the confluence ratio causes the circulation to appear to advance and enhances its intensity. In addition, the vegetation density (200 item/m2) in this study render the manning roughness coefficient at 0.068, which is larger than that under lower vegetation density cases. The outcomes from this study are helpful for both environmental and river management applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turbulence generated within the vegetated confluence system is important for water quality and river management. In this study, we conducted a series of experiments to explore the extent to which emergent rigid vegetation in the confluence channel influences hydrodynamic characteristics and contaminant transport. First, a series of tests with increasing discharge ratios (from 0.35, 0.5, and 1) was conducted to quantify the effects of the discharge ratio on hydrodynamic conditions within the vegetated confluence. Then, tests with different discharge ratios were also set up to explore how contaminants released locations and modes (line and point source) influence the transport and mixing of contaminants. The results showed that increasing the discharge ratio induced larger momentum in the confluence area. The increase in discharge ratio rendered the circulation stronger, and its position came earlier in the non-vegetative area. In addition, the dimensionless turbulent kinetic energy peaked near the interface of the non/vegetated zone. With the increase in the discharge ratio, the dimensionless turbulent kinetic energy was found to be smaller. In the contaminants transport tests, the results revealed larger discharge ratio could speed up contaminants transport and mixing. The applications from this study would be helpful to pollutant transport management in natural confluences. • The effects of discharge ratios on vegetated flow at confluence were quantified. • Velocity profile, secondary flow and longitudinal dispersion coefficient were presented. • Contaminants released by line and point sources were considered in the experiments. • Increasing discharge ratios speed up contaminants' transport and mixing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]