Appendix S1. The 169 articles included in the review. Alphanumeric codes in bold at the end of each reference indicate the restoration strategies followed by the project assessed in the article as defined in Table 1 (1 – hydro-geomorphic: 1a – passive hydrological, 1b – passive geomorphic, 1c – active hydrological, 1d – active geomorphic; 2 – active plant introduction: 2a – active plant introduction with planting, 2b – active plant introduction with seeding; 3 – exotic species control: 3a – direct exotic species control, 3b – indirect exotic species control; 4 – restitution of a natural floodplain; 5 – grazing and hervibory control; 6 – other).

[1] Alexander, P., Nielsen, D.L., Nias, D. 2008. Response of wetland plant communities to inundation within floodplain landscapes. Ecological Management and Restoration 9, 187-195. 1c

[2] Annen, C.A., Tyser, R.W., Kirsch, E.M. 2005. Effects of a selective herbicide, sethoxydim, on reed canarygrass. Ecological Restoration 23, 99-102. 3a

[3] Asaeda, T., Rashid, Md.H. 2012. The impacts of sediment released from dams on downstream sediment bar vegetation. Journal of Hydrology 430-431, 25-38. 1b

[4] Asaeda, T., Rashid, Md.H. In Press. Flushing sediment from reservoirs triggers forestation in the downstream reaches. Ecohydrology. 1b

[5] Baattrup-Pedersen, A., Dalkvist, D., Dybkjaer, J.B., Riis, T., Larsen, S.E., Kronvang, B. 2013. Species recruitment following flooding, sediment deposition and seed addition in restored riparian areas. Restoration Ecology 21, 399-408. 1c, 1d, 2b, 4

[6] Baer, S.G., Groninger, J.W. 2004. Herbicide and tillage effects on volunteer vegetation composition and diversity during reforestation. Restoration Ecology 12, 258-267. 2a, 3a, 4, 6

[7] Battaglia, L.L., Keough, J.R., Pritchett, D.W. 1995. Early secondary succession in a Southeatern U.S. alluvial floodplain. Journal of Vegetation Science 6, 769-776. 4

[8] Battaglia, L.L., Minchin, P.R., Pritchett, D.W. 2002. Sixteen years of old-field succession and reestablishment of a bottomland hardwood forest in the Lower Mississippi alluvial valley. Wetlands 22, 1-17. 4

[9] Battaglia, L.L., Pritchett, D.W., Minchin, P.R. 2008. Evaluating dispersal limitation in passive bottomland forest restoration. Restoration Ecology 16, 417-424. 4

[10] Bay, R.F., Sher, A.A. 2008. Success of active revegetation after Tamarix removal in riparian ecosystems of the Southwestern United States: A quantitative assessment of past restoration projects. Restoration Ecology 16, 113-128. 1, 3, 4

[11] Beater, M.M.T., Garner, R.D., Witkowski, E.T.F. 2008. Impacts of clearing invasive alien plants from 1995 to 2005 on vegetation structure, invasion intensity and ground cover in a temperate to subtropical riparian ecosystem. South African Journal of Botany 74, 495-507. 3a

[12] Belote, R.T., Makarick, L.J., Kearsley, M.J., Lauver, C.L. 2010. Tamarisk removal in Grand Canyon National Park: Changing the native-non-native relationship as a restoration goal. Ecological Restoration 28, 449-459. 3a

[13] Berkowitz, J.F. 2013. Development of restoration trajectory metrics in reforested bottomland hardwood forests applying a rapid assessment approach. Ecological Indicators 34, 600-606. 2a, 4

[14] Beschta, R.L., Ripple, W.J. 2010. Recovering riparian plant communities with wolves in Northern Yellowstone, U.S.A. Restoration Ecology 18, 380-389. 5

[15] Beschta, R.L., Ripple, W.J. 2015. Divergent patterns of riparian cottonwood recovery after the return of wolves in Yellowstone, USA. Ecohydrology 8, 58-66. 5

[16] Beyer, H.L., Merrill, E.H., Varley, N., Boyce, M.S. 2007. Willow on Yellowstone’s Northern Range: Evidence for a trophic cascade? Ecological Applications 17, 1563-1571. 5

[17] Bhattacharjee, J., Taylor Jr., J.P., Smith, L.M. 2006. Controlled flooding and staged drawdown for restoration of native cottonwoods in the Middle Rio Grande valley, New Mexico, USA. Wetlands 26, 691-702. 1c, 2b, 3

[18] Bhattacharjee, J., Taylor Jr., J.P., Smith, L.M., Spence, L.E. 2008. The importance of soil characteristics in determining survival of first-year cottonwood seedlings in altered riparian habitats. Restoration Ecology 16, 563-571. 1c, 2b, 3a, 3b

[19] Bilyeu, D.M., Cooper, D.J., Hobbs, N.T. 2008. Water table constrain height recovery of willow on Yellowstone’s northern range. Ecological Applications 18, 80-92. 5

[20] Bischoff, A. 2002. Dispersal and establishment of floodplain grassland species as limiting factors in restoration. Biological Conservation 104, 25-33. 2a, 4, 5

[21] Bissels, S., Hölzel, N., Donath, T.W., Otte, A. 2004. Evaluation of restoration success in alluvial grasslands under contrasting flooding regimes. Biological Conservation 118, 641-650. 2b, 4

[22] Blanchard, R., Holmes, P.M. 2008. Riparian vegetation recovery after invasive alien tree clearance in the Fynbos Biome. South African Journal of Botany 74, 421-431. 3a

[23] Bradburn, B.N., Aust, W.M., Dolloff, C.A., Cumbia, D., Creighton, J. 2010. Evaluation of riparian forests established by the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) in Virginia. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 65, 105-112. 2a, 6

[24] Breton, V., Forestier, O., Guindon, O., Evette, A. In Press. Ecological restoration under pressure from invasive animal species: Use of Salicaceae cuttings in a river bank overrun by coypu. River Research and Applications 30, 1002-1012. 2a, 5

[25] Briggs, M.K., Cornelius, S. 1998. Opportunities for ecological improvement along the Lower Colorado River and Delta. Wetlands 18, 513-529. 1c, 1d, 2a, 3a, 4, 6

[26] Brookshire, E.N.J., Kauffman, J.B., Lytjen, D., Otting, N. 2002. Cumulative effects of wild ungulate and livestock herbivory on riparian willows. Oecologia 132, 559-566. 5

[27] Bunting, D.P., Kurc, S.A., Grabau, M.R. 2011. Using existing agricultural infrastructure for restoration practices: Factors influencing successful establishment of Populus fremontii over Tamarix ramosissima. Journal of Arid Environments 75, 851-860. 1c, 2b, 3b, 4

[28] Bunting, D.P., Kurc, S., Grabau, M. 2013. Long-term vegetation dynamics after high-density seedling establishment: Implications for riparian restoration and management. River Research and Applications 29, 1119-1130. 1c, 2b, 3b, 4

[29] Burmeier, S., Eckstein, R.L., Donath, T.W., Otte, A. 2011. Plant pattern development during early post-restoration succession in grasslands – a case study of Arabis nemorensis. Restoration Ecology 19, 648-659. 2b, 4

[30] Caplan, T.R., Cothern, K., Landers, C., Hummel, O.C. 2012. Growth response of Coyote Willow (Salix exigua) cuttings in relation to alluvial soil texture and water availability. Restoration Ecology 21, 627-638. 1d, 2a

[31] Chen, Y.N., Zilliacus, H., Li, W.H., Zhang, H.F., Chen, Y.P. 2006. Ground-water level affects plant species diversity along the lower reaches of the Tarim river, Western China. Journal of Arid Environments 66, 231-246. 1c

[32] Chen, Y., Z. Pang, Y. Chen, W. Li, C. Xi, X. Hao, X. Huang, T. Huang and Z. Ye. 2008. Response of riparian vegetation to water-table changes in the lower reaches of Tarim River, Xinjiang Uygur, China. Hydrogeology Journal 16:1371-1379. 1c

[33] Chen, Y., Chen, Y., Xu, C., Ye, Z., Li, Z., Zhu, C., Ma, X. 2010. Effects of ecological water conveyance on groundwater dynamics and riparian vegetation in the lower reaches of Tarim River, China. Hydrological Processes 24:170-177. 1c

[34] Claeson, S.M., Bisson, P.A. 2013. Passive reestablishment of riparian vegetation following removal of invasive knotweed (Polygonum). Invasive Plant Science and Management 6, 208-218. 3a

[35] Conroy, S.D., Svejcar, T.J. 1991. Willow planting success as influenced by site factors and cattle grazing in Northeastern California. Journal of Range Management 44, 59-63. 2a, 5

[36] Cooper, D.J., Andersen, D.C. 2012. Novel plant communities limit the effects of a managed flood to restore riparian forests along a large regulated river. River Research and Applications 28, 204-215. 1c, 1d

[37] Densmore, R.V., Karle, K.F. 2009. Flood effects on an Alaskan stream restoration project: The value of long-term monitoring. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 45, 1424-1433. 1d, 2a, 4, 6

[38] Dobkin, D.S., Rich, A.C., Pyle, W.H. 1998. Habitat and avifaunal recovery from livestock grazing in a riparian meadow system of the Northwestern Great Basin. Conservation Biology 12, 209-221. 5

[39] Donath, T.W., Hölzel, N., Annette, O. 2003. The impact of site conditions and seed dispersal on restoration success in alluvial meadows. Applied Vegetation Science 6, 13-22. 4, 5, 6

[40] Donath, T.W., Hölzel, N., Otte, A. 2006. Influence of competition by sown grass, disturbance and litter on recruitment of rare flood-meadow species. Biological Conservation 130, 315-323. 2b, 4, 6

[41] Donath, T.W., Bissels, S., Hölzel, N., Otte, A. 2007. Large scale application of diaspora transfer with plant material in restoration practice – Impact of seed and microsite limitation. Biological Conservation 138, 224-234. 2b, 4

[42] Dulohery, C.J., Kolka, R.K., McKevlin, M.R. 2000. Effects of a willow overstory on planted seedlings in a bottomland restoration. Ecological Engineering 15, S57-S66. 2a, 6

[43] Earnst, S.L., Dobkin, D.S., Ballard, J.A. 2012. Changes in avian and plant communities of aspen woodlands over 12 years after livestock removal in the Northwestern Great Basin. Conservation Biology 26, 862-872. 5

[44] Engström, J., Nilsson, C., Jansson, R. 2009. Effects of stream restoration on dispersal of plant propagules. Journal of Applied Ecology 46, 397-405. 1b

[45] Forget, G., Carreau, C., Le Coeur, D., Bernez, I. 2013. Ecological restoration of headwaters in a rural landscape (Normandy, France): A passive approach taking hedge networks into account for riparian tree recruitment. Restoration Ecology 21, 96-104. 5

[46] Friedman, J.M., Scott, M.L., Lewis Jr., W.M. 1995. Restoration of riparian forest using irrigation, artificial disturbance, and natural seedfall. Environmental Management 19, 547-557. 1c, 1d, 2b

[47] Galatowitsch, S., Richardson, D.M. 2005. Riparian scrub recovery after clearing of invasive alien trees in headwater streams of the Western Cape, South Africa. Biological Conservation 122, 509-521. 3a

[48] Grabau, M.R., Milczarek, M.A., Karpiscak, M.M., Raulston, B.E., Garnett, G.N., Bunting, D.P. 2011. Direct seeding for riparian tree re-vegetation: Small-scale field study of seeding methods and irrigation techniques. Ecological Engineering 37, 864-872. 1c, 2b, 4

[49] Guo, Q., Feng, Q., Li, J. 2009. Environmental changes after ecological water conveyance in the lower reaches of Heihe River, northwest China. Environmental Geology 58, 1387-1396. 1c

[50] Gurnell, A.M., Morrissey, I.P., Boitsidis, A.J., Bark, T., Clifford, N.J., Petts, G.E., Thompson, K. 2006. Initial adjustments within a new river channel: Interactions between fluvial processes, colinizing vegetation, and bank profile development. Environmental Management 38, 580-596. 1d

[51] Hall, A.A., Rood, S.B., Higgins, P.S. 2011. Resizing a river: A downscaled, seasonal flow regime promotes riparian restoration. Restoration Ecology 19, 351-359. 1c

[52] Hall, J., Pollock, M., Hoh, S. 2011. Methods for successful establishment of cottonwood and willow along an incised stream in semiarid eastern Oregon, USA. Ecological Restoration 29, 261-269. 2a

[53] Harms, R., Hiebert, R.D. 2006. Vegetation response following invasive tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) removal and implications for riparian restoration. Restoration Ecology 14, 461-472. 3a

[54] Harris, C.J., Leishman, M.R., Fryirs, K., Kyle, G. 2012. How does restoration of native canopy affect understory vegetation composition? Evidence from riparian communities of the Hunter Valley Australia. Restoration Ecology 20, 584-592. 1c, 2a, 3a, 5

[55] Hart, C.R., White, L.D., McDonald, A., Sheng, Z. 2005. Saltcedar control and water salvage on the Pecos river, Texas, 1999-2003. Journal of Environmental Management 75, 399-409. 3a

[56] Hatler, W.L., Hart, C.R. 2009. Water loss and salvage in saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) stands on the Pecos River, Texas. Invasive Plant Science and Management 2, 309-317. 3a

[57] Hayashi, H., Shimatani, Y., Shigematsu, K., Nishihiro, J., Ikematsu, S., Kawaguchi, Y. 2012. A study of seed dispersal by flood flow in an artificially restored floodplain. Landscape and Ecological Engineering 8, 129-143. 1a, 4

[58] Hejda, M., Pysek, P. 2006. What is the impact of Impatiens glandulifera on species diversity of invaded riparian vegetation? Biological Conservation 132, 143-152. 3a

[59] Helfield, J.M., Capon, S.J., Nilsson, C., Jansson, R., Palm, D. 2007. Restoration of rivers used for timber floating: effects on riparian plant diversity. Ecological Applications 17, 840-851. 1a

[60] Helfield, J.M., Engström, J., Michel, J.T., Nilsson, C., Jansson, R. 2012. Effects of river restoration on riparian biodiversity in secondary channels of the Pite River, Sweden. Environmental Management 49, 130-141. 1a

[61] Hill, M.T., Platts, W.S. 1998. Ecosystem restoration: A case study in the Owens River Gorge, California. Fisheries 23, 18-27. 1a, 1b, 1c

[62] Holl, K.D., Crone, E.E. 2004. Applicability of landscape and island biogeography theory to restoration of riparian understorey plants. Journal of Applied Ecology 41, 922-933. 1c, 2a, 3a

[63] Holland, K.A., Leininger, W.C., Trlica, M.J. 2005. Grazing history affects willow communities in a montane riparian ecosystem. Rangeland Ecology and Management 58, 148-154. 5

[64] Holmes, K.A., Berry, A.M. 2009. Evaluation of off-target effects due to basal bark treatment for control of invasive fig trees (Figus carica). Invasive Plant Science and Management 2, 345-351. 2a, 3a

[65] Hölzel, N., Otte, A. 2003. Restoration of a species-rich flood meadow by topsoil removal and diaspora transfer with plant material. Applied Vegetation Science 6, 131-140. 1d, 2b, 4, 6

[66] Hough-Snee, N., Roper, B.B., Wheaton, J.M., Budy, P., Lokteff, R.L. 2013. Riparian vegetation communities change rapidly following passive restoration at a northern Utah stream. Ecological Engineering 58, 371-377. 5

[67] Hovick, S.M., Reinartz, J.A. 2007. Restoring forest in wetlands dominated by reed canarygrass: The effects of pre-planting treatments on early survival of planted stocks. Wetlands 27, 24-39. 2a, 3

[68] Hudson, J.R. 2014. Impacts of removing Chinese privet from riparian forests on plant communities and tree growth five years later. Forest Ecology and Management 324, 101-108. 3a

[69] Jähnig S.C., Brunzel, S., Gacek, S., Lorenz, A.W., Hering, D. 2009. Effects of re-braiding measures on hydromorphology, floodplain vegetation, ground beetles and benthic invertebrates in mountain rivers. Journal of Applied Ecology 46, 406-416. 1a, 1b

[70] Januschke, K., Jähnig, S.C., Lorenz, A.W., Hering, D. 2014. Mountain river restoration measures and their success(ion): Effects on river morphology, local species pool, and functional composition of three organism groups. Ecological Indicators 38, 243-255. 1a, 1b, 1d

[71] Jensen, A.E., Walker, K.F., Paton, D.C. 2008. The role of seedbanks in restoration of floodplain woodlands. River Research and Applications 24, 632-649. 1c

[72] Jin, X., Schaepman, M., Clevers, J., Su, Z., Hu, G. 2010. Correlation between annual runoff in the Heihe River to the vegetation cover in the Ejina oasis (China). Arid Land Research and Management 24, 31-41. 1c

[73] Kaase, C.T., Katz, G.L. 2012. Effects of stream restoration on woody riparian vegetation of southern Appalachian mountain streams, North Carolina, U.S.A. Restoration Ecology 20, 647-655. 2a

[74] Kabrick, J.M., Dey, D.C., Van Sambeek, J.W., Wallendorf, M., Gold, M.A. 2005. Soil properties and growth of swamp white oak and pin oak on bedded soils in the lower Missouri River floodplain. Forest Ecology and Management 204, 315-327. 2a, 6