Fluvial systems are disproportionately large sources of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, but demonstrate considerable variability in both the amounts and drivers of their contributions. Submerged aquatic vegetation is a prominent feature within many freshwater systems and is a strong driver of greenhouse gas dynamics in wetlands and lakes. However, its influence remains largely unexamined in rivers and streams. Submerged macrophytes may alter carbon cycling, contributing to dissolved greenhouse gas concentrations by creating conditions favorable to their production or conducive to their consumption, oxidation, or removal. During summer 2025, we conducted a short-term, small-scale (600 sq. meter) removal of macrophytes in a river in south-central Wisconsin. Dissolved greenhouse gases, river sediment, and water chemistry measurements were collected sub-weekly over a period of eight weeks. Following macrophyte removal, we observed a decrease in the percentage of sediment organic matter (1.86% to 1.47%) and a decrease in methanogenic potential (4.013 umol L-1 day-1). These findings were coupled with an unexpected 20% increase (0.013 umol/L) in daytime dissolved CH4 and a 12.5% (0.762 umol/L) increase in daytime dissolved CO2 concentrations compared to the adjacent reference area. These results suggest that macrophytes increase methane oxidation and/or removal of CH4 and CO2 and raises the possibility that they may not necessarily enhance gas emissions in these ecosystems.