In the Colorado River watershed, decreases in peak flows have coincided with channel narrowing and degradation of habitat for native fishes. Along the middle Green River, decreases in flow magnitude and duration have promoted proliferation of riparian vegetation resulting in sediment deposition and channel narrowing. We analyzed five years (2020-2024) of riparian plant data coupled with plot inundation-duration and elevation data for approximately 2,000 1m-X-1m plots at six river sites on the middle Green River. Mean percent vegetative cover of plots near the channel increased during moderately dry and average flow years and decreased in the one moderately wet year. Additionally, we observed an increase in elevation of more densely vegetated plots compared to sparsely vegetated plots in wetter years. Plots that increased in elevation were dominated by a mix of annual herbs and grasses as well as perennial woody species, particularly coyote willow (Salix exigua) with lesser abundance of Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) and tamarisk (Tamarix sp.). While the annuals have little opportunity to influence sediment deposition, the stems of the perennial woody species trap sediment and the roots reduce erosion. These results suggest that woody plants established in dry years subsequently trap sediment in wetter years. This process may explain why multi-year droughts have been strongly associated with narrowing along the Green River. Annual drone imagery of the same 20km reach of the Green River confirms this relationship between reduced flow and channel narrowing. Findings from this study suggest that flow peaks with high magnitude and duration can promote wide, complex channels which ultimately improve habitat for threatened and endangered fishes.