The interaction between vegetation and fluvial processes leaves many possibilities for research. Since the publication in the early 1960s of the US Geological Survey Professional Papers by R.S. Sigafoos, numerous contributions in paleohydrology and riparian ecology have deepened the interaction between vegetation and fluvial geomorphology. In this article, we briefly review the impact of Sigafoos' research in past and current scientific developments. We highlight the importance of the botanical evidence described by Sigafoos and the need for further work in this research line.