Energy and water balance response of a vegetated wetland to herbicide treatment of invasive Phragmites australis

•Effects of P. australis on evapotranspiration were studied for a riparian wetland.•Energy/water balance measurements were made before and after vegetation removal.•Agro-IBIS model simulations were performed to supplement observations of H and LE.•Removal of P. australis resulted in 32% lower ET and 245mm of net “water savings”.•Sensible heat fluxes more than doubled due to warmer, drier, windier conditions.