Seed banks are an important component of the ecology of aquatic and riparian plant communities. Seed banks provide a reserve from which plants can regenerate when germination cues are met and provide a measure of resilience against adverse environmental conditions. While there has been a significant amount of research focused on seed banks within wetlands, there is a lack of research on the role, formation and function of seed banks associated with river channels and of key deposition sites within a riverine system. The aim of this study is to assess the distribution and abundance of seeds within a river channel. We collected sediment containing seeds from within the river channel, slackwater zones associated with the river channel, in-channel benches, the floodplain and floodplain wetlands. Results suggests more seeds are found on the floodplain and in floodplain wetlands compared to riverine habitats. Within the riverine habitats more seeds were found in slackwater zones compared to benches or the main channel. This data suggests that managing flows to maximise the distribution and persistence of slackwater zones will assisting promoting plant communities.