Why Is It Important To Protect Floodplains?
Natural floodplains have economic, social, and environmental benefits and are important to protect and maintain. The natural system provides wildlife habitat protection, water quality benefits, groundwater recharge, biological productivity, recreational opportunities, and natural flood and erosion control. Floodplains also reduce flood damage by providing an area for floodwater to spread out and temporarily store excess water.
What Can You Do To Help?
There are a number of things that residents can do to help keep floodplains functioning normally, including:
- Always dispose of trash and pet waste responsibly: Proper waste disposal keeps our community clean and allows the floodplain to naturally filter water.
- Don’t dump leaves, debris, or grass clippings into waterways: These can block drainage systems, harm aquatic habitats, and reduce water quality.
- Report broken silt fences that protect streams: Broken fences can lead to soil erosion, affecting ecosystems.
- Preserve open space and natural features: Open spaces help maintain natural habitats, reduce flooding, promote biodiversity, and improve water quality.
- Reduce impervious areas: Less impervious surfaces like pavement means more natural water absorption, reducing flooding and water runoff. Where necessary, consider using permeable pavement to allow water to pass through.
- Plant native trees and plants: Native plants can help filter and absorb water, provide shade and habitat, and help to reduce soil erosion.
- Redirect downspouts to vegetated areas: Directing water to plants helps prevent flooding by promoting water absorption.
- Install a rain garden, bioretention area, rain barrel, or green roof: These features absorb rainwater and reduce flooding.
- Report dumping violations and wetland destruction: Help the County to keep floodplains clean and functioning.
- Avoid development in SFHA; build upland of floodplains instead: This minimizes flood risks, protects natural water systems, and preserves the floodplain’s ability to manage floods.
