FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT

What is Floodplains?
Floodplain, also called Alluvial Plain, flat land area adjacent to a stream, composed of
unconsolidated sedimentary deposits (alluvium) and subject to periodic inundation by
the stream. Floodplains are produced by lateral movement of a stream and by
overbank deposition; therefore they are absent where downcutting is dominant. Any
erosional widening of one bank is approximately equalled by deposition on the opposite
side of the channel in the form of bar development along the inside of meander bends.
Thus, the simplest floodplain is made up of a strip of sinuous scrolls immediately adjacent
to the stream.
It includes the floodway, which consists of the stream channel and adjacent areas that
carry flood flows, and the flood fringe, which are areas covered by the flood, but which do
not experience a strong current.
These ecosystems that occupy a floodplain may contain a wide array of habitats, from
freshwater marshes to forests to vegetated lowlands, and serve important ecological
roles for numerous plant and animal species. The shape and nature of a floodplain may
also change over time as the main channel of a river naturally migrates through erosion
and accretion, impacting how and where excess water may first overtop the banks of the
river during a flood event.

While most people view a river or stream only as the place where there is regularly
flowing water, the reality is that the river and floodplain are one integrated system that
have evolved over time to convey water and sediment downstream, with the floodplain
serving to both store water and to slowly release it back into the main channel of the river
as the flood passes, to ensure that the natural system downstream isn’t overwhelmed.

How are Floodplains formed?

A river may overflow its banks during times of heavy rain. When the river recedes, the
river deposits the material it is carrying, leaving behind silt. Floodplains are
the wide and flat plains formed by the deposited material or alluvium build up on either
sideof the river with successive floods over the years. The heavier and coarser sediments
are first deposited at the river’s edge. The finer particles are being deposited a
little further away from the river.
Floodplain Formations:
Floodplains are formed in two ways: by EROSIONAL and AGGRADATION.

An erosional floodplain is created as a stream cuts vertically and laterally into its
channel and banks. A stream with a steep gradient will tend to down cut faster than it
causes lateral erosion, resulting in a deep, narrow channel with little or no floodplain at
all.
An aggradational floodplain is created when a river deposits thick layers of sediment.
This happens when the river's velocity decreases, forcing it to drop sediment.
Consequently the lower course of the river valley becomes layered with alluvium.

What are the uses of Floodplains?

The main use of floodplains is for agriculture, however the use of the land for settlement
has become more popular.

Settlement on floodplains, despite occasional flooding, is attractive because:

-Water is most available.

- The land is more fertile.
- Rivers correspond to cheap modes of transport.
- Flat or gently sloping land is more suitable for development.
HUMAN INFLUENCES ON FLOODPLAINS:

In areas where floodplains have been used for settlement, flooding can be a hazard, and
therefore it has had to be controlled.

Levees are built or strengthened to prevent flooding, which would help to benefit and
protect the urbanised area surrounding the floodplain.