Reconnecting floodplains to rivers will help reduce the risk of future flooding, say U.S. scientists. Writing in Science, the researchers say that risk of flooding is likely to increase in the future as a result of climate change and shifts in land use.
Floodwalls, levees and other channel hardening exacerbate flooding. The authors’ note: “Control infrastructure prevents high flows from entering floodplains, thus diminishing both natural flood storage capacity and the processes that sustain healthy riverside forests and wetlands.”
“As a result floodplains are among the planet’s most threatened ecosystems.” Read More at the BBC or Learn About Natural Channel Stability
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The top of the Murray Darling System-QLD- Aus, including Cubbie Station. Has no laws on levee banks on floodplains, this includes placement,height, or use. We have been flooded by water diversion by a 4m high levee bank totally blocking a floodplain. Govt refuse to bring in laws as they left them out 20yrs ago so Cubbie Station could be built. This is a major environmental mismanagement. Overland flow is not metered, and no idea of how much water they are taking on top of the regulated ringtanks/dams. Please bring this to the attention of the right people, Shame the Australian Govt into acting.