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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Ponds, potholes and marshes provide habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. <br />Development usually decreases productivity. <br /> <br />;. <br />\ <br /> <br />~.. <br /> <br />Man's encroachment on the flood- <br />plain modifies these natural processes. <br />In some cases, such as a highway <br />embankment which acts as a levee, <br />encroachments may interact with natural <br />processes to help reduce flood forces. <br />However, construction usually aggra- <br />vates flooding by removing vegetation, <br />eliminating natural storage areas, <br />covering the floodplain with impervious <br />materials, and reducing the space <br />available for flood flows. These <br />effects increase the velocity of flood <br />waters downstream and increase flood <br />heights upstream and/or downstream. <br /> <br />Living Resources <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />Coastal and riverine floodplains <br />support large and diverse populations <br />of plant and animal life. Some of these <br />are valuable, renewable resources of <br />great importance to man. <br /> <br />""4: <br /> <br />The floodplain is enormously <br />producti ve biologically. Marsh-rimmed <br />estuaries and adjacent floodplains are <br />vital to marine fishes as breeding, <br />nursery, and feeding grounds. Inland <br />ponds, potholes, marshes and other <br />wetlands provide important habitat for <br />waterfowl and other wildlife. Flood- <br />plain vegetation provides cover and <br />food for many plant eating animals <br />which in turn provide food for other <br /> <br />animals including those that live off <br />the floodplain. Because water is avail- <br />able, most animals spend at least a <br />part of their time on the floodplain. <br /> <br />Fi sh and wildlife are easily <br />harmed by man's actions on the flood- <br />plain becaus e of their s ensiti vi ty to <br />the resulting changes in the environ- <br />ment. Wildlife habitat is diminished, <br />if not eliminated, by such practices as <br />draining wetlands, channelizing natural <br />water courses, and clearing vegetation. <br />Any actions that limit food, water <br />supplies, or protective cover are <br />usually harmful to wildlife. Because of <br />the many interrelationships which exist <br />in nature, disruption of the floodplain <br />a tone location can aff ec t li ving <br />resources elsewhere. <br /> <br />Cultural Resources <br /> <br />Floodplains contain cultural <br />resources valuable to the nation and to <br />their immediate locality. These <br />cultural values are often only avail- <br />able if the floodplain is left in its' <br />natural state. Because native American <br />settlements and early cities were <br />located along coasts and rivers, flood- <br />plains include many of the nation's <br />most important archeological and <br />historical sites. <br /> <br />11 <br />