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<br />uplands in their soils, drainage <br />systems and vegetation. Beaches and <br />small river valleys are usually easily <br />recognizable as floodplains to people <br />with a trained eye. Less obvious <br />floodplains occur in dry washes and on <br />alluvial fans in arid parts of the <br />western United States, around prairie <br />potholes, in areas subject to high <br />groundwater levels, and in low lying <br />areas where water may accumulate. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />iii <br /> <br />!1i <br /> <br />Wi <br /> <br />III <br /> <br />Beaches, swamps and marshes making <br />up ocean floodplains often can <br />absorb the force of waves and <br />reduce the impact of storm surges in <br />inland areas. <br /> <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br /> <br />Floodplains along <br />space necessary <br />flood flows. <br /> <br />provide the <br />pas,sage of <br /> <br />rIvers. <br />for the <br /> <br /> <br />Alluvial fans are created where fast <br />flowing streams leave mountainous <br />areas and slow down, depositing <br />large amounts of sediment and <br />debris. Developments on fans are <br />highly susceptible to extensive <br />damages. <br /> <br /> <br />Even the normally dry washes and <br />arroyos of the southwest can have <br />destructive and dangerous floods. <br /> <br />t <br /> <br />6 <br />