Flooding in Riverine Landscapes and Wetlands

Wetlands, floodplains, and ephemeral channels are features of the flood-driven dynamic patch mosaic of riverine landscapes. The spatial and temporal inundation of riverine landscapes by floods of varying hydrological character is a primary driver of the biophysical patch mosaic and associated ecological processes. This flood-driven riverine landscape productivity generates ecosystem services that support and benefit human well-being. Humans have settled within riverine landscapes because of these benefits. However, the interface of human settlements with floods also generates flood risk and floods can cause great damage, loss, and disruption to society. Managing riverine landscapes presents dilemmas between maintaining flooding as a generator of benefits and mitigating flooding as a risk to human settlements.