The Natural and Beneficial Functions of the Local Floodplain
Floodplains serve as the natural boundary for flood waters during a flooding event. In other words, floodplains supplement natural drainage channels, rivers, creeks, and streams, by allowing the water a place to go when the floodwaters can no longer flow in their normal channel boundary.
Floodplains also serve to buffer downstream property from additional flooding from flood surges (heavy velocities) during a flooding event.