Floodplains are areas of flat land bordering a watercourse.
They are frequently at, or near, the same elevation as the top of the streambanks and are subject to flooding. Riparian zones are defined in the Forest Practices Code as the land adjacent to the normal high water line in a stream, river, lake, or pond and extending to the portion of land influenced by the presence of the adjacent ponded or channeled water. Commonly, the riparian zone is associated with fish-bearing streams. Smaller tributary channels and side channels also flow along the floodplain and through the riparian zone. These smaller channels are critical to certain phases of the life cycle of salmon.