Floodplains are important to slow the overbank storms and prevent flooding downstream.
Here you can see a low floodplain that stores water during a storm. This gives an idea of how high the creek rises during storms. Sedimentation is an important factor in evaluating the habitat of a stream. Here deposits are causing a blockage of base flow, directing water to the banks, causing erosion. In addition, the movement of sediments affects the ability of aquatic organisms to feed and reproduce.