Artificially stabilizing meanders does not suffice. The meanders must be free to traverse the flood plain slowly. Simply put, the stream must be brought back to a state where it produces its own missing parts. The most basic processes of a stream system are the cyclical changes in its water flow. These flow cycles are the most important aspect of the long-term health of a stream and are, unfortunately, the most threatening to the personal property of those inhabiting the flood plain.
Streams produce a stream bed whose cross-section reflects the flow regime.
Usually the stream flow is low and held within the banks of the main channel. But this flow does little to maintain the long-term health of the system, other than keeping things watered. When major floods occur, the stream overtops the banks and inundates the alluvial plain. These floods redistribute sediments, trees, crops, houses, or anything else in the way. As the stream recedes, it deposits rich sediments on the flood plain and returns to the main channel, which is often realigned.