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. Here you can see how flashy Malletts Creek is. After storms, the creek swells dramatically. Detention ponds are critical to moderate runoff to the creek.