UC Davis and UCSB scientists recently published a book, “Floodplains: Processes and Management for Ecosystem Services,” which recommends green infrastructure fixes to help reduce flooding risks in urban areas.

“Floodplains are low-lying areas along [rivers] that will fill up during high flows with water,” said Amber Manfree, a post-doctoral researcher at the UC Davis Center for Watershed Sciences and one of the authors of the book. “They could be forested, they could be open grassland, or any kind of land cover. The thing about them that is really great is when the water comes up and fills the floodplain, it becomes habitat for aquatic organisms. Particularly, if it’s exposed to at least some sunlight, it works as a big solar panel, and will produce a lot of food, which will very much increase the amount of productivity in the ecosystems.” 

Levees and dams, “grey infrastructure,” are rigid structures built to reduce the risk of flooding. Unfortunately, they can also damage wildlife processes and disrupt complex ecosystems. Green infrastructure includes seasonal projects which can be flexible to changing weather conditions, such as the Yolo Bypass between Davis and Sacramento. The bypass provides habitat for birds and fish in the wet winters. Much of the land in the bypass is used for agriculture during the summer, taking advantage of the sediment deposited by the flooding. 

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