You may not think about floodplains all that much. But they are all around us, quietly at work, providing rich soil for our farms, habitat for our salmon and beautiful backdrops for our lives.
The Two-Minute Takeaway
A quick explanation of scientific terms and concepts we use regularly in conservation
Floodplains are made by a river meandering as it travels downstream. When this happens, it leaves behind silt and other deposits. These gradually build up to create the floor of the plain — a rich, fertile habitat and prime agricultural lands.
In the past we tried to “control” rivers so we could “use” the floodplain — straightening unruly rivers and building levees to keep the water in its place. We built whole cities where rivers once meandered. Now, salmon runs are disappearing and people live in the path of dangerous floodwaters.
Explore the level of flood risks Washington counties face in an interactive map.
Floodplain management needs a re-think. Our challenge is to modernize our approach so floodplains can sustain us — all of us — as our climate changes and population swells.
Learn About How We're Tackling This Challenge
Investments that recognize the role farmers have in restoring our lands will provide an all encompassing approach to reaching our climate and habitat goals.
Seven years later, and over $200 million dollars spent in Floodplains by Design alone, we are seeing a new level of resilience, creativity and impact in our floodplains across the state.
Read about how Floodplains by Design pivoted to virtual workshops and the lessons they learned.
Did you know that rivers are constantly changing, carving new paths over the years? Come along and take a trip to the Nooksack River, where you'll learn that the only constant is change
Washington state lawmakers approved groundbreaking policy and budget priorities this session, positioning our state for a more resilient future.
We caught up with Cindy Dittbrenner, Natural Resource Program Manager for the Snohomish Conservation District, to discuss why data and webmaps are so important for farmers in Snohomish County.
Imagine you’re a third-generation farmer in the Puget Sound. You’re witnessing more rain and wetter fields. How can you make decisions about the future? A new tool will help.
Explore maps that show how fluid rivers in Washington state have been over time.
The loss of another orca is a stark reminder of how sick our Puget Sound really is and the importance of river health, salmon recovery, climate change and the impacts of a fast-growing Puget Sound.
Climate change is bringing greater precipitation to Washington, with more frequent and severe storms. Healthy floodplains are a key natural solution: They absorb heavy flows, reduce flooding and temper storm surges.