Floods Glossary

flood plain, alluvial meadow

Nearly level land along a stream flooded only when the streamflow exceeds the water carrying capacity of the channel. The flood plain was developed in the Holocene. Melting water carved out earlier river terraces during the last ice-age and created the flood plain. For this reason there is no loess but fine-grained fluvial sediments in a flood plain. The soil is very moist due to high ground-water level and periodic flooding. Thus, specific soils like alluvial clay can be found in this area. Flood plains are a natural retention area.