The Science of Floodplains

This paper will provide a non-technical overview of the science of floodplains, with a particular focus on the unique inland floodplains of New South Wales. Much of the science is unified by the themes of natural variability and productivity. These themes are linked: the productivity of floodplains is enhanced by the variable hydrological inputs. When flooded, populations of organisms expand rapidly on the floodplain, providing an abundance of life, with wider regional significance. It is disturbing that the trend in floodplain extent in New South Wales has been one of consistent decline. Regulation of rivers and subsequent abstraction of water has led to changes in vegetation communities, alterations to geochemical characteristics of the floodplain soils with declines in the abundance and diversity of floodplain biota. Importantly, floodplain developments have disconnected floodplains from rivers, leading to the impoverishment of both. The Wetland Recovery Plan and Riverbank initiatives provide an opportunity for the DEC intervene to reverse this decline in some of the state’s most significant wetlands. The role of science in guiding these efforts is discussed