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Wetland Functions and Values: Water Storage for Flood Water and Storm Runoff

Trees standing in flooded wetland. The lower left corner of the photo shows ground covered in green leafy vegetation. The middle third shows a wide swath of brownish tan water with trees growing in it. In the top left corner a grey sky can be seen through the leaves and trees.During rain storms and snow melt events, the amount of water running over the surface of the land increases, and in severe storms, flooding may result. Many wetlands, particularly floodplain wetlands, have the capacity to temporarily store flood waters during high runoff events. Although wetlands have often been referred to as natural sponges that soak up water, they actually function more like natural tubs, storing either flood waters that overflow riverbanks or surface water that collects in isolated depressions. As flood waters recede, the water is released slowly from the wetland soils. By holding back some of the flood waters and slowing the rate that water re-enters the stream channel, wetlands can reduce the severity of downstream flooding and erosion.

Water filling river floodplain. In the lower left corner of the photo a dirt road is seen with green grass on each side. The road goes down through a gate into a wide area of water which takes up the middle third of the photo. The water covers almost everything except for a hill in the background on the left. Above all a grey sky is seen which takes up the top third of the photo.
In watersheds where wetlands have been lost, flood peaks may increase by as much as 80 percent. Wetlands within and upstream of urban areas are particularly valuable for flood protection. The impervious surface in urban areas greatly increases the rate and volume of runoff, thereby increasing the risk of flood damage. During Tropical Storm Irene, Otter Creek flooded Rutland with nearly 19,000 cubic feet per second of water, severely damaging homes, roads, and other infrastructure in the city. In comparison, Middlebury experienced minimal flooding with a peak flow of only 7,000 cubic feet per second – significantly less than Rutland, which is located upstream. Why was Middlebury spared? It seems that the Otter Creek Swamp Complex, located between Rutland and Middlebury, stored the floodwaters and gradually released them. The difference between the flooding experienced by these two communities demonstrates the value of wetlands for water storage and flood control. On the Charles River in Massachusetts, the floodplain wetlands were deemed so effective for flood control by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that they purchased them rather than build expensive flood control structures to protect Boston.

Aerial view of downtown Montpelier. In the top left, the State House building is seen. In the lower left, a small part of National Life drive is seen. Towards the right of the photo, the North Branch of the Winooski River is seen flowing from near the top of the image into the Winooski River which flow from right to left near the bottom of the image.

Aerial view of the mouth of the Winooski River. The river is seen flowing from the right of the photo to the left. The left third of the image shows Lake Champlain which looks like a large black area.

According to the Vermont Wetland Rules, wetlands that provide for the temporary storage of floodwater or stormwater runoff to the extent that they make an important contribution to: reducing risks to public safety, reducing damage to public or private property, reducing downstream erosion or enhancing the stability of habitat for aquatic life, are significant wetlands. In determining whether a wetland is significant for the Water Storage for Flood Water and Storm Runoff, the Secretary or Panel shall, at a minimum, consider the extent to which it:

a. Reduces either the magnitude or frequency of risks to public safety or of damage to public or private property due to flood water or stormwater runoff after considering:

  1. Its significance relative to other water storage capacity in its own watershed or in the watershed of any watercourse to which it is tributary. In particular, available water storage capacity upstream of the wetland should be considered.
  2. Whether it is contiguous to a lake or pond which would provide storage benefits independent of the wetland.
  3. The extent of development and impervious surface in the watershed.
  4. The history of damage to public and private property and economic loss due to flooding within the watershed downstream of the wetland.
  5. The characteristics of development and resources in or near the floodplain downstream of the wetland.
  6. The extent to which the wetland's water storage capacity is created by beaver dams and similar temporary conditions

 b. Attenuates flood peaks and reduces water velocities, thereby reducing scouring and erosion.
 

c. Maintains the geomorphic stability of important habitat for aquatic life by attenuating peak flows of flood waters or stormwater runoff, or reducing the scouring and erosion of stream banks, or both.
Hydraulic and hydrologic analysis of the extent to which a wetland serves this function shall utilize average annual, 10-year, 50-year and 100-year storm frequencies in generating hydrographs for the wetland's inlet, outlet and at critical locations upstream and downstream.

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