Floodplains play a valuable role in providing natural and beneficial functions to the Metro area. Floodplains that are relatively undisturbed, or have been restored to a nearly natural state, provide a wide range of benefits to both human and natural systems. These benefits provide aesthetic pleasure as well as function to provide active processes such as filtering nutrients. Several of our floodplain areas are used for recreational purposes such as greenways and parks along the stream (Shelby Bottoms Park, for example). Natural and beneficial functions include:
- Provide flood water storage and conveyance
- Filter nutrients and impurities from runoff
- Provide open space for aesthetic pleasure
- Maintain bio-diversity and the integrity of ecosystem
- Contain historic and archaeological sites that provide opportunities for study
- Provide natural flood and erosion control and reduce flood velocities and peaks
- Create and enhance waterfowl, fish, and other wildlife habitats and provide breeding and feeding grounds.
Areas that routinely flood or where creeks and streams flow after a rain are very susceptible to the water pollution impacts caused by illegal dumping activities. Trash, tires, batteries, cut trees/brush, yard clippings/leaves, chemicals, washwater, etc. should not be dumped into or near storm sewers, catch basins, ditches, or streams. It is a violation of Metro Code §15.64.205 to dump or discharge these materials into either the storm sewer system or streams.
Please call the Metro Storm Water Quality Office at 615-862-4600 to report any such dumping or discharging activities.