Floodplains provide millions of dollars in benefits every year to people in the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware River watersheds | U.S. Geological Survey

Issue: Floodplains provide important services to people by retaining sediments, nutrients, and floodwaters, thereby improving water quality and reducing flooding impacts. Having information on how the monetary benefit that floodplains provide varies across the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware River watersheds helps resource managers describe the benefits that floodplains provide in their current state and assess tradeoffs associated with development pressures and conservation priorities.