Environmental Impacts of Flooding

Major deltas, such as the Peace-Athabasca Delta in northern Alberta [2] the Delta Marsh in Manitoba [3], the Okavango Delta in Botswana [4], and the Nile delta in Egypt [5] provide very important habitats for a range of wildlife. The ongoing flooding of such deltas is essential for their health and that of their inhabitants. Flooding can also change local landscapes and habitats. For example, John Pomeroy, a professor and water researcher at the University of Saskatchewan, explained that the 2013 Alberta floods changed the Rocky Mountains and foothills region landscape due to overflowing water, thus altering everything from how future floods will play out to how animals will build habitats in these regions [6]. In urban areas, flooding can be extremely damaging and costly, as it can negatively impact infrastructure, homes, and businesses. In the natural environment, however, flooding has a more positive impact on the natural environment as flood water provides nourishment to the landscape [7].