Flood Plains

Floodplain Forests

Floodplain forests are flat areas by rivers that often flood. They flood when there is lots of rain or snow melt. Flooding happens so often here, that the plants have adapted to thrive in very wet conditions. You can even see the high-water line of past floods high up on the trunks of old trees. Through all the ups and downs of flooding, floodplain forests are important places. They filter water, control floods, and provide habitat for many plants and animals. They are very important to everything that lives along a river and beyond.

The Vermillion River Bottoms

The Vermillion River Bottoms is one example of a floodplain forest. It is at the confluence of the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers. 153 species of birds live or migrate through there, making it one of the best places in Minnesota for rare forest birds. A visitor here might see cerulean warblers, red-shouldered hawks, peregrine falcons, bald eagles, and many others. The unique conditions found in floodplain forests makes it great habitat for many birds.

Crosby Farm Regional Park

Crosby Farm Regional Park in St. Paul is another local floodplain forest. With several miles of trails and easy access from Minneapolis and St. Paul, it’s a great place to visit. Scientists have studied the forest here for over twenty years to learn about how climate change affects this ecosystem. This research helps us understand the role of floodplain forests in maintaining a healthy landscape.

How Floodplain Forests Help Us

There are many important types of plants in a flood plain forest. Cottonwood and silver maple trees are especially important. Their big root systems help hold soil and keep it from washing away downstream during floods. These trees also can take in hundreds of gallons of water everyday from the ground, helping it dry out when flood water recedes. Where does all that water go? Trees release it through their leaves as vapor!

Where to Go

For more information on the places mentioned here, please follow these links:

Crosby Farm Regional Park

Vermillion River Bottoms