Impact of Floods on the Ecosystem
There are positive and negative impacts of floods on the Ecosystem.
The sudden appearance of a large quantity of flood water can benefit plant life. The under ground stored water can be replenished by the floodwater, while soil above ground can soak up the water. As a result, the plants receive water. Deprived plants can be revived by the nutrients carried by the flood water and help germinate seeds. The soil becomes more fertile and suitable area in which to grow crops. The environment also becomes highly suitable for the reproduction of animals.
Although water-based ecosystems are badly affected by flood water, they can also benefit. The floodwater can wash away needed salt, man-made products allowing some organisms to survive. It also sweeps away junk and debris that may have accumulated by the side of rivers.
Floods also have a downside. Ecosystems depend on a careful balance of factors, and the sudden impact of a flood can quickly disrupt this. While floods affect mainly dry land, water-based habitats are at risk from the runoff of the flood. The run-off contains sediment and products such as pesticides and fertilizers, and will carry these into the ecosystem. The sediment may hide the sun and plants won't be able to photosynthesize and may die.
The sudden appearance of a large quantity of flood water can benefit plant life. The under ground stored water can be replenished by the floodwater, while soil above ground can soak up the water. As a result, the plants receive water. Deprived plants can be revived by the nutrients carried by the flood water and help germinate seeds. The soil becomes more fertile and suitable area in which to grow crops. The environment also becomes highly suitable for the reproduction of animals.
Although water-based ecosystems are badly affected by flood water, they can also benefit. The floodwater can wash away needed salt, man-made products allowing some organisms to survive. It also sweeps away junk and debris that may have accumulated by the side of rivers.
Floods also have a downside. Ecosystems depend on a careful balance of factors, and the sudden impact of a flood can quickly disrupt this. While floods affect mainly dry land, water-based habitats are at risk from the runoff of the flood. The run-off contains sediment and products such as pesticides and fertilizers, and will carry these into the ecosystem. The sediment may hide the sun and plants won't be able to photosynthesize and may die.
Floods in Texas
The deadliest and costliest storm in U.S. History is the Tropical Storm Allison. On June 2001, a Tropical storm called Allison, devastated the Houston area with 40 inches of rain. This caused hospitals to shut down, destroyed thousands of homes, and killed 23 people in Texas. The storm caused flooding the first time it passed over the bayou city on June 4, 2001. But the worst flooding came a few days later when it turned around and targeted Houston again.
Severe flooding in parts of south-central Texas resulted from a major storm during October 17-18, 1998. The flooding occurred in parts of the major streams and tributaries of the San Jacinto, San Benard, Colorado, Lavaca, Guadalupe and San Antonio River Basins, but mainly the Guadalupe and San Antonio River Basins. The flooding was caused by Hurricane Madeline and Hurricane Lester. The largest documented rainfall was in southern Hays County just south of San Marcos, where at least 30 inches was recorded.