Holy Cross

Episcopal Church

Welcomes You!

 

Sunday Services:

8:30 and 11am

Oct. 21 @ 9:30 only 

828-963-4609

 

Valle Country Fair 

this SATURDAY, 10/20!

All Proceeds

Go to Charity 

 

 

Marathon Chiropractic

 

Ryan Woods, DC

Amanda LoPiccolo, DC

 

Marathon Chiropractic Clinic

Welcomes the Addition of 

Dr Amanda LoPiccolo!

 

Open Saturday's 

with Dr Amanada LoPiccolo

 

920 W King St

Call 828-264-6474 for appts

Click here for more details

 BE AWARE.

DON'T SHARE.®

LOCK YOUR MEDS..® 

www.westernyouthnetwork.org

 

67% of people who misuse

prescription drugs get them from

family or friends. Prevent your

children, freinds and relatives

from misusing your own

medication by securing your meds

in places they cannot access.

 

Brought to your by:

Western Youth Network

The Incredible

Toy Company

 

Inspiring Toys and 

Unbeatable Service

 

Where imaginations grow

  

3411 Hwy 321S 

Between Boone

& Blowing Rock

828.264.1422

 

CLICK HERE 

to visit our website

 

Mountain View

Home Management

Professional services for home

owners and visitors

 

• Home Watch • Home Projects •

• Concierge Services •

Our mission is to provide

quality and service that

exceed expectations

 

Visit our website to learn more

about how we can serve you

mountainviewwhm.com

336-649-1166


Life Outdoors
Preserving the High CountryBirdingTake it OutsideHigh Country WaterfallsBrenda's Bloomin WildflowersDan's Starry SkiesFishingHealth and FitnessIdeas?Life Outdoors Setup
Make Text Larger Make Text Smaller Switch Fonts Email This Page Click Here For A Printable Version
Media Sponsors

That's Why It's Called a Floodplain!
by National Committee for the New River

Latest Update: April 15, 2010


Along the New River this winter, many landowners saw and felt the results of major winter storms and extended periods of sub-freezing temperatures. In many areas, the river froze in layers of thick ice. Simultaneous events of moderating temperatures and heavy rain caused the river to rise and the ice to crack, forming huge ice floes. The rising waters carried the ice floes up onto the floodplain, the natural area for high-water levels to gravitate. You may remember seeing pictures of this phenomenon on Ray's Weather's Photo of the Day this winter. Contrary to popular belief, flooding is a very good thing for the river to do. This winter the floodplains were doing the important work of allowing the water from snow melt, ice melt, and rain to flow up and out of the river banks, dispersing the energy of that tremendous amount of water entering the watershed. Floodplains hold large quantities of water, which slows the flow of water. They allow the sediment carried by the water to settle out on land where it is needed, instead of in the river. Native plants in the floodplain filter pollutants and chemicals from the water, improving water quality for both humans and wildlife. The water held on floodplains also allows the groundwater to recharge, keeping the water in the area to supply streams and wells. In some cases, flood waters and ice damaged the vegetation along the river but the river banks themselves remain mostly unchanged. This is NOT the time to take advantage of cleared banks and start a lawn to the river. The shrubs, grasses, and trees on the river bank are the important riparian buffer that prevents erosion, absorbs pollutants in stormwater runoff, shades the river to keep it cool for fish, and provides food for wildlife, among other things. Landowners should know that while the vegetation itself was sheared off or flattened, the root systems in most cases remain intact. Inaction is the best action as the root mass in the banks will send up new growth this spring for both grasses and wildflowers and the native shrubs. Mother Nature has used this winter weather to remind us of the importance of floodplains and riparian buffers. All of the snow and ice has replenished the water tables and the flooding will provide nutrients and water for spring growth and rebirth. Just sit back and enjoy the show!