The Beaver Creek at the NIRM preserve is seen here. This was taken after a sizeable rainfall event that came through the Amherst area. As it can be seen, the Creek is almost utilizing its floodplain on the right side of the photograph. Floodplains are important, natural areas that hold and cleanse flood waters before slowly releasing them into the watercourse. These areas should not be built upon. Also, all creeks and rivers should have a “riparian area” on both sides of the watercourse that is left natural and not tampered with by human activities like mowing, building, and land-clearing. These strips of land on the sides of a creek or river are important in cleaning and slowing down water before it enters the watercourse. Also, they help in protecting the side of the banks from erosion. For a creek of Beaver Creek’s size, a riparian area of at least 120-150 feet is needed; a river for the size of the nearby Black River or Vermilion River needs a riparian area of about 300 feet.

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