Plate 5.9 Attenuation of Flood Peaks in Rivers

Retention is influenced by flow processes within the channel and from the floodplain (hydraulics) as well as by the way the flood develops and thus by its origins (hydrology). This plate includes examples which show the various possible effects of retention; an overview indicates in which rivers substantial attenuation of floods can be expected. Overall the plate shows that major flooding is effectively attenuated through natural retention in only a surprisingly small number of catchments.