floodplain

Level land area subject to periodic flooding from a contiguous body of water. Floodplains are delineated by the expected frequency of flooding. For example, an annual floodplain is expected to flood once each year. The Army Corps of Engineers has floodplain maps for most metropolitan areas.

A level land area subject to periodic flooding from a contiguous body of water. Floodplains are delineated by the expected frequency of flooding. For example, an annual floodplain is expected to flood once each year.

Floodplain maps may be ordered by calling or writing to:

Map Service Center P.O. Box 1038 Jessup, MD 20794-1038 1-800-358-9616 www.msc.fema.gov
Example:

The relatively flat land stretching from either side of a river to the bottom of the valley walls. Flood plains are periodically inundated by the river water; hence the name. The flood plain may be thought of as an area of alluvium which is introduced to the valley, stored, subjected to weathering, and then transported downstream. Flood plains are often ill-drained and marshy, and characteristic fluvial features include meanders, levées, and ox-bow lakes.

Any land area susceptible of being inundated by water from any source.