Conditions Quote by Hal Borland
“When we talk of flood control, we usually think of dams and deeper river channels, to impound the waters or hurry their run-off. Yet neither is the ultimate solution, simply because floods are caused by the flow of water downhill. If the hills are wooded, that flow is checked. If there is a swamp at the foot of the hills, the swamp sponges up most of the excess water, restores some of it to the underground water supply and feeds the remainder slowly into the streams. Strip the hills, drain the boglands, and you create flood conditions inevitably. Yet that is what we have been doing for years.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Flood Problem,” 1965
He argues that natural flood control relies on preserving hills and swamps, not just engineering structures.
In simple terms: Nature’s own features prevent floods better than dams.
Key Takeaway
Protect ecosystems to manage floods.
Themes
environment
engineering
water management
Mood
concerned
analytical
Type
environmental
educational
When to use this quote
- urban planning
- land development
- conservation projects
- disaster mitigation
Key Concepts
ecosystem services
hydrology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can modern cities integrate natural flood defenses?
- What policies support ecosystem preservation?
A Different Perspective
Human development often ignores ecological balance.
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