Erosion

• An effect of flooding and the disappearance of wetlands is erosion. This happens when wind and water transports the sediment to new locations. Flooding affects erosion by dragging large areas of land away as the floods recede. When wetlands disappear, they cease to serve the function of slowing water down through an area and slowing erosion, so while erosion still occurs in wetlands, it happens at a much slower rate than when the wetlands do not exist.
  
  

Pollution Control

• Wetlands assist in controlling pollution by sifting pollutants out of runoff water and storing it in the mud in the area. Plants in wetlands also help control pollution by absorbing some of the nutrients that are no longer useful for humans. When wetlands diminish or disappear, this function ceases to occur and most of the pollution is carried straight to sea or the nearest body of water. Flooding can carry pollutants from one area to another in a matter of hours or days.
  
  

Aquaculture Disturbance

• Wetland regions serve as a base for not only humans but other predators to hunt and feed on fish, birds and other prey. In areas with large wetlands, aquaculture can serve as a large part of the local economy. When these wetlands cease to exist, all forms of predators must find new areas in which to live and cure their hunger. Flooding also can disturb aquaculture by changing the nature of the bodies of water in an area.
  
  

Trees

• Trees are large victims of flooding. Small amounts of flooding typically won't destroy trees in an area, but recurrent or uninterrupted flooding keeps soils saturated, which could seriously damage the trees. Different trees exhibit different effects of flooding, like defoliation, a reduction in leaf size, early fall colors and yellowing of leaves. Flooding also can leave the roots of trees exposed once the area has eroded, and it is difficult for trees to overcome this problem on their own.