Beyond flood reduction, natural floodplains provide ancillary benefits such as improving "water quality" by serving as filters for sediment loads and impurities in runoff and overbank flows. Natural floodplains also moderate water temperature, reducing the possibility of adverse impacts on aquatic plants and animals. Floodplains can act as recharge areas for groundwater and reduce the frequency and duration of low flows of surface water. They provide a critical habitat for diverse species of flora and fauna, some of which cannot live anywhere else. They are also important as breeding and feeding areas
The following areas have been designated as "Environmentally Sensitive lands." These undisturbed natural areas of Palm Beach County act as natural storage areas for flood waters, reducing the possibility of flooding nearby residences while helping to recharge our groundwater aquifer.
- Bee Line Corridor (1,399 acres)
- Delray Oaks (25 acres)
- Frenchman's Forest (150 acres)
- High Ridge Scrub (40 acres)
- Juno Hills (560 acres)
- Jupiter Ridge (269 acres)
- Loxahatchee River (368 acres)
- Loxahatchee Slew (10,389 acres)
- Fox Property (1,538 acres)
- Pal-Mar (6,944 acres)
- Rosemary Scrub (14 acres)
- Royal Palm Beach Pines (748 acres)
- Sea crest Scrub (54 acres)
- Yamato Scrub (217 acres)
- Leon M. Weekes Area (12 acres)
Download a map of the above water storage areas.