Restored floodplains aim to absorb El Niño floods in California’s Central Valley

California is testing nature-based flood control by restoring Dos Rios Norte’s floodplain to store floodwater and provide habitat at the confluence of three rivers. While not a standalone fix for big floods, the project is part of a broader strategy to give rivers more room, enable earlier reservoir releases, and recharge groundwater, aiming to reduce flood risk across the Central Valley during a potentially intense El Niño winter and future climate-driven extremes.