In the New World, man’s influence on the natural dynamics of flooding began in earnest
shortly after the pilgrim’s landing at Plymouth Rock. Settlers immediately began to alter the
landscape of their surroundings. Forests and native vegetation were cleared to make way for
agricultural fields. Trappers were one of the single most influential groups of pioneers. Beaver
populations, which had constructed and maintained millions of dams, were harvested en masse
for their pelts (Hey and Philippi, 1995). Empty dams were cleared to facilitate navigation and
lower surrounding water levels, thereby removing a powerful hydraulic control and huge
reservoir system. To compound the problem, land that was naturally inundated was cleared for
farming, further elevating conveyance rates. Structural flood control was used to protect newly
claimed lands and as a response to the artificially strengthened floods.