 This paper examines the interaction between humans and floods in floodplains. It proposes a conceptual model which can be used to understand how changes in flood protection measures affect both the frequency and severity of flooding. The model shows that increased protection leads to fewer frequent floods, but also increases the likelihood of larger, more severe floods. Therefore, it is important to consider the trade-offs between flood protection and flood risk when making decisions about flood management. This article was authored by G. D. Baldassari, Aviglioni, G. Carr, and others.