"Downstream communities" refers to the towns, cities, or areas located further downstream along a river or stream from a certain point. These communities receive water, resources, or other influences from upstream locations. Full definition
«But by strategically placing wetlands on less than 1 percent of the region's croplands, we'll be able to reverse the trend of significant losses in aquatic life, and improve flood resiliency for downstream communities with minimal impact to crop production,» she added. (treehugger.com)
As an incidental benefit in an era of dwindling water supplies and projected water shortages, forest thinning could play a role in augmenting river flows on a seasonal basis, improving conditions for water - dependent ecosystems, and benefitting the water supplies of downstream communities. (journals.plos.org)
We have long known that logging and oil and gas operations in the foothills of the Rockies can radically increase soil erosion and correspondingly increase the risk of flooding downstream communities. (greenpartyofalberta.ca)