Floods increasingly threaten semiarid regions, yet their long-term soil ecological impacts remain underdocumented. This study quantifies the hydrologic change and flood-induced soil transformation on the Zhabay River floodplain (Akmola, Kazakhstan) using integrated field, laboratory, and remote sensing data. Gauge records (2012–2024) were analyzed; inundation was mapped from a 0.30 m DEM (Digital Elevation Model) merging SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission), Landsat 8/Sentinel 2, and UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) photogrammetry (NDWI (Normalized Difference Water Index) > 0.28) and validated with 54 in situ depths (MAE (Mean Absolute Error) 0.17 m). Soil samples collected before and after floods were analyzed for texture, bulk density, pH, Eh, macronutrients, and heavy metals. Annual maxima increased by 0.08 m yr⁻¹, while extreme floods became more frequent. Thresholds of ≥0.5 m depth and >7 days duration marked compaction onset, whereas >1 m and ≥12 days produced maximum organic carbon loss and Zn/Ni enrichment. The combination of high-resolution DEMs, ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) analysis, and soil microbial monitoring provides new operational indicators of soil degradation for Central Asian steppe floodplains. Findings contribute to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land) by linking flood resilience assessment with sustainable land-use planning.

The relevance of the research topic is explained by the increased risk of spring floods in the Akmola region, the significant damage they cause to the local economy and the need to develop and imple-ment effective measures to prevent them. The purpose of this study is to develop a proper assessment of the environmental risk of spring floods and their consequences on the territory of the Akmola region, which is important for regional enterprises. The methodological approach includes a systematic analysis of the probability of occurrence of various environmental risks from spring floods in combination with the study of patterns of development of negative consequences of these floods in the region and in the Republic of Kazakhstan as a whole. As part of the current study, results have been identified that indi-cate the serious consequences of spring floods for economic activity in areas that were flooded during seasonal floodwaters, as well as the need to develop and implement specific measures to prevent spring floods caused by significant violations of economic activity in the water protection zone. The results obtained during the study, as well as the scientific conclusions derived from them, are significant for agricultural workers in the Akmola region who feel the irreversible effects of spring floods when carry-ing out their activities in the region, as well as for residents of these areas who regularly encounter the described difficult natural situations.