( ( ( This ( combined action ) ) ( of ( ( storage and ) slowing ) ) ) ( ( can ( ( ( decrease floods ) and ) ( reduce ( ( ( the speed ) ( of ( the water ) ) ) ( ( flow thus ) ( diminish ( ( the ( water ' ) ) ( s ( erosive potential ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT This) (VBN combined) (NN action)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN storage) (CC and) (NN slowing)))) (VP (MD can) (VP (VP (VB decrease) (NP (NNS floods))) (CC and) (VP (VB reduce) (SBAR (S (NP (NP (DT the) (NN speed)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT the) (NN water)))) (VP (VBP flow) (RB thus) (VP (VB diminish) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN water) (POS ')) (JJ s) (NN erosive) (NN potential))))))))) (. .)))
This combined action of storage and slowing can decrease floods and reduce the speed of the water flow thus diminish the water'  s erosive potential.
(ROOT (S (PP (IN As) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN temperature)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN water) (NNS decreases))))) (, ,) (NP (DT the) (NN water) (NNS molecules)) (VP (VB slow) (PRT (RP down))) (. .)))