Stream channelization and subsurface tile drainage in agricultural watersheds optimizes runoff but also increases discharge variability, creating flashy hydrological networks. The two-stage ditch practice, which restores lateral floodplain benches adjacent to the stream channel, has emerged as a conservation strategy that can improve water quality by increasing water residence times and bioreactive surface area. However, limited research has quantified the efficacy of two-stage ditches in reducing storm-driven flow variability of agricultural streams or how the influence of constructed floodplains may change over time. We explored how floodplain restoration has altered flow regimes in a small agricultural watershed in Indiana. We used a 17 year dataset to compare flow characteristics before (2008-2017) and after (2018-2025) the phased implementation of 6.4 km of floodplain in Shatto Ditch (Kosciusko Co, IN). We delineated 24 storms, 12 before and 12 after, to examine the impact of floodplain implementation. We analyzed the runoff coefficient (RC) for each storm, which is the proportion of rainfall that becomes streamflow, and show a trend of lower RCs after floodplain restoration, although this trend was not significant (Pre: 0.25 ± 0.05, Post: 0.19 ± 0.03; ANOVA, p>0.05). Interestingly, in the first two years after construction, RCs were similar to pre-construction values (0.26 ± 0.03). In contrast, 3-4 yrs post-construction, we documented a significant decrease in RC’s (0.14 ± 0.03; ANOVA, p<0.05), indicating that more precipitation is retained as floodplains age. Similarly, we documented a significant decrease in precipitation-normalized peak discharge (L mm-1 s-1) for storms 3-4 yrs after floodplain restoration compared to before or soon after construction (Pre: 33.45 ± 2.57, 1-2 yrs post: 47.45 ± 9.77, 3-4 yrs post: 14.0 ± 2.39; ANOVA, p<0.05). As constructed floodplains age, and vegetative cover is established, their ability to increase water residence times likely increases. Our results suggest that the two-stage ditch is an effective restoration practice for “naturalizing” storm-mediated flow variation in highly-modified agricultural streams, and that the efficacy of constructed floodplains increases over time.