When does downcutting of the streambed stop during stream formation?

Downcutting of the streambed typically stops when the stream reaches a base level, which is the lowest point to which it can erode, often determined by the level of a larger body of water, such as a lake or ocean. Other factors that can halt downcutting include changes in the landscape, such as tectonic uplift, sediment deposition, or human activities that alter the flow dynamics. Once the streambed stabilizes at this base level, the stream may begin to meander or develop a floodplain instead of continuing to erode downward.