A report from the U-S Geological Survey finds high water and longer-lasting flooding are changing the habitat along the Upper Mississippi River. Nearly 30 years of data has been analyzed. The report shows conditions have become increasingly wetter over the past few decades. The trend caused by climate change and land-use practices is expected to continue. A 2020 report card issued by America’s Watershed Initiative awarded a C-minus grade for the health of the entire basin, citing environmental pollution, runoff from farmland, and ongoing funding needs for aging locks, dams, and ports.
