Impacts of Flooding on Agricultural Lands

The Mississippi is heavily used for commercial navigation and recreation, which places a strain on the ecosystem. Forestry and agricultural practices have also had an impact. Harvesting the forests and converting prairies and forest to agriculture has significantly altered the watershed hydrology. Levees and locks and dams separate the river from half its floodplain. Pollutant levels in the river have increased. It's difficult to balance the Mississippi's multiple uses - for example, the need to maintain commercial traffic and to protect the region from floods must be balanced against concerns related to river/floodplain connectivity; sustainable agriculture, Gulf hypoxia,and the hydrologic balance.