Missouri River Basin
Improved scores for Freshwater Wetland, but has increasing trends in frequency of floods. Levee Condition is poor and Per Capita Income is relatively low in the region.
2020 GRADE: C
Upper Mississippi River Basin
Water quality is poor, as a result of high nutrient runoff from regional agriculture. Frequency of floods is increasing, likely a result of rainfall increases and drainage modifications. Lock delays remained low when compared to historical data, reflecting ongoing maintenance efforts to keep old infrastructure operational.
2020 GRADE: C
Arkansas River & Red River Basin
Poor scores for Freshwater Wetland, Levee Condition, Lock Delays, Treatment Violations, and Per Capita Income result in a low overall score for the basin. Although the average age of locks is the lowest of all basins, they still need rehabilitation.
2020 GRADE: D+
Ohio River & Tennessee River Basin
Conditions are driven by high nutrient inputs, increasing frequency of floods, and improvements in infrastructure. Per Capita Income is relatively low in some areas.
2020 GRADE: C
Lower Mississippi River Basin
Affected by all the basins upriver, nutrient loads are high, but Flood Frequency scores are good, especially in the tributaries and streams. Transportation scores improved with increased funding for dredging and infrastructure maintenance.
2020 GRADE: C-
Gulf Coast
The average size of the Gulf Dead Zone since 2015 is still almost three times as large as the Gulf Hypoxia Task Force target, and the historical loss of coastal land in Louisiana is an ongoing issue despite efforts to rebuild it.
2020 GRADE: D