Watershed Notes
Watershed Notes is a monthly publication series that makes watershed science and practice more accessible to a broad audience.Each issue provides a concise, easy-to-read summary of either recent scientific research or programs and initiatives that advance watershed science and management across the Mississippi River Watershed. By translating technical information into clear and engaging content, Watershed Notes help connect the latest knowledge with the people who use it, from federal and state agencies to nonprofit organizations, industry representatives, elected officials, researchers, and people who live in the watershed. Whether highlighting new scientific findings or showcasing successful on-the-ground efforts, Watershed Notes aim to foster informed decision-making and encourage collaboration across the basin.
October 2026
Untangling Urban Growth from Climate Change in Local Watersheds
Jason Knouft
Department of Biology and WATER Institute, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
This Watershed Note explores how urban growth and climate change independently and collectively affect streamflow in the Meramec River watershed in eastern Missouri. The study demonstrates how urban growth can intensify streamflow extremes and contribute to greater hydrologic variability, with implications for flooding, ecosystem health, and watershed resilience.
September 2026
Law of the Mississippi River: Where Do We Go Next?
Haley Gentry
Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law & Policy, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
This Watershed Note showcases the Law of the Mississippi River, an online resource created by the Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law & Policy that provides a snapshot of how shared water resources are managed across the 10 states along the Mississippi River mainstem.
August 2026
The Iowa Watershed Approach: A Vision for Iowa
Larry J. Weber
IIHR – Hydroscience and Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
This Watershed Note highlights the Iowa Watershed Approach, a collaborative initiative that has secured more than $100 million to help Iowa communities reduce flood risk through watershed-based planning.
July 2026
Impact of Water Loss on the Sustainability of the Lowermost Mississippi River System
Mead A. Allison and Barbara A. Kleiss
Department of River-Coastal Science and Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
This inaugural Watershed Note summarizes new research on increasing water loss in the lower Mississippi River and its impacts on navigation, sediment transport, and the long-term sustainability of the Mississippi River Delta.