Reimagining large river management using the Resist–Accept–Direct (RAD) framework in the Upper Mississippi River

Ward, Nicole K.; Lynch, Abigail J.; Beever, Erik A.; Booker, Joshua; Bouska, Kristen L.; Embke, Holly; Houser, Jeffrey N.; Kocik, John F.; Kocik, Joshua; Lawrence, David J.; Lemon, Mary Grace; Limpinsel, Doug; Magee, Madeline R.; Maitland, Bryan M.; McKenna, Owen; Meier, Andrew; Morton, John M.; Muehlbauer, Jeffrey D.; Newman, Robert; Oliver, Devon C.; Rantala, Heidi M.; Sass, Greg G.; Shultz, Aaron; Thompson, Laura M.; Wilkening, Jennifer L.

doi:10.1186/s13717-023-00460-x

Ecological Processes

Table 2 Comparison of potential RAD decisions for decision-makers in the upper impounded reach vs unimpounded reach of the Mississippi River managing for increasingly variable and extreme river flows

From: Reimagining large river management using the Resist–Accept–Direct (RAD) framework in the Upper Mississippi River

RAD basin vision	Create sustained ecological integrity and economic uses
Potential RAD reach objective	Upper impounded reach: resist loss of habitat diversity	Unimpounded reach: direct change to floodplain connectivity
Example resist actions
Communication	Communicate relationship between increased flooding and floodplain habitats (Hein et al. 2023)	Share messaging about the economic impact of river commerce
Local policy	Reduce runoff and nutrient loading (Hein et al. 2023)	Support agriculture practices. Limit the amount of new impervious surface near tributaries
Physical modification	Increase bathymetric diversity (Baker et al. 2012). Higher-elevation forest rehabilitation	Reinforce and increase elevation of levees. Conserve/protect forested and riparian areas
Example accept actions
Communication	Outreach to generate recreation or consumption interest in species better suited for changing climate	Share stories of vulnerabilities in floodplain to build understanding and community
Local policy	Prohibit construction in the floodplain. Update master planning documents to prepare for more extreme flooding	Prohibit new building and unsustainable agriculture in the floodplain
Physical modification	Habitat projects designed for species more tolerant to highly variable flood regimes and warming conditions	Community-supported levee setbacks (TNC 2022). Volunteer permanent conservation easements (Morris 2020)
Example direct actions
Communication	Emphasize watershed-based hydrologic assessment, planning, and restoration	Promote novel recreation (e.g., favoring species adapted to future conditions)
Local policy	Master planning documents that prioritize flood and drought tolerant species (Hein et al. 2023)	Incentivize flood adapted agriculture. Insurance policies based on future climate projections (Hein et al. 2023)
Physical modification	Plant flood and drought tolerant species. Alter lateral connectivity (Giblin et al. 2023)	Plant flood, drought, and temperature tolerant species. Facilitate movement of warm tolerant beings/species upstream

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