Aquatic Connectivity

What are the ozarks?

The Interior Highlands is a critical focal geography for delivering freshwater outcomes that address biodiversity loss within the Great Plains Division.

 

The Interior Highlands is a critical focal geography for delivering freshwater outcomes that addressbiodiversity loss within the Great Plains Division. The Interior Highlands is a hotspot of global biological diversity, with more than 200 species found nowhere else in the world. In addition to being a critically important flyway and breeding grounds for neotropical and waterbird migration, the Interior Highlands contain the largest expanse of open woodland glade communities in North America. Abundant groundwater and extensive karst geologic features give rise to the three largest single-conduit springs in the United States and support a host of cave fauna, many of which remain undescribed by science. Interior Highland rivers and streams provide habitat for a rich diversity of aquatic species, including at least 190 native fish species, representing 51 percent of the native freshwater fishes of the entire Mississippi River Basin and 18 percent of all native freshwater fishes of North America. The Interior Highlands have a high level of endemicity: 23 fish species, 11 freshwater mussels, and 37 endemic crayfish. Headwater streams, springs and rivers of the Interior Highlands also harbor a richness of aquatic insect species representing around 15 percent of all stoneflies and 17 percent of all caddisflies found in North America. Threats to this landscape include climate change, wetland drainage, dam and diversion construction, and habitat degradation and fragmentation from urbanization, development and agricultural land conversion. TNC staff in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma will address these threats though a common and collective set of goals and conservation objectives.

Ecological Impact

Ecological Impact
Mussels

Amy Maynard takes us beneath the surface of the Illinois River in the Oklahoma Ozarks to explore the hidden world of freshwater mussels—one of the most endangered groups of animals in North America—and how fragmented waterways threaten their survival.

Hydrology

Marc Owen and his team at Missouri State University show how low-water crossings can alter a stream's hydrology, reshaping rivers, fragmenting habitat, and creating challenges for both wildlife and the communities that depend on these roads.

The Darter Fish

Craig Fuller and Chris Rice introduce us to the darter, a small fish whose movements reveal the hidden impacts of stream fragmentation. Often considered a symbol of stream connectivity, darters depend on connected waterways to survive and thrive.

Impacts on the Community

Community
Human Connectivity - Flash Floods
Human Connectivity - Flash Floods

Poor bridge design doesn't just impact wildlife. It can isolate rural communities, disrupt school bus routes, delay emergency responders, and sever critical connections to the outside world.

The Economics of Bad Bridge Design

Poorly designed crossings are often built to save money upfront. But the data tell a different story: what appears cheaper in the short term frequently becomes more expensive over time through maintenance, repairs, and eventual replacement.

The Solution - Scalibility

We've identified a practical solution, and it starts with Danny Brown, a bridge and road supervisor with more than 40 years of experience. Working alongside Great River Engineering, Danny helped develop a crossing design that improves stream connectivity, reduces flooding, and remains financially viable for rural counties. Together, they've created a scalable, turnkey solution that could be implemented across the region and potentially throughout the country.