April 16, 2024

The Mississippi River communities, known as the Quad Cities of Iowa and Illinois, are susceptible to flooding from various sources, including the Mississippi River, Illinois’ Rock River, and urban runoff. As climate change intensifies, extreme weather events such as severe flooding, wildfires, droughts, and extreme heat are expected to increasingly affect the region’s quality of life. An assessment conducted by the NWF,  PRN and DPI utilized climate models to evaluate potential outcomes under different emissions scenarios. The objective is to provide Quad Cities residents with insights into potential climate change impacts and to propose strategies for fostering a healthier and more resilient future. Climate change will affect all residents of the Quad Cities, with vulnerable populations—such as those with lower socioeconomic status, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), renters, individuals experiencing homelessness, immigrants, and people with disabilities—being more likely to face significant health risks from heat and substantial property damage from flooding. Input from various Quad Cities stakeholders was instrumental in shaping the assessment, ensuring that the proposed nature-based solutions were aligned with community concerns and knowledge. These findings serve as a foundation for resilience discussions within the Quad Cities.

For more details, please visit the full report here