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Runoff and Flood Risk Increase

More intense rainfall events and regional increases in precipitation linked to climate change are increasing the risk of extreme runoff and flooding in some locations. Precipitation is a major driver for river discharge trends and for changes across annual and decadal time scales. 

Streamflow levels are increasing alongside the increased frequency of heavy precipitation events across most of the US. In the largest rivers, including the Ohio, Missouri, and Mississippi, the number of days with high stream flow (the top 25 percent of readings) has risen over the past 30 years (1987-2016).[1]

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