The overall health of a river is reflected in the health of its biota, such as (1) fish, (2) invertebrates (e.g., insects, worms, and clams), and (3) aquatic plants. The biota are affected by (4) water quality and (5) sedimentation, which are often influenced by surrounding (6) land use and land cover. All are linked.

The Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP) for the Upper Mississippi River System is the Nation’s first large‑-scale effort to determine the status and trends of these natural components of a large river.

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