Floodplain Connectivity, and Ecological Blessing or a Curse

River floodplains are an example of a highly specialized inland system, known for high productivity and recruitment. Many studies have demonstrated the importance of the synergistic relationship between large rivers and adjacent floodplains. The majority of large rivers have isolated floodplains through expansive engineering. Using standardized fisheries sampling data collected between 1993-2015, we established that peaks in river height were positively related to juvenile abundance. Despite this, overall juvenile proportions decline after 2002. This decline coincides with the establishment of Asian Carp. Furthermore, extreme river levels and floodplain inundation during spring 2015 provided an opportunity to compare data collected during the historic flood of 1993. Overall we observed an overwhelming decrease in species diversity and composition in 2015 relative to 1993. The diverse community in 1993 has become homogenous (i.e., 2015) with Asian Carp dominating catches (>90%). Given apparent advantages of floodplain inundation, restoration efforts; particularly for a system dominated by invasive species, should consider the expansive nature and potential consequences of inundation for Asian carp population growth.