Wildlife Mississippi Urban Forestry

Growing Urban Forests in Mississippi and Arkansas

Trees Help Hold Water & Prevent Flooding

Trees don’t just give us shade and clean air—they also protect our neighborhoods from floods and keep our water clean.

Trees Slow Down Rain

When it rains, the drops hit the leaves on each tree before it hits the ground. This slows down the raindrops and reduces the power of heavy storms. Here’s what that means:

  • Less rain hits the soil all at once
  • Water runoff slows down
  • More water has time to soak into the ground

That’s great news for our groundwater supplies, which help feed wells, lakes, and rivers.

Big Impact from Big Trees

Trees make a huge difference, especially when there are lots of them:

  • 100 mature trees can catch about 100,000 gallons of rainfall each year.
  • Every 5% increase in tree cover reduces stormwater runoff by around 2%.

That’s a big help in cities, where heavy rain can flood streets and overload drainage systems.

100 mature trees can catch about 100,000 gallons of rainfall each year. Every 5% increase in tree cover reduces stormwater runoff by around 2%
tree roots

Roots and Leaves Do More Than You Think

  • Tree roots absorb nutrients that can pollute water, like nitrogen and phosphorus.
  • Fallen leaves break down into a soft layer of organic matter that helps water soak into the ground, not run off.
  • All of this reduces soil erosion and helps prevent flooding and stream pollution.
Park full of trees

The Bottom Line

Trees are like nature’s plumbing system. They help control water, prevent erosion, and keep our towns and cities safer when storms hit. The more trees we have, the better our water quality and the less flooding we see on our streets.