The report by the National Wildlife Federation, Prairie Rivers Network and the Discover Partners Institute looked at climate data and existing infrastructure to make predictions through the end of the 21st century.
One takeaway was that high floods could breach existing levees in downstream areas, plus infrastructure like the I-74 bridge. And that Davenport and Bettendorf will probably experience more flooding, partly due to runoff from dense development.
Another is that the Quad Cities could have more hot summer days. Right now, temperatures in the area reach over 95 degrees for three days a year on average. In the future, that could be closer to two months.
Arsum Pathak is senior adaption specialist for the National Wildlife Federation.
"For our wildlife and biodiversity who need certain temperature ranges to function and survive, it poses, of course, a huge threat to the existence and the functioning of these ecosystems and biodiversity," she said. "But also it adds stress to human health."
The report says some ways to make the Quad Cities more resilient to climate change include protecting the area's trees and wetlands.
"The risks can change based on the paths we take today," Pathak said. "So the actions and policies that we enact today can change the future greenhouse gas emissions and the flooding scenarios."
"These can be as simple as planting trees or protecting the riparian buffers, it could also be large scale interventions such as restoring floodplains and bottomland forests."
