Connectivity patterns between floodplain lakes and neighboring streams in the historical floodplain of the Lower Mississippi River

• Quantified hydrologic connectivity for 1350 floodplain lakes within the historical floodplain of the Lower Mississippi River. • Identified a signature recurring pattern of connection for each lake, with specific months of connectivity followed by periods of disconnection, likely influenced by the interaction between lake characteristics and precipitation seasonality. • Provided a hydrologic connectivity analysis that can enhance floodplain management, offering frameworks for restoring connectivity and ecological integrity, and informing control measures for the spread of invasive species in agricultural floodplains. Hydrologic connectivity, the network of water pathways linking aquatic habitats, is vital for the exchange of organisms and abiotic materials between rivers and adjacent waterbodies. This study quantified hydrologic connectivity for 1,283 lakes in the Lower Mississippi River floodplain using satellite imagery, streamgauge data, and geospatial information. We aimed to assess connection frequency patterns between lakes and streams. Eight metrics describing temporal aspects of hydrologic connectivity were estimated, identifying trends by lake features and by stream size. Each lake exhibited a distinct pattern of connection, with specific months of connectivity followed by disconnection, likely influenced by lake characteristics and seasonal precipitation. Larger lakes showed increased connectivity, likely due to their surface area and volume, while smaller lakes were more prone to isolation, especially during dry periods. Lakes connected to large streams exhibited more prolonged and recurring connections, with less seasonal variation. In contrast, lakes near agricultural areas experienced reduced connectivity. However, local factors such as levees and artificial channels often disrupted these general trends. This hydrologic connectivity analysis can provide insight to support floodplain management, facilitate development of frameworks that restore connectivity, promote preservation of ecological integrity, and support management of invasive species spread in agricultural floodplains.