Artificial levees in the United States are changing floodplain areas and connections between rivers and their surrounding land. By studying data on levees and floodplains, researchers found that levees not only reduce floodplain size but also shift where floodplains connect to rivers. Areas affected by levees are often used for farming, wetlands, forests, or development, with a large portion of floodplains being cultivated or built on. Overall, artificial levees are causing complex changes in how rivers and floodplains interact, sometimes leading to increased flooding in certain areas.