Previous human influences, including fragmentation and fire suppression, may have reduced the adaptive capacity of some tidal swamps. Increased flooding may increase pollution, runoff, and discharge from farm land and concentrated animal feed lots.

River flow and hydrology in the coastal plain have been altered by channelization, road networks, development, and a variety of land use changes, and these changes may inhibit the expansion of wetlands in response to climate changes. Increased flooding may increase pollution, runoff, and discharge from farm land and concentrated animal feed lots.