Backwaters and other floodplain waterbodies are rare within the Middle Mississippi River. The lack of these habitats likely influences water quality, nutrient processing, and communities of organisms. In early 2016 a major flood event breached two levees south of Cape Girardeau, MO resulting in the creation of two new backwaters. Water quality, metabolic rate, and fish community data were collected from the new backwaters as well as an isolated floodplain lake.