Just my experience, cottonwoods are dirty weak trees.
They can break in ice storms , drop limbs in the wind & make messy "cotton" that can pile up like snow.
They like water so they are prolly useful stabilizing stream banks, etc but they are not IMO, choice trees.
We had discussed planting some popples for quick shade knowing we would cut them down once the nicer trees got some legs under them but never did.
Some folks are pretty allergic to the cotton.
I'm no expert - just my experience.
