Network of rivers could sustain US freshwater life
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Researchers identified a network of rivers and streams covering 35% of the lower 48 United States that could sustain freshwater biodiversity, despite increasing habitat loss and climate change.
Mark Anderson of The Nature Conservancy led a team that mapped these freshwater networks, evaluating them for connectivity, condition, water availability, and natural flow. They combined this data with local surveys of freshwater species to assess resilience.
Over the last century, the health of US waterways has declined due to the construction of over 150,000 dams and alterations to land use and groundwater. These changes have fragmented river systems and affected water flow, contributing to the rapid decline of many freshwater species. The new analysis revealed that while 33% of rivers and streams in the contiguous US are above average for resilience, only 6% are currently both protected and resilient.
The most resilient networks are located along the Pacific Coast, in the Northern Rocky Mountains, the Great Lakes region of Wisconsin and Minnesota, northern Maine, and along the southeastern US and Gulf of Mexico. Conservation groups are already using the study’s findings to guide restoration efforts, including identifying dams for removal and prioritizing land protection in key watershed areas.
The researchers noted the maps do not currently account for human needs, but that incorporating this data could further refine conservation strategies.
