Streams Provide Crucial Habitat for Fish and Wildlife
Rain dependent streams and streams that only flow for part of the year are unique and diverse habitats that can support thousands of species, including plants, fish, amphibians, birds and mammals. These streams are important as spawning and nursery habitats, seasonal feeding areas, refuge from predators and competitors, shelter from extreme weather and travel corridors.
Many stream species, including fish, snails, crayfish, insects and salamanders, are now in danger of extinction as a result of human actions. A few dozen species are already listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act; hundreds of others are rare enough to be considered for listing.
Streams that flow for only part of the year provide crucial habitat, food and water for plants and wildlife. They provide forage, cover, nesting and movement corridors for wildlife. In the arid West, vegetation and wildlife near these streams – which often have water flowing just below the surface even when the surface looks dry – is significantly higher than in the surrounding uplands.
Photo by Eric Vance, U.S. EPA. Original public domain image from Flickr