Science News · Science

New Map Identifies U.S. Rivers Most in Need of Protection

A recent study has created the most comprehensive map to date of river and stream health in the contiguous United States, identifying waterways that are most capable of supporting aquatic life and highlighting areas where conservation efforts would be most effective.

Only 6 percent of U.S. rivers are both healthy and protected, but many more could be restored. A new map highlights where conservation efforts would be most effective as the climate warms.

The four-year assessment mapped one-third of the nation's stream distances, rating watersheds on connectivity, floodplain/water quality, water availability, and flow alteration, alongside biodiversity data.

Resilient rivers, scoring well on all criteria, are mainly along the Pacific Coast, northern Rockies, and Southeast. Vulnerable rivers are in Southwest deserts, Great Plains, and southern New England.

Rivers are categorized as 'resilient' or 'restorable' (hindered by solvable issues like dams or runoff). Together, they form a 'freshwater resilient and connected network' vital for aquatic life.

Dams fragment rivers into over 9,000 sections. The map shows where reconnecting rivers, like the Klamath or Delaware, would offer the greatest ecological benefits.

Unlike land, river health doesn't guarantee protection. Thirteen percent of stream distances are healthy but unprotected, risking degradation from upstream activities.

River protection is challenging due to upstream influences. Safeguarding a river requires considering conditions across vast drainage areas, not just the waterway itself.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.