"I really believe that education and understanding of the next generation will play a very
important role in terms of their own efforts and understanding of the importance of clean rivers and streams."
Tom Arsuffi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biology
Director of the Aquatic Station
Southwest Texas State University
Executive Summary:
Dr. Arsuffi, an expert on aquatic life and ecosystems, discussed the value of our waterways and wetlands, the forces that threaten them, and protecting the species that inhabit them. Here are some highlights:
- Last year the Earth's human population reached 6 trillion people. An average American consumes more than 100 times the resources of an Ethiopian. Very soon, water is going to be a limiting resource. We're starting to see evidence right now of upcoming water wars between the states. California is out of water. East Texas has a lot of water; West Texas has very little. How do you pay for it?
- River and stream pollution is very serious. Almost 40% of U.S. rivers and streams are too polluted for fishing or swimming, and 30% of North American freshwater fish are threatened, endangered or of special concern.
- Wetlands are often integrated with river and stream systems. We've lost 50% of U.S. wetlands in the last 200 years. Despite this, wetlands provide benefits valued at $4 trillion annually.
- To learn about the endangered species, go to http://www.fws.gov/ , the U.S. Fish and Wildlife's Web page. Each endangered species has a recovery plan that tells about preventing its threats. Lots of people don't understand that from a scientific, moral and ethical perspective, an endangered bug or plant is every bit as valuable as an eagle, bear or other higher-profile species on the endangered species list.
- The San Marcos River is the second-largest springs system west of the Mississippi. The water comes out at a constant 21 degrees Centigrade so there are a wide variety of aquatic plants and insects. It's got six Federally-listed endangered species, a giant freshwater prawn that's as big as a lobster and freshwater eels that travel all the way from the Sargasso Sea (which is where Bermuda is).
- There are two broad categories of pollution that affect rivers and streams. The first, which is easier to clean up, point source pollution, occurs when there is a single discharge point of water entering a river or stream, like a sewage plant. The second, non-point source solution, occurs when the pollution enters the stream from either side of the river or its entire length, as in for example, agricultural runoff from pesticide use.
- Get involved volunteering with a local water quality monitoring group. In Texas, the statewide organization is TexasWatch, www.texaswatch.geo.swt.edu. Or go to the American Rivers homepage, www.amrivers.org.
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