Streams

As the environmental 'circulatory system', streams are one of the most vulnerable natural features of the rural landscape. Too often, stream banks, springs and small tributaries that provide summer-long flow of water, are cleared of vegetation. This severely degrades aquatic habitat by removing shade and thereby increasing water temperature. For example, the removal of plants and trees from stream banks has destroyed many trout habitats, since the salmonid family of fish species require cool water and overhanging vegetation for shelter. In addition, plant roots hold stream banks in place and their removal often causes erosion which can seriously impact the aquatic habitats downstream.