Rivers Of Life (critical Watersheds For Protecting Freshwater Diversity)

Critical Watersheds for Protecting Freshwater Biodiversity A NatureServe ® Publication Rivers of Life Critical Watersheds for Protecting Freshwater Biodiversity Edited by Lawrence L. Master, Stephanie R. Flack and Bruce A. Stein With Contributions by James R. Aldrich, James Fries, Randy Haddock, George Ivey, Kyla J. Lawson, Andy Laurenzi, Kristi Lynett, Jennie Myers, Robert M. Riordan, Caryn Vaughn, Diane Vosick The Nature Conservancy, in cooperation with Natural Heritage Programs and the Association for Biodiversity Information A NatureServe ® Publication This report is based on material developed for the forthcoming book Precious Heritage: The Status of Biodiversity in the United States, a joint project of The Nature Conservancy and the Association for Biodiversity Information. Citation: Master, Lawrence L., Stephanie R. Flack and Bruce A. Stein, eds. 1998. Rivers of Life: Critical Watersheds for Protecting Freshwater Biodiversity. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, Virginia. ISBN: 1-886765-09-X This publication is available on The Nature Conservancy’s Web site at http://www.tnc.org/science/. Copyright 1998 The Nature Conservancy This publication is a product of NatureServe®, which is made possible by Canon U.S.A.’s Clean Earth Campaign. The NatureServe® program is designed to promote biodiversity conservation by raising public awareness and advancing scientific knowledge. NATURESERVE: ® Science for Conservation Program Sponsor Table of Contents Summary .......................................................................................... 1 A Global Center of Freshwater Biodiversity: The United States ................. 3 Fresh Waters Run Rich ..................................................................................... 4 Imperiled Assets: Freshwater Species at Risk ......................................... 6 Where Is the Problem? ...................................................................................... 8 State of the States .............................................................................................. 8 A Regional Perspective ....................................................................................... 9 On Salmon and Subspecies .............................................................................. 10 Threats to Freshwater Species and Systems ...................................................... 12 Valuing Our Freshwaters ................................................................................. 14 Challenges of Aquatic Conservation ................................................................. 16 Hope for the Future . ....................................................................................... 16 Critical Watersheds for Conservation ................................................. 18 Setting Conservation Priorities . ....................................................................... 18 Hot Spots for Freshwater Species At Risk ......................................................... 18 An Aquatic Portfolio: Critical Watersheds for Conservation ............................. 21 Rivers of Life: Working to Protect Freshwater Hotspots .......................... 24 Clinch River, Virginia and Tennessee ................................................................ 25 Green River, Kentucky ..................................................................................... 28 Cahaba River, Alabama .................................................................................... 30 Conasauga River, Tennessee and Georgia ......................................................... 32 Altamaha River, Georgia ................................................................................... 34 Kiamichi River, Oklahoma .......................