A new report by CSP, developed to inform state and federal policy makers, identifies some of the most ecologically important rivers in Oregon.
A new report by CSP, developed to inform state and federal policy makers, identifies some of the most ecologically important rivers in Oregon. Among the key results, we found that 4,383 river miles scored in the top third statewide for all of the indicators of ecological significance we examined, including at-risk aquatic species diversity, rarity-weighted species richness, and ecosystem type rarity. Indeed, rivers are crucial to supporting biodiversity and providing ecosystem services such as clean drinking water and recreation opportunities, offering far more value to people, wildlife, and ecosystems than might be expected given their small global footprint. Yet rivers are under increasing threat as the climate warms and our populations grow, placing greater stress and demand on freshwater resources. Despite their life-giving importance, few rivers and streams are currently protected from human impacts to their integrity and flow. We have the opportunity now to protect more of these waterways in the United States through a variety of mechanisms.
Public News Service article and interview
