River Ecosystems What are River Ecosystems? Tennessee not only has the greatest Rare and Unique Plants and Animals Rivers are more than just the water diversity of freshwater fish species in Generally disregarded and unknown, flowing between their banks. The the country, but it also supports an non-game freshwater aquatic species health of the land surrounding rivers abundance of crayfish, mollusks, and are part of the web of life that directly affects the water quality and some aquatic insects. There are over supports the game species we enjoy the life that exists in and around 300 fish species in Tennessee, fishing for and eating and the wildlife them. Tennessee's rivers are home to 71 crayfish, 129freshwater mussels, we enjoy watching. Non-game fish a rich and diverse natural heritage and 96 freshwater snails. In fact, the species represent an important food and support a wealth of cultural Ohio River basin, which encompasses source for fishes, birds, and history, with important archaeological most of Tennessee, contains the mammals. Freshwater mussels are and historical sites. There are more world's richest diversity of freshwater filter feeders, acting like miniature than 15,000miles of tremendously mussels. The Nature Conservancy, in water purifiers. They capture and diverse rivers that flow across their report entitled Rivers of Life, remove large quantities of tiny algae the state. found that the center for aquatic and plankton that most other aquatic biodiversity is largely concentrated in animals cannot eat. They, in turn, Why are River Ecosystems the Tennessee, Cumberland, Ohio, become food for river otters, Important? and Mobile River basins, ofwhich muskrats, fishes, and other wildlife An extraordinary variety of aquatic sizeable portions of each flow through species. Crayfish are the scavengers creatures, largely unseen and Tennessee (Figure 1). They identified of the underwater world, feeding on unfamiliar to most people, is hidden numerous Tennessee River dead and decaying animals and beneath the shimmering surface of watersheds that are treasure-troves plants. They recycle decaying Tennessee's rivers. Though many of biologicaldiversity in critical need material into food for themselves and people are devoted to the beauty and of protection. In addition, they then become food for larger animals. recreational values of Etreams, creeks, identified the Clinch River, in Abundant and diverse aquatic insect and rivers, few of us know that northeastern Tennessee and populations often indicate that Tennessee's stream life is exceptional southwestern Virginia, as the most thriving populations of sport fishes, on a global level, even when compared biologically diverse river in the birds, and mammals are also present. with the Tropics. This remarkable United States. In fact, the Clinch and freshwater diversity should be a great Powell Rivers are home to the most Freshwater mussels, non-game source of pride for Tennesseans. endemic federally listed species of fishes, and aquatic insects are freshwater mussels remaining in sensitive to environmental and the world. chemical changes in our rivers and are waterways. Rivers also provide a can absorb some stresses but not on a excellent indicators of water quality. highway to transport our goods and continuing and increasing basis. Where there is a high diversity of generate electricity. Finally, common What we gain in the short term from aquatic species, there is also clean species of freshwater mussels from altering rivers to serve our needs may water for wildlife and people. Where the Tennessee, Cumberland, and Ohio come at the long-term expense of diversity and numbers of aquatic Rivers are at the center of a multi- river health and aquatic life. species has declined, there is generally million-dollar freshwater cultured trouble in the river and, thus, trouble pearl industry. Freshwater mussel Overall, species that depend on clean for the wildlife and people that use shells are used as the nucleus for water are in trouble. In fact, of all the the river. cultured pearls. animal groups in the United States, mollusks, non-game fishes, crayfish, Rivers also have significant, but often Threats to River Ecosystems and amphibians, are the most overlooked, economic values. Although Native Americans used imperiled. This far exceeds the loss of Tennesseans consider rivers and their mussels for food and fashioned mussel birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects. surrounding landscapes among the shells for tools and adornments, they Tennessee has the second highest state's most scenic areas. In fact, the had little impact on the freshwater number of freshwater species (66) beauty of a river can greatly affect the aquatic life of Tennessee's rivers. considered to be threatened or appeal and value of the surrounding However, as European settlers endangered in the United States. land. We use rivers not only for their moved into the area, river ecosystems life supporting values, like drinking were dramatically altered, and the To understand why aquatic species water and crop irrigation, but also for diverse river life that once flourished are declining so sharply, we must step recreation. The 1996Survey of began to decline. River ecosystems back and look at the big picture the Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife are dynamic systems that include all landscape. When we refer to rivers Associated Recreation found that living plants and animals and their and the surrounding land they drain, Tennesseans and visitors spent interactions with the nonliving parts, we call it a watershed. The 475 million dollars on fishing and such as the soil, climate, minerals, and watershed is an easy concept to other recreational activities related to water. These systems are flexible and understand if we just remember that water flows downhill and empties enormous habitat loss and decline of into common points -rivers. Think species, and channelization has caused Establish and maintain of the rain flowing offyour roof, the loss of recreational opportunities. down your gutter, down the street Impoundments have also stream-side buffers of trees, drain, into a small creek, into a permanently flooded important shrubs, and gra.')ses.Several stream, and, finally, into a river. historical and ecological resources. federa~ state and private Now think of this same concept on a The loss of forested riverbanks has programs are available to much larger scale, including caused property loss from stream agricultural land, forests, parks, banks that have eroded into rivers assist landowners, both shopping malls, and communities, all and habitat loss from eroding soil that technically and financially, in the same drainage area and all has turned gravel riverbeds into mud with restoring and protecting draining into the same river. The beds. Eroding soil enters our rivers, area of land that collects this run-off suffocating aquatic life and hindering stream-side buffers and is the watershed, or natural drainage their reproduction. Moreover, more eroding riverbanks. basin. Because water runs downhill, pollutants go directly into the river Implement and maintain changes in water flow,temperature, because there is no buffer of trees and measures for controlling and chemistry can be passed grass to filter them out. The throughout the watershed, nonnative zebra mussel is invading erosion and storm water negatively impacting miles and miles our rivers, clogging water intake during and after land- of a river and gallons and gallons of pipes, and suffocating and out- clearing and disturbance water. Therefore, human activities competing native aquatic life for food activities. Be careful with the directly up slope or upstream may and space. affect stream life and water quality use and disposal of for the neighbors downstream. When rivers are polluted, everyone is fertilizers, pesticides, and affected. Pollution from a pipe or other chemicals. Remember, sediment from an eroding riverbank what you put on your land or What are the human activities that causes obvious problems for people are adversely affecting our rivers living downstream and for everyone dump down the drain may and river life? They are varied and else. This results in higher eventually end up in nearby come from many activities, like non- maintenance costs that water waters. Support loca~ state, point source pollution, which includes treatment plants charge for cleaning residential, construction, municipal, dirty, polluted water. Polluting a and national clean water and commercial storm-water run-off watershed is like trashing a legislation. Report illegal and agricultural run-off (containing neighborhood-it's unsightly dumping activities and sediment, pesticides, herbicides, and and costly! erosion problems. Recycle fertilizers); impoundments; as much as you can, deforestation of river banks; channel What is Being Done to Protect alterations; and the invasion of These Rare Places? eliminating the needfor new nonnative species. These threats Communities are banding together landfills. Get involved with a directly and indirectly affect our with public and private agencies to local water conservation natural and cultural heritage, and, protect and restore rivers in their ultimately, public health and our watershed. Working together, group and participate in a quality of life. communities are able to support and stream or river cleanup. make greater improvements on the Volunteer to monitor water Ten percent of Tennessee's rivers ground. Livestock owners are quality in local rivers