Multispecies and Watershed Approaches to Freshwater Fish Conservation

Preface: Multispecies and Watershed Approaches to Conservation—Thinking and Acting Holistically

doi: https://doi.org/10.47886/9781934874578.fmatter

Freshwater systems in the United States have been altered dramatically, resulting in degradation of fish habitats and declines in native freshwater fishes. Groundwater wells used for agricultural irrigation and other purposes have depleted aquifer resources, leading to reductions in spring flows and stream base flows. Dams have severely fragmented the connectivity of freshwater systems and have altered natural flow regimes. Urbanization, climate change, water quality degradation, and nonindigenous species add to the list and threaten watershed function, fish habitat quality, and freshwater fish diversity.