(MUSIC)
JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN, HOST:
RIVERS ARE WHERE A LOT OF
CREATURES LIVE.
BUT MANY ARE IN TROUBLE
BECAUSE WE'RE LOSING THEIR
RIPARIAN HABITATS.
A RIPARIAN HABITAT IS THAT
WETTER STRETCH OF LAND ON THE
EDGE OF A RIVER OR LAKE.
WITHOUT RIPARIAN HABITATS,
MANY MIGRATING BIRDS WOULD
HAVE NO PLACE TO LAND
AND WITHOUT CLEAN WATER, FISH
AND AMPHIBIANS WILL HAVE NO
PLACE TO LIVE.
50 PERCENT OF THE SPECIES
LISTED AS THREATENED OR
ENDANGERED DEPEND UPON RIVERS
OR STREAMS FOR THEIR SURVIVAL.
THE U-S FISH AND WILDLIFE
SERVICE ESTIMATES THAT 70
PERCENT OF RIPARIAN HABITAT,
NATIONWIDE HAS BEEN LOST.
SO, WE ALL NEED TO DO OUR PART
FOR RIPARIAN HABITATS.
THAT MEANS PROTECTING STREAM
BANKS IN AREAS WHERE CATTLE
AND SHEEP GRAZE.
THAT MEANS CLEANING UP
POLLUTION IN WETLANDS
AND THAT MEANS PRESERVING THE
REMAINING HABITATS WE HAVE
LEFT.
WHEN WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE A
HEALTHY RIVER SYSTEM, WE'RE
DOING OUR PART TO MAKE SURE
THESE CREATURES HAVE A SAFE
HOME.
FOR MORE INFORMATION RIVERS,
CHECK OUT THE SCIENCE TREK
WEBSITE.
YOU'LL FIND IT AT SCIENCE TREK
DOT ORG