By saving the species that live in our waters, we actually save ourselves the human health costs of polluted water. The Conservancy is actively working with its partners to protect 85 of these 327 key watersheds, but more must be done. Other watersheds may require protection to conserve individual runs of salmon and species not covered in this study. Rivers of Life reveals that U.S. rivers and lakes rival the tropics in their diversity of fishes and other stream life. According to the report, these animals are in danger throughout the U.S., but the largest numbers of imperiled species are in the U.S. Southeast and West.
Western states have the highest proportion of extinct, imperiled and vulnerable fishes.
Freshwater species reflect environmental quality.