Stream and Watershed Ecology and Protection
Jay Kilian
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Annapolis, Maryland
Some Maryland streams are easily recognizable…
But, the vast majority of Maryland streams look like this…
Headwater streams
…can be ephemeral, intermittent, or perennial.
…comprise approximately 90% of all miles of flowing waters in MD
…are the life and blood of the Chesapeake Bay.
The importance of headwater streams can not be overstated…
Headwater streams:
• Supply food and nutrients to downstream regions
The importance of headwater streams can not be overstated…
Headwater streams:
• Supply food and nutrients to downstream regions
• Improve water quality in downstream areas
 Retain nutrients and other pollutants
 Reduce water treatment costs
 Reduce human health risks
The importance of headwater streams can not be overstated…
Headwater streams:
• Supply food and nutrients to downstream regions
• Improve water quality in downstream areas
• Support rich and varied communities of plants and animals
Despite the importance of streams to
the health of forests, wildlife, and humans,
freshwater ecosystems are some of the
most abused and damaged ecosystems
on the planet.
…we’ve loved (and neglected) them to death.
The health of a stream is determined by its watershed…
A Watershed is a region or area bounded peripherally by a
divide and draining ultimately to a particular watercourse or
body of water
Can you name the watershed you live in?
Poor land use practices (both past and present) in our
watersheds have had dramatic effects on the health of
Maryland streams…
A healthy stream will have:
Low
Woody Debris
Temperature
Organic Matter
Sedimentation
Habitat Complexity
Bank Erosion
Dissolved Oxygen
Pollutants
Species Richness
Storm flow
High
Invasive species
In general, poor land use practices in a watershed:
Decrease
Temperature
Woody debris
Sedimentation
Organic Matter
Bank Erosion
Habitat Complexity
Pollutants
Dissolved Oxygen
Storm flow
Base flow
Invasive species
Species Richness
Increase
Poor land use practices in Maryland watersheds have caused:
• approximately half of Maryland streams to be listed as Impaired
(http://www.mde.state.md.us/programs/Water/TMDL/Integrated303dReports)
Statewide Condition of Maryland Streams
22% Good
35% Fair
18% Very Poor
25% Poor
* Based on Combined Biotic Index values (MBSS 2007-2009)
Restoration of these streams will cost us hundreds of MILLIONS!
Poor land use practices in Maryland watersheds have caused:
• approximately half of Maryland streams to be listed as
impaired
• the loss of stream species
Maryland fish species that are presumed extirpated/extinct
Maryland darter
Bridle shiner
Maryland Darter
Longnose sucker
Redside dace
Bridle Shiner
Cheat minnow
Trout perch
(Once in 24 (18%) MD Watersheds)
Poor land use practices in Maryland watersheds have caused:
• approximately half of Maryland streams to be listed as
impaired
• the loss of stream species
• the decline of Chesapeake Bay
To save the Chesapeake Bay, we must save our headwater streams!
And to save our headwater streams, we must save our forests!
So, as a landowner, how can you protect Maryland streams?
1. Trees, Trees, Trees! Maintain and enhance streamside buffers
Trees, Trees, Trees! Maintain and enhance streamside buffers
Trees:
• provide the food base to streams
Trees, Trees, Trees! Maintain and enhance streamside buffers
Trees:
• provide the food base to streams
• maintain cool stream temperatures
Trees, Trees, Trees! Maintain and enhance streamside buffers
Trees:
• provide the food base to streams
• maintain cool stream temperatures
• create stream habitat
Trees, Trees, Trees! Maintain and enhance streamside buffers
Trees:
• provide the food base to streams
• maintain cool stream temperatures
• create instream habitat
• stabilize stream banks
This should be avoided!
We spend tens of MILLIONS on stream bank stabilization!
Trees, Trees, Trees! Maintain and enhance streamside buffers
Trees:
• provide the food base to streams
• maintain cool stream temperatures
• create instream habitat
• stabilize stream banks
• reduce run-off
Streamside buffers are nutrient and sediment filters!
Trees, Trees, Trees! Maintain and enhance streamside buffers
Golden Rule:
…just let it be!
So, as a landowner, how can you protect Maryland streams?
1. Trees, Trees, Trees! Maintain and enhance streamside buffers
2. Prevent sedimentation
Prevent sedimentation
Sediment is the “greatest single water pollutant in the nation’s waters.”
(USEPA)
Sediment results from...
Terrestrial sources
Instream sources
Prevent sedimentation
Sediment can lead to...
Sensitive
Species
Species
Richness
Nutrient
Retention
So, as a landowner, how can you protect Maryland streams?
1. Trees, Trees, Trees! Maintain and enhance streamside buffers
2. Prevent sedimentation
3. Avoid spraying pesticides/herbicides over open water
A pesticide aimed to control one target
species may also affect non-target species
Avoid spraying pesticides over open water
Even small amounts of chemicals can cause BIG problems
Endocrine Disruption
Intersex fishes have been found in the Potomac River and in many millponds on
Delmarva Peninsula
So, as a landowner, how can you protect Maryland streams?
1. Trees, Trees, Trees! Maintain and enhance streamside buffers
2. Prevent sedimentation
3. Avoid spraying pesticides/herbicides over open water
4. Prevent the introduction/proliferation of non-native plant
species
Prevent introduction/proliferation of invasive plants
• Reduce tree growth/ regeneration
• Alter stream food base
So, as a landowner, how can you protect Maryland streams?
1. Trees, Trees, Trees! Maintain and enhance streamside buffers
2. Prevent sedimentation
3. Avoid spraying pesticides/herbicides over open water
4. Prevent the introduction/proliferation of non-native plant
species
5. Always think “big picture” at the watershed scale
Healthy Forests = Healthy Streams
This is not a one way street!
Streams are important for terrestrial biodiversity!
Healthy Forests = Healthy Streams
Recent research has demonstrated the link between forest and stream ecosystems
by “breaking” the connection
Healthy Forests = Healthy Streams
Once the connection was severed, both forest and stream ecosystems declined…
Both ecosystems functioning together were healthier than each ecosystem
functioning alone…
Healthy Forests = Healthy Streams
Online Stream Resources
Maryland stream health website:
www.streamhealth.maryland.gov
Maryland Biological Stream Survey website:
www.dnr.state.md.us/streams/MBSS