| In addition to carrying nutrients, water will also carry toxins and waste materials downstream. Water connects the forest, and anything that pollutes the water pollutes the forest. High alpine streams might not contain any fish, but hundreds of these small threads of water run downslope into larger creeks, which run into larger rivers. |
Waterdrops on a lupine leaf. Photo by Maya Walters.
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| Pollutants in any of these small streams find their way into the rivers where they collect and damage fish habitat. Effects from any disturbances along forest streams ultimately affect all habitats between their source and the ocean. |
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[riparian zones]
related topics
[pollution] [fish]
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