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<br />not exceed contaminant standards. A loss of instream flows to <br />dilute the effluent can result in more stringent treatment <br />requirements on the city or industry prior to discharging its <br />effluent. <br /> <br />C. ROLE IN THE ENVIRONMENT <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The benefits of instream flows to the natural environment <br />are readily apparent in the West. Streamflows are needed to <br />maintain endangered fish species and the aquatic environment as a <br />whole. Free-flowing waters are crucial to terrestrial species as <br />well. Natural rivers and streams create ribbons of habitat <br />throughout the arid West that are essential to the life cycles of <br />various species as well as to the ecosystem as a whole. This <br />benefit translates into additional economic value where hunting, <br />bird watching, and other land-based activities add to local . <br /> <br />revenues. <br /> <br />A less obvious, but very important function played in the <br />natural environment by instream flows involves maintaining the <br />physical capacity of stream beds and river channels to carry <br />runoff. Channel capacities often depend on instream flows to <br />transport sediment that would otherwise clog the channel and <br />create a number of problems. When natural flows are depleted, <br />the resulting sediment build-up can cause flooding, erosion, <br />meandering of the streambed, and a reduction in the overall <br />capacity to carry runoff. In addition, in areas where reservoirs <br />or major diversions prevent periodic high spring runoff that <br />historically scoured the streambed, new vegetation growth can <br /> <br />-6- <br /> <br />. <br />