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W E B <br />ATER AS COSYSTEM ASE <br /> <br />Melinda Kassen <br />Director, Western Water Project <br /> <br />st <br />31 Gunnison Water Workshop <br />July 25, 2006 <br /> <br /> <br />I appreciate the opportunity to address the Gunnison Water Workshop regarding “the <br />emerging role and value of water as an essential founda tion” of the earth’s ecosystems. <br /> <br />1. What is the ecological value of water? <br /> <br />Poets and philosophers wax eloquent regarding water as life, rivers as the arteries of a <br />landsc ape. In addition to the scientific belief that life on earth first emerged from th e <br />water, we know that no living creat ure can survive without water. A few more practical <br />examples of the importa nce of water to ecosystems are: <br /> <br />a. Species’ water dependency . Many species, including terrestr ial ones, are water <br />dependent. As a result of hyd rologic modifications and other alterations to the natural <br />environment, a much larger number of water dependent species are currently at risk <br />(threatened, endangered, sensitive) <br /> <br />Threatened Share of US Species Ecological Communities <br /> Groups -- % extin ct, impaired by E coregion <br /> or vulnerable ( higher densities are darker ) <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />