Our natural world exists in community.  Even in the smallest ecosystem, plant and animal communities are interdependent and need each other for survival.  When habitat is altered or destroyed, the plants and animals associated with that habitat are forced to adapt, move to a new habitat, or die off. 

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In watersheds, plant and animal populations are intrinsically bound together.  Maintaining a well-functioning, healthy watershed is all about protecting and maintaining a balance between plant and animal communities.  Many problems within watersheds can be traced to the introduction of invasive species of plants and animals (species not native to our area).  These introduced species may have no natural checks to maintain balance in their populations, and can out-compete the native species.

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Another issue that local creeks suffer from is excessive algae growth, due to phosphorus- and nitrogen-rich runoff from lawns.  When the algae dies, the water’s oxygen is depleted in the decaying process, and this lack of oxygen causes many fish and water creatures to struggle and die, leaving a “dead zone” that no longer supports a healthy and balanced plant and animal community.

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Hazardous chemicals, sediment, and heat can all harm the plants and animals that make the creek their home.  Toxins and hazardous materials, such as heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and pesticides, are threats to the region's waters, along with thermal pollution that can elevate water temperatures and decrease dissolved oxygen. Sediment washed into the creek can blanket the creekbed with fine particles and destroy pebbly habitat for fish and other aquatic life, as well as block sunlight from reaching aquatic plants. 

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