Final answer:
Streams significantly impact our lives by providing essential water supply, enabling transportation, and offering recreational opportunities. They are also central to hydroelectricity production and flood control. However, stream diversion and damming can cause environmental harm and are not directly linked to the formation of deserts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Streams impact people's lives in various ways. They are crucial for water supply, as they provide water for consumption, agriculture, and urban needs. Many communities rely on reservoirs behind dams on rivers for water storage, especially during periods of scarcity. Reservoirs are vital for hydroelectricity production, flood control, and recreation. However, streams also present challenges, such as evaporative losses, downstream erosion, and ecological impacts on fish migration and spawning due to damming.
The role of streams in transportation has historically been significant, with rivers serving as natural highways for navigation and trade. Aqueducts can also move water from wet regions to arid ones, although this can lead to controversy and environmental detriment as seen with Owens Lake and Mono Lake in California. Moreover, conservation is key in managing water resources effectively, reducing usage through efficient appliances and fixing leaks.
However, streams are not involved in the formation of deserts, so this option does not apply. Increased evaporation or water diversion can contribute to local arid conditions, but these are not the primary mechanisms by which deserts form.