Small streams are key providers of ecosystem services including water quantity and quality, biodiversity, and cultural values. Small streams (low order) are the predominant interface between terrestrial and aquatic habitat. Given the immense pressures these streams face globally, and the hesitation in the US to regulate them to achieve environmental protection goals, I review progress in establishing the importance of these streams and try to distill simple talking points that can be used to emphasize how essential it is to protect and research small streams. 1) Most stream length and bottom surface area is made up of low-order streams. 2) Adventitious streams are most commonly low order streams, even those adventitious to rivers. 3) Most days of flow in most streams are driven by groundwater inputs and small streams are an essential interface with groundwater. 4) Low order streams and their riparian zones control downstream pollution, even when low order streams are intermittent. 5) Low order streams mediate water yield, and this can be even more important in areas with ephemeral and intermittent channels. 6) Small streams and their riparian zones are key support areas for terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity. and 7) pristine small streams are culturally valuable.