Day #15: Caring for Our Watersheds

1

Welcome to day #15 of the Billion Acts Earth Day Countdown! You can visit the main campaign page here! Make sure to check-in for new acts each week leading up to Earth Day. Join us today by adding an act to the campaign page itself showing how you participated in this day's theme. You can also simply let us know how you joined in on this act by clicking on "Make an Impact" on the right side of the screen.

Wherever you stand on Earth, you are within a watershed. A watershed (also known as a drainage basin) describes an area of land where all of the precipitation drains downslope into an “outlet”. On a small-scale, a watershed can focus on one river, lake, bay, or other body of water. Other watersheds are much larger in scale, such as the Great Lakes Watershed in North America. We all live within smaller watersheds that are themselves part of even larger ones.

The health of watersheds is directly related to the water quality in your environment. Water is known as a “universal solvent” and can dissolve more substances than any other known liquid on Earth. This makes our rivers, lakes, and streams especially vulnerable to pollutants. An unhealthy watershed is a danger for humans and wildlife alike.

Education: Learn more about watersheds and water pollution with these links!

• Mapping the World’s Watersheds

• The Interactive Watershed Challenge

• The World’s Watersheds in Gorgeous Detail

• Rivers and Lakes are the Most Degraded Ecosystems in the World - We Can Save Them

Inspiration:

• 2020 Billion Acts Finalist the Water Youth Network collects knowledge on water conservation and organizes on-the-ground projects worldwide. Explore their work at wateryouthnetwork.org

Action:

• Find your watershed

• Create a plan that will reduce your water footprint each day (i.e. shorter showers, fixing leaks, running the dishwasher only when full)

• Check the Label of Your Household Items. Look for cleaning products that are non-toxic and environmentally sustainable! Write down the names of any products that are not environmentally safe as a reminder.

• Join or plan a river clean-up

• Volunteer with an organization near you that is working to monitor water pollution

• Household chemicals and bring them to a hazardous waste center

• Plant native species that require little watering, fertilizers or pesticides

• Drive less around town to reduce the many pollutants that come from car exhaust and leaks