The Environmental Protection Agency's decision to weaken protections under the Clean Water Act is disappointing, but we remain as committed as ever to improving water quality and watershed health—and you can help!
It's National Estuaries Week! In celebration of these special places, we're sharing some steps you can take at home to protect estuaries near you:
Have a garden at home? Take the time to investigate natural pest management options. Pesticides directly threaten many important species of fishes, birds, butterflies and bees—and in accumulation, they can also hurt people.
Native plants are especially adapted to thrive in local climates and require little maintenance. They help promote soil health, filter water and fight erosion, all while providing habitat and food for local wildlife!
If you have a private septic system, it should be pumped every three years! This helps prevent overflow and contamination of water on your property—and the watershed it drains to!
Expand your actions outside of your personal property and investigate your entire watershed! This knowledge can help you create informed opinions about big-impact events like residential or commercial development in your town. If you want to take it a step further, you can use this knowledge to help your town develop water management and development practices that protect your community's water.
Despite the many challenges our estuaries and freshwater habitats face, there's so much we can do to maintain and improve these natural treasures!
So what are you waiting for? Let's go make an impact!
