Your Effect on the Ocean
Table of contents for National Ocean Week
- Fun Facts About our Oceans
- Your Effect on the Ocean
Why worry about the oceans? Because everything we do is connected with the oceans.
How? No matter where you are the simple way of putting it is this: If something goes on the ground it stays there until it rains (non organic material, plastic to toxic chemicals). When it rains it gets washed away. So its gone right? Not so fast.
The rain washes it into a creek, or tributary. That creek or tributary connects with other creeks and tributaries until it reaches a river. This rain runoff (http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/runoff.html) is called a watershed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_runoff). Once the watershed reaches a river it then runs into an ocean. Simple as that and a nice little delivery system that mother nature has made us.
So what can you do. There are a few things that we can all do to help the environment and protect our water.
The best way to make a statement is with your pocket book. Spend your money on things that are environmentally friendly and they will continue to get cheaper and better. The way you spend your money is the best way to tell companies what you want. So buy environmentally friendly products. Look for the recycle symbol. Find things that have as few chemicals in it as possible.
Pick up after yourself. Most people do a good job at this but there are still some places that are very bad. I was surprised when I moved from Michigan to Tennessee how much more trash was on the sides of the roads, and in so called green ways. I can’t believe how people here just throw things on the side of the road. This is a sure way to increase pollution and reduce your living condition.
No matter where you are if you truly care you can do your part. Join a weekend collection where people go out and pick up trash. Adopt a highway with an organization . Subscribe to our feed. We will be updating frequently on how you can do better for the environment.
The point is that no matter where you are you can help the oceans by doing very simple things.
Visit The USGS site and the EPA for more information on water Runoff and Watersheds.
