Scratch

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If you have a scratch account please remix all of these.

Interview at Mashomack Preserve

Here's what happened in the interview. At the end of the trip I interviewed Tom Damiani, who is the visitor center coordinator at the preserve. He’s been working there for 21 years. Tom feels that it’s important to keep the waterways clean because lots of living creatures would die if the water became polluted and those species would become extinct. Already the preserve has lost some species. To help stop water pollution they have yearly water cleanups. Tom believes that the preserve is a special place because it doesn't have water pollution like many other places. Tom says not to waste to much water and being aware of water pollution is very important. Another piece of advice Tom gave is "If it's yellow let it mellow. If  it's brown flush it down." A mayor said this during a water shortage. The quote means if you pee then you don't have to flush it but if it's the other stuff then flush it. Tom believes that if everyone works together, small acts can make a change. Tom says that he's saved water so much that it's become a habit. If you try cleaning water can become easy for you too. If you want to donate to Mashomack Preserve their address is Mashomack Preserve/PO box 850/Shelter Island, NY 11964-0850.

Mashomack Preserve

Today I went to the Mashomack Preserve with my family. It is a preserve with hiking trails. Some of the preserve was about preserving water. I took lots of photos and 2 videos for the blog.

First we entered and saw the welcome sign.

Then we went went on a bridge over a Kettle Pond.Kettle ponds are made when some ice fell off a glacier a long time ago and made a hole that later became a pond. Lots of animals live in the Kettle Pond so it is important to keep around.

Not only is there animals living in the pond but there are lots of trees and bushes.

We got to get to know some of the animals and plants. Me with an inch worm.

Leaf with some sort of egg on them, maybe butterfly?

On the trail they told a story called "Yucky Worms" by Vivian French. This is one line of the poem about how worms help with water.

Hiking trails

Plants to prevent runoff

A clean lake

Some algae in a lake (not good).

Some grass nearby the lake to soak up water.

A quote of Benjamin Franklin's.

Vocabulary words

We then went back to the preserve house where we could read about more info. Here it talks about this water cleanup they had.

Info about cleanup

What they cleaned up. A rubber chicken?

 The threats of nature. 4 out of 6 were threats to our waterways.

Animated pictures of fish and birds.

Next blogpost I'm going to include an interview I did with 1 of the staff since there isn't much room left on this one.

Microbeads

In soaps, or most other cleaning products there are microscopic plastic beads called microbeads. Microbeads are in your face cream to smooth your skin, but when you wash the beads, they go to the fish.The beads are so small that they get digested by a fish. As the food chain goes on whatever eats the microbead fish will then become polluted. We might be the ones who end up eating the microbeads if we're not careful. To know some of the products not to use go to http://beatthemicrobead.org/images/pdf/RED%20UNITED%20STATES.pdf

Motor Boats

Many people have been on boats before, usually people ride boats with motors. Motor boats are bad for water. Motor boats depend on oil, so when a motor boat drives across a river the oil from the boat goes in to our waterways. So if you ever go on a boat ride or get a boat, don't choose a motor boat. This was inspired by a field trip to the barge in redhook.

"Almost 70 percent of U.S. ag exports travel the upper Mississippi River and the Illinois waterway system." - Jerry Costello

Bad Algae

Algae is everywhere in water. Algae’s not bad until it covers the water’s surface. When algae covers the water’s surface fish start dying because the algae steals all of the fishes oxygen. Not only do innocent fish die but the water gets polluted with corpses. If you see algae in our waterways contact algae control.

Helping

Do everything you know can help stop water pollution. Our waterways depend on us now. We also depend on our waterways for lots of things too. For example, artistic inspiration, travel. One day we might even depend on our waterways for water and food. If our waterways thrive so do we. To thrive all you have to do is help our waterways.