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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.

Use Water Bottles to Water Plants

Many people use water bottles. At the end of the day there might be some water left in your water bottle. You might just pour the leftover water into the sink. Instead of pouring the water out you should water plants with it. This helps with not wasting water. So at the end of the day if you have water in your water bottle, use the water to water your plants.

Adopt an Oyster

We all know everyone's dream pet is an oyster reef, or a group of oysters. Who wouldn't want one? If you got an oyster it would clean lots of water. In fact one of the reasons that the Hudson River is dirty is because most of the oysters were killed. You shouldn't adopt an oyster for a pet (because everyone knows cats are the best) however you should promote oyster reproduction by not eating them too much.

Watering Your Garden

If you made that garden I talked about in "Make a Garden" great job. Now you have to take care of your garden. You'll have to water your garden. Some people tend to over water their garden. Make sure you don't do this. If you give your garden too much water it won't absorb all the water. The water your garden doesn't soak up will find it's way to our waterways. As the water goes to our waterways it picks up dust particles. When the water finally reaches one of the waterways it will pollute the waterway with the dirt it picked up. If you have a garden make sure you don't give it to much water. If you don't have a garden get one.

Water that gets poured in the garden runs down the hill.

Don't Litter!

Everyday you have to throw out at least one piece of trash. Some people throw the trash in to the trash can, others will litter. This litter will pile up filling our waterways with plastic bottles and potato chip bags. If you litter yourself or know anyone who litters stop yourself or them from littering.

Make a Garden

Making a garden would clean the waterways a lot. I know making a garden is a lot of work but it really helps. The plants you grow in the garden consume rain. Less rain in the sewers means that CSO would get less bad. Despite the fact that making a garden would be a lot of work you should still start one to help stop CSO. Who knows, maybe making a garden might be fun.

Pass it on!

Not enough people know how terrible water pollution is. At school we did a community survey (the survey on the blog is based off of it). We asked strangers about water pollution and everyone got lots of questions wrong. I’m informing you about the dangers of water pollution. If you inform people like I am about water pollution many people would know. We could work together to stop the water pollution we caused. If you want to help, pass the message on about water pollution.

Little changes can make a big difference: turn off the tap!

A major contributor to water pollution is people leaving water running. When you’re brushing your teeth you might leave the water running. It’s not that big of a deal if you do it once but it’s not just you. People all over the world leave the water running doing numerous things. Think about this the next time you use water and make sure you turn the tap off when you are done.

NY Waterways Survey

Please take part in this survey to help me with my school project -- thank you!!!!!

Create your own user feedback survey

Don't save your laundry for a rainy day!

When it’s raining outside you might wash something. Nothing’s wrong with that is what you think. Cleaning your clothes or dishes on a rainy day is much worse than you imagine. On rainy days the water from the rain can overflow water pipes. This causes your dirty water from cleaning to go into our waterways. Our waterways end up polluted after the rain. Sometimes beaches have to close because of this! Even though you might want to clean your dishes and laundry on rainy days don’t.

Chemicals from your sink end up in our waterways

Every day people pour chemicals in to their sink and/or toilet. The water with the chemicals in it eventually gets in to one of NYC’s waterways. The polluted water ruins the water cycle and the food cycle. Both of these affect us negatively which is why you could make a change by not putting chemicals in your toilet and/or sink.

Become a Water Superhero!

Every year NYC’s waterways (the Hudson River, Gowanus Canal) are getting more polluted because of us. Since we are doing the damage we have to fix it. We have to be water stewards. Water stewards are basically water superheroes. In this blog you will find many ways to become a water steward/superhero.