Top 10 Water Wasters: From Washing Dishes to Watering the Desert Many of us use water thoughtlessly; it seems as abundant as the air we breathe and a free swig is available almost anywhere. But fresh, potable water is already a precious commodity in many drier parts of the world, and as it grows rarer—and thus, dearer—in developed countries, the true value of H2O is beginning to seep in. Until water shortages impact more of us directly it is likely that this liquid resource will continue to be poorly managed. The recent story of a profligate user who changed his ways could perhaps serve as an example for us all: Saving water often comes down to paying attention. Although that's an extreme case, it shows that there's often little reason why we can't save more water in our day-to-day lives. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. How do you try to limit your water use?
EPA's National Stormwater Calculator Change the Course [INFOGRAPHIC] Help Save the Colorado River You can help restore freshwater ecosystems by pledging to cut your water footprint. For every pledge, Change the Course will restore 1,000 gallons back to the Colorado River. Text "River" to 77177 or click here: Wildlife Activity Along Creek Corridors | Activist's Corner From the Practical Winery & Vineyard JournalBY Jodi Hilty and Adina Merenlender, Dept. of Environmental Science, Policy, & Management, University of California, Berkeley Learning how to manage agro-ecosystems to conserve natural resources and wildlife is an ongoing challenge for agriculture the world over. Agro-ecology focuses on the farm, where farming practices, land management, and restoration can enhance production and improve ecosystem health. In California vineyards, for example, a great deal of progress has been made in promoting biodiversity by increasing the use of cover crops and hedgerows. 1,4 Improving land stewardship so that farming can remain a way of life for future generations is a laudable goal. However, the concept of sustainable agriculture goes beyond the boundaries of the vineyard to include entire ecosystems, the myriad of species these systems support, and the goods and services they provide. Our study We sampled three types of riparian corridors: Acknowledgements:
North Coast IRWMP: Content: Russian River Special-Status Plants Numerous special-status (e.g. rare, endemic, threatened, and/or endangered) plant species are documented to occur throughout the Russian River watershed. Twenty-two species of plants in the watershed are included on state and/or federal protection lists (e.g. Federal Endangered Species Act, FESA; California Endangered Species Act, CESA). Wetland Plants Species: White Sedge (Carex albida) Status: Endangered (FESA and CESA) Note: Endemic to moist sites adjacent to freshwater marshes and creeks in Sonoma County. Species: Pitkin Marsh Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja uliginosa Note: May be extirpated; only one plant was known to exist in the wild in the late 1970s, at the privately owned Pitkin Marsh. Pitkin Marsh Species: Pitkin Marsh Lily (Lilium pardalinum Kellogg ssp. pitkinense) Status: Endangered (FESA) Note: Occurs in freshwater marshes and wet meadows in Sonoma County. Species: Kenwood Marsh Checker-Mallow (Sidalcea oregana ssp. valida) Species: Sonoma Shortawn Foxtail (Sonoma alopecurus)