A PondHero is anyone who’s actions prioritize the health and sustainability of their local pond or waterbody.
The water that fills our local impoundments is a shared and essential part of life on Earth, how we impact water and manage our watersheds has a cascading effect on the local environment and hydrological cycle as a whole.
The Power of Small
Small things add up when done by enough people, enough times. If enough people become better stewards of our shared natural resources, even on a small scale, the benefits will multiply across the landscape.
What Can We Do?
Always follow local laws and regulations; be mindful of your approach to good stewardship, we are all in this together!
- Pick up litter; the litter and debris in our waterways can foul fountains, block outflows, leach contaminants, harm wildlife and will eventually lead to the ocean, don’t let it get that far!
- Prevent Erosion; Erosion is a huge contributor to environmental degradation, from nutrient pollution to loss of usable land. Watch your landscape during the next rain event to see how water is interacting with your area and where you can make a positive impact.
- Promote Plants, Trees and Native Species; Plants and trees provide many ecosystem benefits, especially in regards to water management. Root growth from plants and trees are natural water filters, filtering out nutrients and pollutants while stabilizing the soil against erosion. Native species promote the most biodiversity.
- Be Extractive; Harvest fish, plants, muck and any other form of organic material that is locally allowed. By removing organic matter from impoundments we can begin to reverse the detrimental effects of nutrient accumulation. More on extractive processes here.
- Be Mindful; Observe how your immediate environment affects the larger ecosystem. Everyday actions have an impact on the environment we inhabit, even if we don’t always notice.
PondHero 