The 90-Day Plan (weekly update)

Hello,

When The 90-Day Plan was put on hiatus, we received a lot of requests to bundle the plan once a week as opposed to sending daily updates. Please read on below for the updates.

As you probably know, daily updates can be found here: http://www.belowthesurface.org/90dayplan.php

We hope you're staying tuned to Dave Cornthwaite's journey down the Mississippi and we wish him and our good friend John Ruskey well as the hopefully finish their paddle in the Gulf later today!

Follow Dave here: http://www.davecornthwaite.com/

Cheers,

Kristian

The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days
The 90 Day Plan: Day 74  Pack a punch to pollution and PACK YOUR LUNCH. Single servings use 10-times more packaging than buying in bulk; if you do go out for lunch, what are some ways to minimize waste? Buy a Lunchbox Today!  www.belowthesurface.org		Challenge: Generally, it is less expensive to pack a lunch from home than it is to buy it; how much money could you save if you packed your lunch (in reusable containers) everyday throughout the year?

The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days The 90 Day Plan: Day 75  Physical exercise can help improve your focus and study habits, but time for recess and gym class is decreasing at schools across the country. GET ACTIVE by promoting a fit lifestyle. Good health is similar to clean water; it is easy to take for granted when you have it, but it's a problem when it is gone. For More Information:  www.belowthesurface.org   Challenge: How many minutes of exercise do you get everyday? How does spending time outside help you understand yourself and nature? Do you like to exercise and spend time outdoors? The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days The 90 Day Plan: Day 76  Reuse is the second of the three R's. GIVE YOUR CLOTHES ANOTHER GO by donating items that no longer fit or items you no longer wear to charity. For More Information:  www.belowthesurface.org   Challenge: Do you know of a local charity that supports efforts in response to natural disasters? Why are wetlands considered storm buffers?

The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days
The 90 Day Plan: Day 77  Next time you want to read a new book, TRY the LIBRARY. It requires a lot if energy and paper to produce a book, consider reusing one at the library—it's free too! Read: The Lorax  www.belowthesurface.org		Challenge: What community resources does your library offer? What is America's literacy rate? What role does research play in conservation efforts? Why happens if that research never makes it to the public?

The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days
The 90 Day Plan: Day 78  DON'T FEED WILDLIFE—including waterfowl (ducks, geese, swans, etc). Feeding wildlife is highly discouraged. It causes animals to lose their fear of humans, makes them more aggressive and spreads diseases. Plus, human food can make them sick and we don't want that! If you want to help animals, the best thing you can do is advocate for native plants and open-lands to promote biodiversity. This will allow wildlife to the ability to feed themselves. For More Information:  www.belowthesurface.org		Challenge: What are three harmful impacts of feeding waterfowl? What diseases can large populations of waterfowl spread?

The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days
The 90 Day Plan: Day 79  Rainwater replenishes groundwater and reduces runoff. BUILD a RAIN GARDEN at home, work, or volunteer to build one in your community. For More Information:  www.belowthesurface.org		Challenge: Organize gather volunteers and to apply for a grant to help fund your rain garden.

The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days
The 90 Day Plan: Day 80  Choose one NATURAL CARE product to replace a conventional type. Traces from Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) are beginning to appear in our drinking water across the country. Buy Eco-Friendly Soap!  www.belowthesurface.org		Challenge:Do these products seem to work the same, better, or worse? What are there benefits to using products with fewer artificial ingredients? If you think the alternative care products are better, gradually begin replacing one for the other.

 

--
Kristian Anders Gustavson

BELOW THE SURFACE, Founder & Explorer
A coast-to-coast exploration of America's waterways
760-277-3503
www.belowthesurface.org

"Be the Solution"

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The 90-Day Plan: DAY 75

The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days
The 90 Day Plan: Day 75  Physical exercise can help improve your focus and study habits, but time for recess and gym class is decreasing at schools across the country. GET ACTIVE by promoting a fit lifestyle. Good health is similar to clean water; it is easy to take for granted when you have it, but it's a problem when it is gone. For More Information:  www.belowthesurface.org		Challenge: How many minutes of exercise do you get everyday? How does spending time outside help you understand yourself and nature? Do you like to exercise and spend time outdoors?

River News

 

Some news of note off the web from our good friends John Ruskey @ The Quapaw Canoe Company:

 

River flooding gives birth to tiny island in West Bay

 

http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/08/miss_flooding_gives_birth_to_t.html

 

Roundup commonly found in Mississippi River watershed

 

http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=2909

 

Nation needs a fresh view of its rivers

 

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/aug/11/guest-column-nation-needs-a-fresh-view-of-its

The 90-Day Plan: DAY 74

The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days
The 90 Day Plan: Day 74  Pack a punch to pollution and PACK YOUR LUNCH. Single servings use 10-times more packaging than buying in bulk; if you do go out for lunch, what are some ways to minimize waste? Buy a Lunchbox Today!  www.belowthesurface.org		Challenge: Generally, it is less expensive to pack a lunch from home than it is to buy it; how much money could you save if you packed your lunch (in reusable containers) everyday throughout the year?

The 90-Day Plan: RESURFACING and Updates!

Howdy!

Thanks for following The 90-Day Plan: 90 Ways in 90 Days to Clean & Conserve Water!  We apologize that we have been under the radar and below the surface for a couple weeks.  Field work and explorations called us away from the web. We hope that you have been following Dave Cornthwaite's source-to-sea paddle--he's in Baton Rouge!

Anyhow, below you can find the days we didn't send out on time. Please expect us to keep you current the rest of the ride thought!

Cheers,

Kristian and the BTS Exploration Team

The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days
The 90 Day Plan: Day 62  The summer heat adds stress to trees, bushes, and other plants by speeding up transpiration (or the evaporation of water from parts of the plant). SPREAD a LAYER of MULCH around all plants outdoors to help minimize water loss. Using a two-three inch layer of mulch around plants is also a natural way to keep weeds under control. For More Information:  www.belowthesurface.org Challenge: Composting organic materials such as yard clippings and kitchen waste prevents hundreds of pounds sent to the landfill every year and saves water if you use this instead of the garbage disposal. Design a plan to build a compost bin for your home. The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days The 90 Day Plan: Day 63  Too much water can be a bad thing: ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT EROSION! By reducing the amount of water that flows from your property and ensuring that it is absorbed into the ground instead of flowing into storm drains, you will play an important role in reducing flash floods downstream. For More Information:  www.belowthesurface.org Challenge: How much runoff does a one-acre parking lot produce compared to one-acre grassy field? The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days The 90 Day Plan: Day 64  From the street to the sea—before you do anything else today, go outside and make sure your closest STORM DRAIN is CLEAN. Storm drains are the fastest route for water to travel from the street to the ocean and they send almost 70% of nonpoint pollution downstream to our lakes, rivers, and oceans. About half of all stormwater comes from our homes, driveways, and sidewalks. For More Information:  www.belowthesurface.org   Challenge: Why is it better to sweep driveways and sidewalks instead of hosing debris into storm drains? Get involved with or create a local storm drain-stenciling program and search for innovative ways to keep trash out of the gutter. Ask your municipality to consider installing screens and covers on all storm drains. After all, it's downstream from there. The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days The 90 Day Plan: Day 65  DON'T OVERWATER! More plants die from too much water than from not getting enough water. Before watering, check the soil two or three inches down, if it's moist watering can wait. For More Information:  www.belowthesurface.org Challenge: Research the amount of water plants in your yard need and come up with three easy ways to check if they need to be watered. Having the lawn frequently aerated is also a way to reduce the amount of needed water. The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days The 90 Day Plan: Day 66  During the next storm place a bucket under a downspout and time how long it takes to fill. Then, GRAB a RAIN-BARREL and start collecting water from your roof. Rainwater is free, contains no chlorine, and arrives to your home without the need for filtration and pumping. If you can't do some of these things at home, it may be possible for your school, business, and/or local government to look into these tips. Just ask! For More Information:  www.belowthesurface.org Challenge: Given the size of your roof, how much rainwater can you capture during a typical storm? The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days The 90 Day Plan: Day 67  Pick a spot and PLANT a TREE. Why not? Research different types of native trees and choose one that would be best for your yard. For More Information:  www.belowthesurface.org   Challenge: What age do you think the oldest tree is on your property? Why do native trees and plants use less water than non-native species? Get a thermometer, how hot is it in the full sun? What is the temperature in the shade? The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days The 90 Day Plan: Day 68  RECYCLE PAPER save some blue, and make some green for your school or workplace. Recycling one ton of paper is the equivalent of saving 17 trees and 7,000 gallons of water. For More Information:  www.belowthesurface.org Challenge: Determine ways for your school or classroom to use less paper. The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days The 90 Day Plan: Day 69  Don't just recycle, E-CYCLE. Electronic waste is a growing concern; fortunately most electronics can be recycled. Electronics contain many heavy metals and other dangerous chemicals but most of these can be recycled. For More Information:  www.belowthesurface.org Challenge: On June 12th we made the digital transition and no doubt, left some electronics behind. Work with some friends, coworkers, or local teachers to organize an e-waste recycling fundraiser. The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days The 90 Day Plan: Day 70  Ink leaves our mark on paper, what does it leave for the water? RECYCLE INK CARTRIDGES. For More Information:  www.belowthesurface.org   Challenge: How do you dispose of ink cartridges? Suggest a way for your workplace, school, or community group to raise money by collecting empty cartridges. Also, try to make the switch to using soy-based inks. The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days The 90 Day Plan: Day 71  You've made it this far, take it one step further and aim to produce ZERO WASTE. For More Information:  www.belowthesurface.org Challenge: Create a 100% recyclable and compostable grocery list The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days The 90 Day Plan: Day 72  Learning from our past can be used to shape our future; help your workplace, school, or township LEED the WAY to a better, more efficient future. LEED is a certification that stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design that promotes sustainable development. For More Information:  www.belowthesurface.org Challenge: Are any buildings in your area that have been LEED certified? The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days The 90 Day Plan: Day 73  GET on the BUS; don't put up a fuss (for a ride). For More Information:  www.belowthesurface.org   Challenge: How many miles is your commute? Think of three ways you can commute to work without riding alone. What is the carbon dioxide Parts Per Million (PPM) threshold for coral reefs?

The 90-Day Plan: DAY 61

The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days
The 90 Day Plan: Day 61  Encourage your family, friends, neighbors and anyone else you know to REDUCE the USE of LANDSCAPE PESTICIDES, HERBICIDES, and FERTILIZERS, especially fertilizers containing phosphorus. You can tell if it is phosphorus free by reading the label; the Nitrogen content is the first number, phosphorus is the second, and potassium is listed third. The over-use and runoff of these products leads to harmful algae blooms which causes 'dead zones' and poisons aquaculture. For More Information:  www.belowthesurface.org		Challenge: Name three water-specific types of collateral damage from each: pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Pouring boiling water on weeds or pulling them is a safe method of removal; what are other safe remedies for weeds and pests? Why do plants treated with fertilizer require more water?

The 90-Day Plan: DAY 60

The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days
The 90 Day Plan: Day 60  It is estimated that 30-50% of outdoor watering is wasted; save water and money by WATERING in the MORNING or in the EVENING. Make sure you don't water the sidewalk or driveway. For More Information:  www.belowthesurface.org		Challenge: About half of our drinking water comes from groundwater, why is it more important to recharge the ground water than to have it evaporate? Get a rain gauge or use an empty can to determine how much you need to water.

The 90-Day Plan: DAY 59

The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days
The 90 Day Plan: Day 59  Our yards get a lot of use during nice months don't just mow over it, MAKE YOUR YARD WORK FOR YOU. During WWII backyard gardens grew the same amount of produce commercial agriculture did. What types of fruits and vegetables can be grown in your area? For More Information:  www.belowthesurface.org		Challenge: What is a Freedom Lawn? Estimate how much water, time, and money you spend on landscaping. Is it possible to put that money to better use? Purchase a manual push mower to completely cut lawn care costs.

The 90-Day Plan: DAY 58

The 90 Day Plan - 90 Ways in 90 Days
The 90 Day Plan: Day 58  Let's go back outside to INVESTIGATE YOUR YARD. Take a close look at what lives there and determine if your yard could serve as a sanctuary. Backyard sanctuaries promote biodiversity, a healthy environment, and a peaceful atmosphere. For More Information:  www.belowthesurface.org		Challenge: How many mosquitoes can one bat consume in one night? How can a bat house(s) benefit your backyard and your community? Is there food, water, and shelter for wildlife in your yard?