On this Earth Day, we, at MobileH2O, wanted to recognize the importance of freshwater ecosystems on the health of societies and communities upon which they are built. Freshwater ecosystems (rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, wetlands, estuaries, riparian zones, floodplains, and groundwater) provide goods and services that are directly used by communities for providing food and sanitation, use in growing crops and manufacturing products, creating energy, and transporting people and goods. Furthermore, these ecosystems also create a better environment in which to live. Aquatic plants in wetlands clean waters of pollutants and floodplains can store floodwaters decreasing the extent of downstream flooding. Finally, these ecosystems enhance our lives through recreational opportunities, providing spiritually/cultural importance to a community, an educational classroom, and enjoyment of the aesthetic beauty of nature. Often freshwater ecosystems provide multiple services to many communities that rely upon them. For example, wetlands can provide the local community fish for food, fodder for cattle during the dry season, purification of water for drinking and sanitation, attenuation of floodwaters to prevent flooding, and recreational use by bird watchers or anglers. Therefore, for the benefit of all communities, it is important to make sure that these ecosystems are protected and maintained.
Example of multiple services provided by a river: sanitation, fishing, irrigation diversion, and hydropower production along the Ganges River, India
Not monitoring and maintaining these freshwater ecosystems can limit societies, sometimes to the point of collapse. Anthropologists believe that Mashkan-shapir, a typical Mesopotamian city connected to the Tigris River by a network of canals, was abandoned after salt build up in the soil from irrigation rendered the soils infertile (1). Similarly, a series of droughts triggered food shortages that led to widespread famine causing Anasazi to abandon dwelling in Chaco Canyon in the southwest of the US (2). In modern times, the significant upstream diversion of water from the Aral Sea watershed has led to a 60% decrease in the surface area resulting in hotter local climates, lake salinity increase from 10 g/l to 45 g/l, dust storms, decreased productivity of agriculture, and the collapse of a once-thriving fishing industry (2) Each year in the Gulf of Mexico, excess nitrogen and phosphorous from fertilizer runoff, inadequately treated sewage and leaking septic tanks, and animal waste create red tides (large blooms of harmful algae) that releases toxins killing fish and sea mammals.
Image by Patrick Schneider.
An important component of ecosystem management is monitoring the amount and quality of water. In the US, local, state, and federal governments and water management organizations have insufficient monetary and staff resources to monitor all of the waterways. In 2017, the US EPA reported that only 31% of US streams and rivers are assessed and of those, 53% are impaired or threatened (3). At MobileH2O, we believe that communities can play an important role in the monitoring and management of these ecosystems. Contributing to citizen monitoring programs is a great way to get involved and make sure the resource upon which you rely is safe and healthy. So, get involved and make a difference for your community.
Angler enjoying a healthy Idaho river that is also used for supplying drinking water, irrigating crops, generating hydropower, manufacturing products, and other recreational activities
Tagged: #wiseh2o, #mobileh2o, healthywaterwaysforall, #citizenscience, mh2o, water, #waterquality, startup
References
1. www.learner.org/interactives/collapse/mesopotamia.html[1]
2. Mays, Larry. 2007b. Chapter 2: Water Sustainability: Parallels of Past Civilizations and the Present. In Water Resources Sustainability, ed. Larry Mays, WEF Press, Alexandria, VA. Pages 16-36
3. https://ofmpub.epa.gov/waters10/attains_nation_cy.control#total_assessed_waters