NoNProfit orgU.S. PoStage

PAIDPetoSkey, Mi PerMit #15

P.O. Box 2479 Petoskey, MI 49770

printed on recycled paper

Address service requested

Sea lamprey, alewives, zebra mussels are just a few of the inva-

sive species harming our lakes both ecologically and economically. The health of the Great Lakes is seriously threatened by problems from invasive species. Over 180 species have al-ready been introduced in the Great Lakes and cost the region an estimated $5 billion every year. Now the Asian carp is nearing Lake Michigan in several locations. Environmental DNA testing indicates the presence of Asian carp be-yond the two electric bar-riers installed in the Illinois River by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prevent the Asian carp from entering the Chicago Shipping canal. Results from April 1st show the presence of the Asian carp in the O’Brien Lock and Dam area. (See map on page 5). On April 30, 2010 there was a positive Environmental DNA hit in the Calumet Sag Channel. On May 20, a second ro-tenone application will be applied in a two-mile stretch to remove any Asian carp. A net will be placed under the channel before and during the application to collect any fish killed during the event. The O’Brien lock will be closed for 5-7 days during the treatment time.

There are two species of Asian carp making their way to Lake Michigan—bighead carp and silver carp. Both species are well suited for our climate. Asian carp reproduce quickly and can eat 40% of their body weight daily, taking food needed for

our native fish. In Illinois, the Asian carp popu-lation has doubled every year since it has been in the Illinois River. Bighead carp can grow to four and five feet and weigh up to 100 pounds. The black carp also poses an additional threat—they eat primarily mollusks potentially harming threatened native mussels and sturgeon. Black carp can grow to seven feet in length and weigh 150 pounds.

If the Asian carp does make it to Lake Michigan it will likely:• Out compete native fish populations—lake

perch, whitefish and walleye and become the dominant species

• Hurt our economy by harming the Great Lakes’ fish and birds that generate over $15 billion in spending annually on fishing, hunting, wild-life watching, and boating

Spring 2010, Issue 2

What’s Inside:

• Freshwater Future Grants Awarded

• Healing Our Waters Grants Available Through Freshwater Future

• Get Your Message Out Loud and Clear

• Celebrating Milestones— Success from the Field

• Join us in the 3rdAnnual Walk, Paddle and Roll

Freshwater FutureP.O. Box 2479

Petoskey, MI 49770Phone: (231) 348-8200www.freshwaterfuture.org

Photo by david aNdre ~ fogged iN What is ultimately needed is to sever the connection between the great Lakes and the Mississippi river basins.

Where are the Asian Carp?

Continued on page 5

If Asian carp establish in Lake Michigan they will alter our Great Lakes forever.

Freshwater Future sends a special thank you to the Looking Good Aveda Concept Salon and Spa in Fremont, Ohio for se-lecting Freshwater Future as their Earth Month Partner. We want to thank the staff and customers at Looking Good for helping to raise money for Freshwater Future that supports our work to help people protect our Great Lakes.

Freshwater Future is now on Facebook and Twitter!At Freshwater Future, we intend to bring a FRESH approach to social networking. We want to hear from you! Please visit our Facebook page (select like) and sign up to hear our tweets. Let us know what you most want to hear from us. We’ll send out notices to our friends about grant deadlines, opportunities to get involved in issues critical to the Great Lakes, and share success stories of people like you working hard to protect our waters. Visit the website www.freshwaterfuture.org for the links.

&

Thank You Looking Good Aveda Concept Salon and Spa

kate gardNer, fLickr

Recent Grants Awarded

The Kalamazoo River Cleanup Coalition and the Two Rivers Coalition recently re-ceived Special Opportunity Grants (Emergency Grants) to support urgent projects or those that present, a special, time-limited opportunity for lake, river, and wetland

protection efforts that may not coincide with the application timeline of our Spring and Fall grant deadlines. Maximum funding available for Special Opportunity Grants is $500 USD.

Foundation GivinGc.S. Mott foundation

Honorariums:In Honor of Molly Flanagan

and Chris Grubb’s WeddingJoseph flanaganMolly flanagan and

chris grubb

sustainer’s CirCle ($1,000 or Greater annually)

bonnie danniSydney Leaannoesjka Steinman

sponsor ($249-$499)kristy Meyerconnie and Steve vorenkamp

montHly GivinGann baughmancathy bradyWendy cooperbonnie danniSydney Leacheryl MendozaJill ryanamy Jo Smithannoesjka Steinmanterry Swier

supporter ($100-$249)irvin and tracy bieserfrederick MurphySuzanne S. Schulzegary Street

members ($50-$99)anonymousSandra broganruth clausenbrad and Sherry gerlachharold gramsedorthea hangaardronald and kelly harlanderLeland holmeselizabeth and terry MccloskeyJohn olivercarla and kris Pillaicharly rayJulie StiversJim Sweeneyfred Wilder

Contributors ($1-$49)Sherry blaszakrobert and anne butcherSteven and Perpetua crawfordbarbara and John danlythornton dickinsonvicki deisnerMarrey embersdonald geigerLinda hardieMarv and bert howellLolly P. and gerald

kamerschenanthony ketchumbruce klosner

clarence kozlowskiMax LammersJanice Moorebrad MosherLouis MuleMark NaeserSharon and harley ruschroger Stanleyed and diane Strzelinskibarbara Webertim Schwangercharles Sorbergerald and andrea viguedavid Wattkay Williams

renewed or new member orGanizations

bad river Watershed association

the bank of Northern Michiganblue Mountain Watershed

trust foundationcaN (cafo awareness

Network)economic development

corporation of erie countyfederation of ontario

cottager’s associationsfirelands audubon Societyflint river corridor alliancefriends of arcola creekfriends of the crooked riverfriends of the rouge riverfriends of the St. Joseph

river associationfriends of the St. clair river

Watershedfront fortygrosse ile Nature & Land

conservancyheadwaters Newsindiana Wildlife federationkalamazoo river cleanup

coalitionkingston field NaturalistsNortheast ohio regional

Sewer districtNorthern Michigan

environmental action councilojibway defenceonondaga creek

conservation councilroot-Pike Watershed

initiative NetworkScugog Lake StewardsSeneca Lake Pure Waters

associationSierra club canada-

Peel region groupthe reliable corporation

of america Sierra club-John Muir chapterSix rivers regional

Land conservancyWaterLegacyWestern Lake erie

Waterkeeper associationWindow to the Wetland

Wisconsin Land and Water conservation association

Wisconsin resources Protection council

yellow dog Watershed Preserve

walk, paddle and roll

FinGer lakes zero waste Coalition

Neeta bhasinkatherine bourbeaudan derheimerPortia dyrenforthMatt ellsworthLeland henry, Jr.Lois Judsondouglas kandttimothy kellyMary kellydavid kingdouglas knipplehelen kwahedward Lavinbrenda Maialehelen Mccaberay Millerdr. brad Muise

christine Peterskatherine rollkaren rothfussMark Schultz

paradise lake assoCiation no bake sale

Margaret and Philip cannonhelen ehrlichMorgan freebairncatherine freebairnMary Madiganken McguireMonica and brian McguireSusan and John NealJohn and Susan PeoniJames Scoonbeulah Shortbob and Marilyn SmithJanet Smith

tHank you to our volunteers:

betty LuebkeMaxine McdowellNola Murphyirene Phelpsbev WarnerJan Wilkins

Two Rivers Coalition

Insight Grants

FReSHWATeR FuTuRe: HeLPInG PeOPLe PROTeCT THe GReAT LAkeS

the great Lakes are an interna-tional treasure like no other in the world—and they are at risk. freshwater future works to ensure the health of the great Lakes for our children, grandchildren and future generations. We are dedi-cated to the belief that individuals can and do make a difference.

freshwater future builds effec-tive community-based initiatives to protect and restore the water quality of the great Lakes basin. freshwater future is a powerful resource investing in the people and communities caring for our great Lakes waters. over the past 14 years, we have:

• helped thousands of community-based groups and individuals

• Provided over $1 million in grants

• connected citizens to resources and each other, building a great Lakes community

• Provided one-on-one assistance to build leadership skills for citizens and community-based groups

• distributed thousands of locally targeted resource toolkits and other materials

FReSHWATeR FuTuRe BeLIeveS THAT:

• effective citizen engagement improves the health of our communities

• citizens closest to the issueshave the knowledge and ability to make a difference

• Positive change at the locallevel is important for protecting our resources

2 FreShwater Future ServIceS Freshwater Future

The Kalamazoo River Cleanup Coali-tion was formed as an ad hoc citizen action group in the spring of 2007,

to oppose an EPA-approved plan to dump polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)-contam-inated river sediments at a former paper mill site. Now, as a nonprofit organization, they continue to engage EPA, Responsible Parties, area residents, and other stake-holders to find suitable solutions to clean up the Kalamazoo River.

The EPA has now published a Feasibility Study, outlining PCB cleanup options. The

cleanup method is to be selected within the next few months. Kalamazoo River Cleanup Coalition considers it impera-tive that Kalamazoo residents are aware of options, and have input into the selected cleanup method.

Freshwater Future is funding a public meeting where Kalamazoo River Cleanup Coalition will inform area stakeholders about the cleanup options, obtain public input, and provide advocacy for the best possible re-use of the affected land.

Spring 2010 FreShwater Future member newS 7

Photo by breNda JoNeS

Photo by cari kieNitz ~ fadiNg SaNdcaStLe

Two Rivers Coalition is a citizen based group working to protect the health of the Black River and Paw Paw River

Watersheds through conservation, educa-tion, and advocacy. Their current initia-tives include phosphorus ban education and outreach, a buffer incentive program, wetland restoration and protection, and septic system education and outreach.

Freshwater Future funding was used to help host a workshop for about 75 decision makers and citizens about the benefits and mechanics of managing stormwater runoff with green infrastructure. Decision makers were provided with resources such

as sample master plan language and zon-ing ordinance models and encouraged to use the new Michigan Low Impact Devel-opment Manual.

Freshwater Future’s Insight Services Grants provide assistance from Freshwater Fu-ture staff to fill organizational needs related to finances, fundraising, strategy, me-dia and more. Recent Insight Services grants were awarded to Federation of Ontario

Cottagers Association to develop a fundraising and membership plan and CROP PLUS to work with a media consultant to learn how to gain media attention for their issue.

Thank You to All of Our Donors from February through April 2010D I R e C T O R ’ S n O T e S

Acting with PrecautionJill Ryan, Executive Director

In order to protect our environment from harm in the face of uncer-tainty about the consequences of

a particular action, we should assume that the worst may result until we have proven that is not the case. This prin-ciple is called the precautionary prin-ciple and allows decision-makers to proceed with some information still unknown while providing protection from possible consequences.

Asian carp are in my opinion one of those problems that should be acted upon in light of the precautionary principle because they have the poten-tial to do extreme harm to a public re-source: our Great Lakes ecosystem and fishery. While actions are being taken to try to ensure that these fish do not establish in our Great Lakes, there re-mains disagreement in approaches to preventing the fish from reaching the lakes in the short and long term.

As citizens who care about and under-stand our stewardship responsibility to these wonderful water resources, now is the time to express our desires to de-cision makers that consensus must be reached on these management activi-ties to protect our water resources and the economies that rely on them and that the precautionary approach must be employed.

Dave Foerster and Joe Parman of the Two Rivers Coalition

kalamazoo River Cleanup Coalition

gLoWiNg rockS, Lake SUPerior

Congratulations to Molly Flanagan and Chris Grubb! Photo courtesy Sarah Babcock studios.

aldo Leopold, 1949: “a thing is right when it tends to

preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. it is wrong when it tends otherwise.” ~ from a Sand county almanac

Woo Hoo, Yeah, You did it! As youknow, working to protect and re-store our precious waters—lakes,

rivers, wetlands, shorelines, and drinking water is HARD work. But it is also very re-warding. This regular feature in our news-letter is intended to celebrate our achieve-ments—small and large. Congratulations to the following groups for their achievement.

On March 24, 2010, the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Lake Erie Region Conservancy’s appeal to up-hold deed restrictions to keep a golf course in the City of Erie, Pennsylvania a public park forever. The decision protects deed restrictions and conservation easements. To learn more about the issue contact Tom Fuhrman, Lake Erie Region Conservancy at lercerie@gmail.com.

Commerce’s Park Intrepid Pond in Grosse Ile, Michigan has received a makeover, thanks to the Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy. Volunteers have removed invasive species like phragmites and Eur-

asian water milfoil from the pond, as well as planting hundreds of native plants to help filter the drainage waters that pass through the pond and to increase the bio-diversity of the ecosystem. Grosse Ile AP Biology students have used the pond as a laboratory to learn about water quality and aquatic life and can document chang-es in the health of the pond in the coming years. For more information email, info@ginlc.org.

Friends of Jean Klock Park, Benton Har-bor, Michigan are hopeful that there may still be an opportunity to keep Jean Klock Park a public park thanks to a recent ac-tion by the Benton Harbor, Michigan city council. At their April meeting the city council withdrew their 2008 resolution of “symbolic support” for the development that involved a land lease of a public park for private use in a 6-2 vote. Commission-ers’ stated that the project hasn’t provided enough local jobs or made payment on using the city water system. Another con-cern was the use of leased land at Jean Klock Park for the golf course. Friends of Jean Klock Park (www.savejeanklockpark.org) and Protect Jean Klock Park (www.protectjkp.org) are working on different legal avenues to keep this Lake Michigan beach access open to the public for future generations.

If your group achieves a milestone in your work—please let us know so that we can share your success and join in the celebration.

Are you looking for an easy and fun fund-raiser to support your organization’s work? Freshwater Future’s Walk, Paddle and Roll

is the solution. What is the Walk, Paddle and Roll?

The Walk, Paddle and Roll is……..

• An excellent online fundraising tool• Not an actual event—in fact it is better if you

don’t do an event. All it takes is for each indi-vidual to do some activity, such as walk, kayak, canoe, bike, fish, surf. Some participants have not done an activity and still raised significant funds.

• Not time intensive. Team members need to com-mit time to do the following: set up a page on a website (15-30 minutes), send emails to friends and family, and their activity

• An easy way to raise some quick money, at least 50% of all the net proceeds go directly to your organization.

• A good way to start expanding your donors: you will receive a list of all your donors, addresses, gift amounts and emails

• Most effective with a leadership team of 3-4 engaged board members willing to participate. (Groups with an active Leadership Team raised thousands of dollars last year)

• Best accomplished in a short time frame, 2-4 weeks. The most successful groups last year sent out their emails, did their activity and wrapped it up quickly.

There is still time to get a team organized to help raise funds for your cause and to help Freshwater Future’s efforts to support community groups working to help people protect the Great Lakes. Participants in last year’s event raised an average of $900 per team! Don’t miss out on this great

opportunity to raise funds for your group and help other groups that are working hard to protect the Great Lakes. Half the net proceeds go to the group conducting the event and the other half helps Freshwater Future provide assistance to lo-cal groups across the Basin. In addition, the top three fundraising groups will receive up to 75% of funds raised in their event.

Check out our online giving site www.firstgiving.com/freshwaterfuture, visit our website www.fresh waterfuture.org , or give us a call at 231-348-8200.

freshwater voices is published quar-terly and distributed by freshwater future, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit orga-nization. funding for the publication is provided by our members and a grant from the c.S. Mott foundation.

staFF

JiLL ryaN executive director jill@freshwaterfuture.orgcheryL MeNdoza associate director cheryl@freshwaterfuture.orgcathy brady

office Manager cathy@freshwaterfuture.org

aNN baUghMaN associate director ann@freshwaterfuture.org

PetoSkey office: (231) 348-8200

SPriNg Lake office: (231) 571-5001

board oF direCtors

WeNdy cooPer georgian bay Land trustboNNie daNNi great Lakes Unitedvicki deiSNer National Wildlife federationMike LaytoN environmental defencekriSty Meyer the ohio environmental councilaMy Jo SMith economic development council of erie countyaNNoeSJka SteiNMaN blandford Nature centerterry SWier Michigan citizens for

Water conservation

diScLaiMer: freshwater voices is intended to provide a forum for the free exchange of ideas among citizens and organizations working to protect aquatic habitats in the great Lakes basin. the interpretations and conclusions presented in this newsletter represent the opinions of the individual authors. they in no way represent the views of freshwater future, funders, members, donors, or any organization mentioned in this publication.

Freshwater Future and the Healing Our Waters–Great Lakes Coalition Launch new Grants Program:Help available to environmental and conservation groups to take part in the Obama administration’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

Celebrating Milestones—Success from the Field

Spring 2010 Great LakeS poLIcy updateS 3

The Healing Our Waters—Great Lakes Coalition (HOW) is offering a new grants program, administered by

Freshwater Future, to help local groups in the Great Lakes region obtain and use funds from the federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). The HOW Coalition’s Implementation Program will help ensure local groups are equipped to manage and complete effective projects with GLRI funds and by so doing, will help ensure sustained support from the federal government to clean up, restore and heal the Great Lakes.

The HOW Implementation Program has identified five areas in the Great Lakes to focus our efforts to support available GLRI

funding for 2010 ($475 million) and in the upcoming 2011 fiscal year. These priority areas were selected by a panel of Great Lakes scientists because they were in great need of restoration yet hold significant promise for restoration success. The areas include:

• Lake Superior: St Louis Bay and St. Louis River

• Lake Michigan: Chicagoland• Lake Huron: Saginaw Bay• Lake Erie: Western Lake

Erie and Maumee Bay• Lake Ontario: Eastern Lake Ontario

The Implementation Program will be pro-viding $200,000 throughout these five ar-

eas to help jump-start projects. If you have a restoration project idea in one of the Pri-ority Areas, please check-out the request for proposals found at our website, www.freshwaterfuture.org. Grant deadline is July 15th. If you have questions, please contact Cheryl Mendoza at 231-571-5001 or cheryl@freshwaterfuture.org.

6 GraSSrootS In actIon Freshwater Future

R A I S e S O M e G R e e n F O R Y O u R W O R k !

Walk, Paddle, and Roll

Photo by eric aNdre ~ aPoStLe iSLaNdS SUNSet

Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy volunteers restore the health of Intrepid Pond with plantings of native species.

Brad Muise, Finger Lakes Zero Waste Coalition raised funds for his group by ice diving for a Winter Walk, Paddle and Roll event.

Marilyn Smith, Ken McGuire, and Marianne Moore helped raise funds this winter for Paradise Lake Association with their No-Bake Bake sale.

After participating in the Freshwater Future Walk, Paddle and Roll fundraiser, I would highly recommend it for a fast, painless, organized way to make some much needed cash. Be-cause Pennsylvania Lake Erie Watershed Association (PLEWA) only has a part time paid staff member, this fundraiser was perfect.

Freshwater Future takes care of all the details. We didn't have to sell anything or collect any money or do the paper work to keep track of the money. It was a great way to raise funds and add to our membership base. We raised over $2,000 in just two months with much of it coming in the last week and got 70 new members! It was also a fun competition between board members and we really wanted to be the top team!

It is a win-win for your organization and for Freshwater Future. We were happy to share some of the funds with Freshwater Future so they can continue their efforts to help grass-roots watershed groups like PLEWA.

anna Mccartney, Pennsylvania Lake erie Watershed association

How implementation proGram Grants—inFormational meetinG

Western Lake erie & Maumee Bay Priority Area MeetingTuesday, June 8th • 1-4 eSTOhio environmental Protection Agencynorthwest District Office347 n. Dunbridge Road Bowling Green, Ohio 43402

Changing Media universe Creates new Challenges, Opportunities for nonprofits By Jeff Alexander

4 GraSSrootS In actIon Freshwater Future

The Internet is causing profound changes in the media, many of which will affect how non-govern-

mental organizations inform the public about their programs.

Budget cuts have greatly reduced the num-ber of reporters—especially environmental reporters—at newspapers, radio stations and television stations. The shrinking of America’s traditional media outlets has made it harder than ever to get coverage of your group’s work.

That’s the bad news.

The good news: The phenomenal popu-larity of the Internet and the rise of social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, has opened the doors to a whole new universe of communications possi-bilities.

Don’t ignore the traditional media. Getting a newspaper or broadcast media outlet to do an article on your organization’s work is still immensely valuable.

But one of the great features of the Internet is that it allows anyone with basic computer skills to become a one-person communica-tions operation. Here’s how to get started:

Create a Facebook page (www.facebook.com) for your organization or issue. Facebook is wildly popular and FREE. If you’re apprehensive about Facebook, build a Web site or pay someone to de-sign one for you. Start a blog: You can create a blog for free at WordPress (www.wordpress.com) or TypePad (www.typepad.com). Blogging is a great way to continuously update your group’s work and comment on rel-evant issues Get a Twitter account (www.twitter.com) to chat about issues and make important announcements. Include your Twitter, Facebook and Web page addresses on all e-mails your group sends out.

When submitting a press release to newspapers, radio or TV stations, make sure it is concise (one page is usually sufficient), accurate and conveys why your event is important. Write a letter to the editor or Op Ed for your local newspaper. This gives you a chance to tell your side of the story, in your words.

Award Winning Journalist Offers Media Consulting Services to Our MembersCreating an effectivecommunications plan for your organization, one that generates media and public interest, can be in-

credibly time consuming and frustrating.

And that’s just the start.

There is also the important task of creating an Internet presence for your organiza-tion and producing content that is infor-mative, compelling and doesn’t get lost in the expanding universe of Web sites.

Freshwater Future can help with all of these issues. Freshwater Future has contracted with award winning environmental journalist Jeff Alexander for media consulting services.

Jeff is currently a media consultant for the National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes Regional Center. With 25 years of experience as a newspaper reporter and editor, Jeff knows what it takes to garner media attention. As the award-winning author of two environmental books, Jeff knows how to get even the largest media outlets to pay attention to his cause.

His recent award-winning book about invasive species in the Great Lakes—“Pandora’s Locks: The Opening of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway”—was featured in The Washington Post, Detroit Free Press, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Toronto Globe & Mail, and numerous small newspapers. He was also interviewed about his book by several broadcast media outlets, including National Public Radio and WTTW in Chicago.

Jeff can help generate the same kind of publicity for your organization. He offers a range of services, including:

Development of communications plans,including tools and messages that can increase public awareness of your orga-nization, bolster campaigns and build membership.

Individual or group instruction for writing press releases and working effectively with reporters, editors and bloggers. Advice on how to speak in ways that capture media interest. Instruction on how to use the Inter-net to tell your group’s story—via Web sites, blogs and social media outlets, such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Branding. Copy writing. Editing.

This may be the digital age, but words still matter when it comes to informing the public about conservation issues. Jeff can help you turn words into weapons of mass information, which will benefit your organization and the natural resources you are working to protect.

Spring 2010 GraSSrootS In actIon 5

Photo by SteveN hUySer-hoNig ~ SaUgatUck dUNeS

Photo by LeSter grahaM ~ iSLe royaLe vieW

Jeff Alexander, Media and Communications Consultant

Where Are the Asian Carp? Continued from page 1

Environmental DNA results indicate the presence of Asian carp in the O’Brien canal on April 1, 2010. Source University of Notre Dame, The Nature Conservancy, and US Army Corps of Engineers.

freshwater future has contracted with

award winning environmental journalist

Jeff alexander for media

consulting services.

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• Make boating unsafe• Impact habitat for waterfowl• Spread quickly to all the Great Lakes,

impacting the US and Canada

What is ultimately needed is to sever the connection between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River basins. This is the only way to permanently prevent Asian carp—and importantly other devastating invasive species like the snake head fish that could head our way from swimming up river and taking over our Great Lakes.

Right now, Congress has given the Army Corps of Engineers, who is charged with implementing the fix, funding to study numerous options. However, no other op-tions guarantee the certainty that severing the connection does. And when it comes to the Great Lakes we won’t stand for a gamble. While we study option after op-tion and debate option after option the carp are swimming.

Action is needed now! We need Con-gress to direct the Army Corps of En-

gineers to develop a plan solely for severing the connection between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River and act quickly to implement that plan. Disappointingly, our Members of Con-gress are doing no such thing. That is where we need you—their constituent—to ask them to do so. Call, write, or email your Member of Congress. You can con-tact the Capital switch board by calling (202)224-3121 or www.congress.org/con-gressorg/directory/congdir.tt

Fig. 1 environmental DnA results as of April 1, 2010

Areas where Asian carp DNA was detected in 2009

Areas with positive detection in 2010

Sampled no Asian Carp or DNA detected in 2010

Changing Media universe Creates new Challenges, Opportunities for nonprofits By Jeff Alexander

4 GraSSrootS In actIon Freshwater Future

The Internet is causing profound changes in the media, many of which will affect how non-govern-

mental organizations inform the public about their programs.

Budget cuts have greatly reduced the num-ber of reporters—especially environmental reporters—at newspapers, radio stations and television stations. The shrinking of America’s traditional media outlets has made it harder than ever to get coverage of your group’s work.

That’s the bad news.

The good news: The phenomenal popu-larity of the Internet and the rise of social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, has opened the doors to a whole new universe of communications possi-bilities.

Don’t ignore the traditional media. Getting a newspaper or broadcast media outlet to do an article on your organization’s work is still immensely valuable.

But one of the great features of the Internet is that it allows anyone with basic computer skills to become a one-person communica-tions operation. Here’s how to get started:

Create a Facebook page (www.facebook.com) for your organization or issue. Facebook is wildly popular and FREE.

If you’re apprehensive about Facebook, build a Web site or pay someone to de-sign one for you.

Start a blog: You can create a blog for free at WordPress (www.wordpress.com) or TypePad (www.typepad.com). Blogging is a great way to continuously update your group’s work and comment on rel-evant issues

Get a Twitter account (www.twitter.com) to chat about issues and make important announcements.

Include your Twitter, Facebook and Web page addresses on all e-mails your group sends out.

When submitting a press release to newspapers, radio or TV stations, make sure it is concise (one page is usually sufficient), accurate and conveys why your event is important. Write a letter to the editor or Op Ed for your local newspaper. This gives you a chance to tell your side of the story, in your words.

Award Winning Journalist Offers Media Consulting Services to Our MembersCreating an effectivecommunications plan for your organization, one that generates media and public interest, can be in-

credibly time consuming and frustrating.

And that’s just the start.

There is also the important task of creating an Internet presence for your organiza-tion and producing content that is infor-mative, compelling and doesn’t get lost in the expanding universe of Web sites.

Freshwater Future can help with all of these issues. Freshwater Future has contracted with award winning environmental journalist Jeff Alexander for media consulting services.

Jeff is currently a media consultant for the National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes Regional Center. With 25 years of experience as a newspaper reporter and editor, Jeff knows what it takes to garner media attention. As the award-winning author of two environmental books, Jeff knows how to get even the largest media outlets to pay attention to his cause.

His recent award-winning book about invasive species in the Great Lakes—“Pandora’s Locks: The Opening of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway”—was featured in The Washington Post, Detroit Free Press, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Toronto Globe & Mail, and numerous small newspapers. He was also interviewed about his book by several broadcast media outlets, including National Public Radio and WTTW in Chicago.

Jeff can help generate the same kind of publicity for your organization. He offers a range of services, including:

Development of communications plans,including tools and messages that can increase public awareness of your orga-nization, bolster campaigns and build membership.

Individual or group instruction for writing press releases and working effectively with reporters, editors and bloggers. Advice on how to speak in ways that capture media interest. Instruction on how to use the Inter-net to tell your group’s story—via Web sites, blogs and social media outlets, such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. Branding. Copy writing. Editing.

This may be the digital age, but words still matter when it comes to informing the public about conservation issues. Jeff can help you turn words into weapons of mass information, which will benefit your organization and the natural resources you are working to protect.

Spring 2010 GraSSrootS In actIon 5

Photo by SteveN hUySer-hoNig ~ SaUgatUck dUNeS

Photo by LeSter grahaM ~ iSLe royaLe vieW

Jeff Alexander, Media and Communications Consultant

Where Are the Asian Carp? Continued from page 1

Environmental DNA results indicate the presence of Asian carp in the O’Brien canal on April 1, 2010. Source University of Notre Dame, The Nature Conservancy, and US Army Corps of Engineers.

freshwater future has contracted with

award winning environmental journalist

Jeff alexander for media

consulting services.

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• Make boating unsafe• Impact habitat for waterfowl• Spread quickly to all the Great Lakes,

impacting the US and Canada

What is ultimately needed is to sever the connection between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River basins. This is the only way to permanently prevent Asian carp—and importantly other devastating invasive species like the snake head fish that could head our way from swimming up river and taking over our Great Lakes.

Right now, Congress has given the Army Corps of Engineers, who is charged with implementing the fix, funding to study numerous options. However, no other op-tions guarantee the certainty that severing the connection does. And when it comes to the Great Lakes we won’t stand for a gamble. While we study option after op-tion and debate option after option the carp are swimming.

Action is needed now! We need Con-gress to direct the Army Corps of En-

gineers to develop a plan solely for severing the connection between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River and act quickly to implement that plan. Disappointingly, our Members of Con-gress are doing no such thing. That is where we need you—their constituent—to ask them to do so. Call, write, or email your Member of Congress. You can con-tact the Capital switch board by calling (202)224-3121 or www.congress.org/con-gressorg/directory/congdir.tt

Fig. 1 environmental DnA results as of April 1, 2010

Areas where Asian carp DNA was detected in 2009

Areas with positive detection in 2010

Sampled no Asian Carp or DNA detected in 2010

Woo Hoo, Yeah, You did it! As youknow, working to protect and re-store our precious waters—lakes,

rivers, wetlands, shorelines, and drinking water is HARD work. But it is also very re-warding. This regular feature in our news-letter is intended to celebrate our achieve-ments—small and large. Congratulations to the following groups for their achievement.

On March 24, 2010, the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Lake Erie Region Conservancy’s appeal to up-hold deed restrictions to keep a golf course in the City of Erie, Pennsylvania a public park forever. The decision protects deed restrictions and conservation easements. To learn more about the issue contact Tom Fuhrman, Lake Erie Region Conservancy at lercerie@gmail.com.

Commerce’s Park Intrepid Pond in Grosse Ile, Michigan has received a makeover, thanks to the Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy. Volunteers have removed invasive species like phragmites and Eur-

asian water milfoil from the pond, as well as planting hundreds of native plants to help filter the drainage waters that pass through the pond and to increase the bio-diversity of the ecosystem. Grosse Ile AP Biology students have used the pond as a laboratory to learn about water quality and aquatic life and can document chang-es in the health of the pond in the coming years. For more information email, info@ginlc.org.

Friends of Jean Klock Park, Benton Har-bor, Michigan are hopeful that there may still be an opportunity to keep Jean Klock Park a public park thanks to a recent ac-tion by the Benton Harbor, Michigan city council. At their April meeting the city council withdrew their 2008 resolution of “symbolic support” for the development that involved a land lease of a public park for private use in a 6-2 vote. Commission-ers’ stated that the project hasn’t provided enough local jobs or made payment on using the city water system. Another con-cern was the use of leased land at Jean Klock Park for the golf course. Friends of Jean Klock Park (www.savejeanklockpark.org) and Protect Jean Klock Park (www.protectjkp.org) are working on different legal avenues to keep this Lake Michigan beach access open to the public for future generations.

If your group achieves a milestone in your work—please let us know so that we can share your success and join in the celebration.

Are you looking for an easy and fun fund-raiser to support your organization’s work? Freshwater Future’s Walk, Paddle and Roll

is the solution. What is the Walk, Paddle and Roll?

The Walk, Paddle and Roll is……..

• An excellent online fundraising tool• Not an actual event—in fact it is better if you

don’t do an event. All it takes is for each indi-vidual to do some activity, such as walk, kayak, canoe, bike, fish, surf. Some participants have not done an activity and still raised significant funds.

• Not time intensive. Team members need to com-mit time to do the following: set up a page on a website (15-30 minutes), send emails to friends and family, and their activity

• An easy way to raise some quick money, at least 50% of all the net proceeds go directly to your organization.

• A good way to start expanding your donors: you will receive a list of all your donors, addresses, gift amounts and emails

• Most effective with a leadership team of 3-4 engaged board members willing to participate. (Groups with an active Leadership Team raised thousands of dollars last year)

• Best accomplished in a short time frame, 2-4 weeks. The most successful groups last year sent out their emails, did their activity and wrapped it up quickly.

There is still time to get a team organized to help raise funds for your cause and to help Freshwater Future’s efforts to support community groups working to help people protect the Great Lakes. Participants in last year’s event raised an average of $900 per team! Don’t miss out on this great

opportunity to raise funds for your group and help other groups that are working hard to protect the Great Lakes. Half the net proceeds go to the group conducting the event and the other half helps Freshwater Future provide assistance to lo-cal groups across the Basin. In addition, the top three fundraising groups will receive up to 75% of funds raised in their event.

Check out our online giving site www.firstgiving.com/freshwaterfuture, visit our website www.fresh waterfuture.org , or give us a call at 231-348-8200.

freshwater voices is published quar-terly and distributed by freshwater future, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit orga-nization. funding for the publication is provided by our members and a grant from the c.S. Mott foundation.

staFF

JiLL ryaN executive director jill@freshwaterfuture.orgcheryL MeNdoza associate director cheryl@freshwaterfuture.orgcathy brady

office Manager cathy@freshwaterfuture.org

aNN baUghMaN associate director ann@freshwaterfuture.org

PetoSkey office: (231) 348-8200

SPriNg Lake office: (231) 571-5001

board oF direCtors

WeNdy cooPer georgian bay Land trustboNNie daNNi great Lakes Unitedvicki deiSNer National Wildlife federationMike LaytoN environmental defencekriSty Meyer the ohio environmental councilaMy Jo SMith economic development council of erie countyaNNoeSJka SteiNMaN blandford Nature centerterry SWier Michigan citizens for

Water conservation

diScLaiMer: freshwater voices is intended to provide a forum for the free exchange of ideas among citizens and organizations working to protect aquatic habitats in the great Lakes basin. the interpretations and conclusions presented in this newsletter represent the opinions of the individual authors. they in no way represent the views of freshwater future, funders, members, donors, or any organization mentioned in this publication.

Freshwater Future and the Healing Our Waters–Great Lakes Coalition Launch new Grants Program:Help available to environmental and conservation groups to take part in the Obama administration’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

Celebrating Milestones—Success from the Field

Spring 2010 Great LakeS poLIcy updateS 3

The Healing Our Waters—Great Lakes Coalition (HOW) is offering a new grants program, administered by

Freshwater Future, to help local groups in the Great Lakes region obtain and use funds from the federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). The HOW Coalition’s Implementation Program will help ensure local groups are equipped to manage and complete effective projects with GLRI funds and by so doing, will help ensure sustained support from the federal government to clean up, restore and heal the Great Lakes.

The HOW Implementation Program has identified five areas in the Great Lakes to focus our efforts to support available GLRI

funding for 2010 ($475 million) and in the upcoming 2011 fiscal year. These priority areas were selected by a panel of Great Lakes scientists because they were in great need of restoration yet hold significant promise for restoration success. The areas include:

• Lake Superior: St Louis Bay and St. Louis River

• Lake Michigan: Chicagoland• Lake Huron: Saginaw Bay• Lake Erie: Western Lake

Erie and Maumee Bay• Lake Ontario: Eastern Lake Ontario

The Implementation Program will be pro-viding $200,000 throughout these five ar-

eas to help jump-start projects. If you have a restoration project idea in one of the Pri-ority Areas, please check-out the request for proposals found at our website, www.freshwaterfuture.org. Grant deadline is July 15th. If you have questions, please contact Cheryl Mendoza at 231-571-5001 or cheryl@freshwaterfuture.org.

6 GraSSrootS In actIon Freshwater Future

R A I S e S O M e G R e e n F O R Y O u R W O R k !

Walk, Paddle, and Roll

Photo by eric aNdre ~ aPoStLe iSLaNdS SUNSet

Grosse Ile Nature and Land Conservancy volunteers restore the health of Intrepid Pond with plantings of native species.

Brad Muise, Finger Lakes Zero Waste Coalition raised funds for his group by ice diving for a Winter Walk, Paddle and Roll event.

Marilyn Smith, Ken McGuire, and Marianne Moore helped raise funds this winter for Paradise Lake Association with their No-Bake Bake sale.

After participating in the Freshwater Future Walk, Paddle and Roll fundraiser, I would highly recommend it for a fast, painless, organized way to make some much needed cash. Be-cause Pennsylvania Lake Erie Watershed Association (PLEWA) only has a part time paid staff member, this fundraiser was perfect.

Freshwater Future takes care of all the details. We didn't have to sell anything or collect any money or do the paper work to keep track of the money. It was a great way to raise funds and add to our membership base. We raised over $2,000 in just two months with much of it coming in the last week and got 70 new members! It was also a fun competition between board members and we really wanted to be the top team!

It is a win-win for your organization and for Freshwater Future. We were happy to share some of the funds with Freshwater Future so they can continue their efforts to help grass-roots watershed groups like PLEWA.

anna Mccartney, Pennsylvania Lake erie Watershed association

How implementation proGram Grants—inFormational meetinG

Western Lake erie & Maumee Bay Priority Area MeetingTuesday, June 8th • 1-4 eSTOhio environmental Protection Agencynorthwest District Office347 n. Dunbridge Road Bowling Green, Ohio 43402

Recent Grants Awarded

The Kalamazoo River Cleanup Coalition and the Two Rivers Coalition recently re-ceived Special Opportunity Grants (Emergency Grants) to support urgent projects or those that present, a special, time-limited opportunity for lake, river, and wetland

protection efforts that may not coincide with the application timeline of our Spring and Fall grant deadlines. Maximum funding available for Special Opportunity Grants is $500 USD.

Foundation GivinGc.S. Mott foundation

Honorariums:In Honor of Molly Flanagan

and Chris Grubb’s WeddingJoseph flanaganMolly flanagan and

chris grubb

sustainer’s CirCle ($1,000 or Greater annually)

bonnie danniSydney Leaannoesjka Steinman

sponsor ($249-$499)kristy Meyerconnie and Steve vorenkamp

montHly GivinGann baughmancathy bradyWendy cooperbonnie danniSydney Leacheryl MendozaJill ryanamy Jo Smithannoesjka Steinmanterry Swier

supporter ($100-$249)irvin and tracy bieserfrederick MurphySuzanne S. Schulzegary Street

members ($50-$99)anonymousSandra broganruth clausenbrad and Sherry gerlachharold gramsedorthea hangaardronald and kelly harlanderLeland holmeselizabeth and terry MccloskeyJohn olivercarla and kris Pillaicharly rayJulie StiversJim Sweeneyfred Wilder

Contributors ($1-$49)Sherry blaszakrobert and anne butcherSteven and Perpetua crawfordbarbara and John danlythornton dickinsonvicki deisnerMarrey embersdonald geigerLinda hardieMarv and bert howellLolly P. and gerald

kamerschenanthony ketchumbruce klosner

clarence kozlowskiMax LammersJanice Moorebrad MosherLouis MuleMark NaeserSharon and harley ruschroger Stanleyed and diane Strzelinskibarbara Webertim Schwangercharles Sorbergerald and andrea viguedavid Wattkay Williams

renewed or new member orGanizations

bad river Watershed association

the bank of Northern Michiganblue Mountain Watershed

trust foundationcaN (cafo awareness

Network)economic development

corporation of erie countyfederation of ontario

cottager’s associationsfirelands audubon Societyflint river corridor alliancefriends of arcola creekfriends of the crooked riverfriends of the rouge riverfriends of the St. Joseph

river associationfriends of the St. clair river

Watershedfront fortygrosse ile Nature & Land

conservancyheadwaters Newsindiana Wildlife federationkalamazoo river cleanup

coalitionkingston field NaturalistsNortheast ohio regional

Sewer districtNorthern Michigan

environmental action councilojibway defenceonondaga creek

conservation councilroot-Pike Watershed

initiative NetworkScugog Lake StewardsSeneca Lake Pure Waters

associationSierra club canada-

Peel region groupthe reliable corporation

of america Sierra club-John Muir chapterSix rivers regional

Land conservancyWaterLegacyWestern Lake erie

Waterkeeper associationWindow to the Wetland

Wisconsin Land and Water conservation association

Wisconsin resources Protection council

yellow dog Watershed Preserve

walk, paddle and roll

FinGer lakes zero waste Coalition

Neeta bhasinkatherine bourbeaudan derheimerPortia dyrenforthMatt ellsworthLeland henry, Jr.Lois Judsondouglas kandttimothy kellyMary kellydavid kingdouglas knipplehelen kwahedward Lavinbrenda Maialehelen Mccaberay Millerdr. brad Muise

christine Peterskatherine rollkaren rothfussMark Schultz

paradise lake assoCiation no bake sale

Margaret and Philip cannonhelen ehrlichMorgan freebairncatherine freebairnMary Madiganken McguireMonica and brian McguireSusan and John NealJohn and Susan PeoniJames Scoonbeulah Shortbob and Marilyn SmithJanet Smith

tHank you to our volunteers:

betty LuebkeMaxine McdowellNola Murphyirene Phelpsbev WarnerJan Wilkins

Two Rivers Coalition

Insight Grants

FReSHWATeR FuTuRe: HeLPInG PeOPLe PROTeCT THe GReAT LAkeS

the great Lakes are an interna-tional treasure like no other in the world—and they are at risk. freshwater future works to ensure the health of the great Lakes for our children, grandchildren and future generations. We are dedi-cated to the belief that individuals can and do make a difference.

freshwater future builds effec-tive community-based initiatives to protect and restore the water quality of the great Lakes basin. freshwater future is a powerful resource investing in the people and communities caring for our great Lakes waters. over the past 14 years, we have:

• helped thousands of community-based groups and individuals

• Provided over $1 million in grants

• connected citizens to resources and each other, building a great Lakes community

• Provided one-on-one assistance to build leadership skills for citizens and community-based groups

• distributed thousands of locally targeted resource toolkits and other materials

FReSHWATeR FuTuRe BeLIeveS THAT:

• effective citizen engagement improves the health of our communities

• citizens closest to the issueshave the knowledge and ability to make a difference

• Positive change at the locallevel is important for protecting our resources

2 FreShwater Future ServIceS Freshwater Future

The Kalamazoo River Cleanup Coali-tion was formed as an ad hoc citizen action group in the spring of 2007,

to oppose an EPA-approved plan to dump polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)-contam-inated river sediments at a former paper mill site. Now, as a nonprofit organization, they continue to engage EPA, Responsible Parties, area residents, and other stake-holders to find suitable solutions to clean up the Kalamazoo River.

The EPA has now published a Feasibility Study, outlining PCB cleanup options. The

cleanup method is to be selected within the next few months. Kalamazoo River Cleanup Coalition considers it impera-tive that Kalamazoo residents are aware of options, and have input into the selected cleanup method.

Freshwater Future is funding a public meeting where Kalamazoo River Cleanup Coalition will inform area stakeholders about the cleanup options, obtain public input, and provide advocacy for the best possible re-use of the affected land.

Spring 2010 FreShwater Future member newS 7

Photo by breNda JoNeS

Photo by cari kieNitz ~ fadiNg SaNdcaStLe

Two Rivers Coalition is a citizen based group working to protect the health of the Black River and Paw Paw River

Watersheds through conservation, educa-tion, and advocacy. Their current initia-tives include phosphorus ban education and outreach, a buffer incentive program, wetland restoration and protection, and septic system education and outreach.

Freshwater Future funding was used to help host a workshop for about 75 decision makers and citizens about the benefits and mechanics of managing stormwater runoff with green infrastructure. Decision makers were provided with resources such

as sample master plan language and zon-ing ordinance models and encouraged to use the new Michigan Low Impact Devel-opment Manual.

Freshwater Future’s Insight Services Grants provide assistance from Freshwater Fu-ture staff to fill organizational needs related to finances, fundraising, strategy, me-dia and more. Recent Insight Services grants were awarded to Federation of Ontario

Cottagers Association to develop a fundraising and membership plan and CROP PLUS to work with a media consultant to learn how to gain media attention for their issue.

Thank You to All of Our Donors from February through April 2010D I R e C T O R ’ S n O T e S

Acting with PrecautionJill Ryan, Executive Director

In order to protect our environment from harm in the face of uncer-tainty about the consequences of

a particular action, we should assume that the worst may result until we have proven that is not the case. This prin-ciple is called the precautionary prin-ciple and allows decision-makers to proceed with some information still unknown while providing protection from possible consequences.

Asian carp are in my opinion one of those problems that should be acted upon in light of the precautionary principle because they have the poten-tial to do extreme harm to a public re-source: our Great Lakes ecosystem and fishery. While actions are being taken to try to ensure that these fish do not establish in our Great Lakes, there re-mains disagreement in approaches to preventing the fish from reaching the lakes in the short and long term.

As citizens who care about and under-stand our stewardship responsibility to these wonderful water resources, now is the time to express our desires to de-cision makers that consensus must be reached on these management activi-ties to protect our water resources and the economies that rely on them and that the precautionary approach must be employed.

Dave Foerster and Joe Parman of the Two Rivers Coalition

kalamazoo River Cleanup Coalition

gLoWiNg rockS, Lake SUPerior

Congratulations to Molly Flanagan and Chris Grubb! Photo courtesy Sarah Babcock studios.

aldo Leopold, 1949: “a thing is right when it tends to

preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. it is wrong when it tends otherwise.” ~ from a Sand county almanac

NoNProfit orgU.S. PoStage

PAIDPetoSkey, Mi PerMit #15

P.O. Box 2479 Petoskey, MI 49770

printed on recycled paper

Address service requested

Sea lamprey, alewives, zebra mussels are just a few of the inva-

sive species harming our lakes both ecologically and economically. The health of the Great Lakes is seriously threatened by problems from invasive species. Over 180 species have al-ready been introduced in the Great Lakes and cost the region an estimated $5 billion every year. Now the Asian carp is nearing Lake Michigan in several locations. Environmental DNA testing indicates the presence of Asian carp be-yond the two electric bar-riers installed in the Illinois River by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prevent the Asian carp from entering the Chicago Shipping canal. Results from April 1st show the presence of the Asian carp in the O’Brien Lock and Dam area. (See map on page 5). On April 30, 2010 there was a positive Environmental DNA hit in the Calumet Sag Channel. On May 20, a second ro-tenone application will be applied in a two-mile stretch to remove any Asian carp. A net will be placed under the channel before and during the application to collect any fish killed during the event. The O’Brien lock will be closed for 5-7 days during the treatment time.

There are two species of Asian carp making their way to Lake Michigan—bighead carp and silver carp. Both species are well suited for our climate. Asian carp reproduce quickly and can eat 40% of their body weight daily, taking food needed for

our native fish. In Illinois, the Asian carp popu-lation has doubled every year since it has been in the Illinois River. Bighead carp can grow to four and five feet and weigh up to 100 pounds. The black carp also poses an additional threat—they eat primarily mollusks potentially harming threatened native mussels and sturgeon. Black carp can grow to seven feet in length and weigh 150 pounds.

If the Asian carp does make it to Lake Michigan it will likely:• Out compete native fish populations—lake

perch, whitefish and walleye and become the dominant species

• Hurt our economy by harming the Great Lakes’ fish and birds that generate over $15 billion in spending annually on fishing, hunting, wild-life watching, and boating

Spring 2010, Issue 2

What’s Inside:

• Freshwater Future Grants Awarded

• Healing Our Waters Grants Available Through Freshwater Future

• Get Your Message Out Loud and Clear

• Celebrating Milestones— Success from the Field

• Join us in the 3rdAnnual Walk, Paddle and Roll

Freshwater FutureP.O. Box 2479

Petoskey, MI 49770Phone: (231) 348-8200www.freshwaterfuture.org

Photo by david aNdre ~ fogged iN What is ultimately needed is to sever the connection between the great Lakes and the Mississippi river basins.

Where are the Asian Carp?

Continued on page 5

If Asian carp establish in Lake Michigan they will alter our Great Lakes forever.

Freshwater Future sends a special thank you to the Looking Good Aveda Concept Salon and Spa in Fremont, Ohio for se-lecting Freshwater Future as their Earth Month Partner. We want to thank the staff and customers at Looking Good for helping to raise money for Freshwater Future that supports our work to help people protect our Great Lakes.

Freshwater Future is now on Facebook and Twitter!At Freshwater Future, we intend to bring a FRESH approach to social networking. We want to hear from you! Please visit our Facebook page (select like) and sign up to hear our tweets. Let us know what you most want to hear from us. We’ll send out notices to our friends about grant deadlines, opportunities to get involved in issues critical to the Great Lakes, and share success stories of people like you working hard to protect our waters. Visit the website www.freshwaterfuture.org for the links.

&

Thank You Looking Good Aveda Concept Salon and Spa

kate gardNer, fLickr