25 things you can do to help the New River Watershed
Make a donation to New River Conservancy. Every dollar counts. Every person makes a difference. From tiny springs grow mighty rivers. You can be a spring. Donate HERE.
Become a member of New River Conservancy. We could not do the work without our volunteers and members. The New thanks you. Join HERE
Plant native plants. Native plants do not require fertilizers and require fewer pesticides than lawns. Native plants require less water than lawns and help prevent erosion.
Reduce fertilizer on your lawn. Excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus can cause harmful algal blooms (HABs) in freshwater systems, which not only disrupt wildlife, but can also produce toxins harmful to humans.
Use and leave the leaves. Leaf litter provides habitat, insulation, and protection for insect pollinators.
Use Biodegradable Cleaning Products. Green cleaning products are naturally derived, non-toxic, and biodegradable, meaning they have less impact on the environment
Sweep Patios and Sidewalks Rather than Using the Hose. Washing even a small section of sidewalk with a hose can use over 50 gallons of water. If you are using a pressure washer you are also using electricity and creating noise. Most of the debris that is on your patio or sidewalk is organic, and can be swept onto your green spaces.
Buy a reusable water bottle and use it. The production of 1 imported bottle of water uses close to 2 gallons of water. Put your New River Conservancy decal on your new thermos/ water bottle.
Fix Leaky Faucets. Promptly repairing a leak can save nearly 10% on water consumption. You could potentially be wasting hundreds of gallons of water a month by ignoring the problem.
Collect the water that you run while waiting for the water to reach your desired temperature and use it to water plants.
Rig up a rain barrel. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that a rain barrel saves the average homeowner up to 1,300 gallons of water each year. That’s 1,300 gallons that won’t show up on your water bill.
Prevent runoff. When we take action to soak up the rain by creating rain gardens or using barrels, we keep rain closer to where it falls and reduce the runoff from our roofs, driveways, and parking lots. Reducing runoff can help prevent water pollution, reduce flooding, and protect our precious drinking water resources.
Use less deicing salt in winter. As snow and ice melt on roads, the salt washes into soil, lakes and streams, in some cases contaminating drinking water reservoirs and wells.
Respect the plants and animals around you. Nature is a delicate ecosystem. Petting wild animals and moving rocks disturbs this ecosystem, harming the creeks and rivers.
Pick up litter as you go – on and off the river. Get into the habit of bringing a cotton string bag with you on your walk or float to pick up litter. Every piece of trash that is taken away to be recycled or deposited in a landfill means there is one less dangerous item for birds, salamanders, fish and otters.
Eat more plants. On average it takes around 200 gallons of water to produce one ¼ pound beef burger, which is equivalent to your 5 minute shower for a week.
Connect with us. Spread your clean river love through social media. Follow New River Conservancy and other watershed organizations. Follow, Like, Comment and Share. Share your photos and stories with us on our social media pages.
Become an informed voter. Make informed choices before you vote. Don’t give your voice to someone who doesn’t even know you.
Raise your voice. Advocate for healthy rivers with your representatives so they know a healthy watershed is important to you.
Walk the river trail, your neighborhood, to work or school.
Eliminate bare spots in your yard. Weak or dead grass also is an open invitation to insects or disease.
Make a rain garden. Planted with grasses and flowering perennials, rain gardens can be a cost effective and beautiful way to reduce runoff from your property. Rain gardens can also help filter out pollutants in runoff and provide food and shelter for butterflies, song birds and other wildlife.
Go plastic free for your drinking water. Use a thermos or go old school and use a quart jar with a lid. Share your #plasticfree with us.
Don’t mow, let it grow. Riparian buffers need grasses and shrubs. Allow at least 15 feet of unmowed area between the stream and the mowed edge. Share your #letitgrow with us.
Volunteer for a river cleanup near you. Since 2001, we’ve had over 7,000 volunteers help clean over 1000 river miles of the New River throughout the entire watershed. Volunteer HERE
