YOU CAN HELP KEEP OUR WATER CLEAN

Transcription

1 YOU CAN HELP KEEP OUR WATER CLEAN A children s activity book courtesy of the City of Greer Storm Water Division

2 USE FEWER CHEMICALS ON LAWNS AND GARDENS

3 We ALL benefit from clean water!

4 INHABITANTS OF THE WETLANDS WORD SEARCH A O O T I B S N A K E L W A T L M R E T B X Q E G M B P P O Y A Z I A B A S S T U A F O R D D A D R N C N S J U B P X V B H R I Z P Y N C R T B R I P E M E E A W Y O Z O O S E E T W L O H O R G K A L K W O E T N X B Z P D A O O C A E C M N A E B F Q P O M B N N A Y N U I W C R A Y F I S H O O F L A A D N Z E O T E B T S D A Q L B T T D M M I N K X A P U M B P Y U Y N O W Q P E P R W L M H O E R S G A O N P W O K X B Z T D A T A X N O W M E E S B W O O D M L P P R Y A R I E U E P E W E D E P I T N E C I F M S A L A M A N D E R O X A E M L C L T B M O S Q U I T O G Y N C I BEAVER CRAYFISH MINNOW FROG TURTLE MUSKRAT MOSQUITO BASS TADPOLE WOOD DUCK RACCOON DRAGONFLY OPOSSUM SALAMANDER BLACK WIDOW CENTIPEDE HERON BEAR MINK SNAIL SNAKE WATER BUG Wetlands are a vital link between water and land. Wetlands is the collective term for marshes, swamps, bogs, and similar areas found in generally flat vegetated areas, in depressions in the landscape, and between dry land and water along the edges of streams, rivers, lakes, and coastlines. Wetlands can be found in nearly every county and climatic zone in the United States. Most likely, a wetland exists in your neighborhood or very close to it. Because they are so varied, wetlands can be difficult to recognize. Some are wet all of the time; some may look completely dry most of the time. Our ideas of what a wetland should look like may not include all types of wetlands. Some wetlands are large and some are very small. Many have been altered by human activities such as farming, ranching, and the building of roads, dams, and towns. Wetlands have often been regarded as wastelands sources of mosquitoes, flies, unpleasant odors, and disease. People thought of wetlands as places to avoid or, better yet, eliminate. Largely because of this negative view, more than half of America s original wetlands have been destroyed drained and converted to farmland, filled for housing developments and industrial facilities, or used to dispose of household and industrial waste. As people understand ecological processes better, attitudes towards wetlands change. We now know that wetlands are, in fact, valuable natural resources. Whether drier or wetter, bigger or smaller, wetlands provide important benefits to people and the environment. Wetlands help regulate water levels within watersheds; improve water quality; reduce flood and storm damages; provide important fish and wildlife habitat; and support hunting, fishing, and other recreational activities. Wetlands are natural wonderlands of great value. SOURCE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

5 Picking up lawn debris helps keep it from washing into the storm drain. Help Susie and Rover rake lawn clippings into the trash can. ANYTHING THAT GOES INTO A STORM DRAIN ENDS UP IN OUR LAKES, STREAMS, AND RIVERS WITHOUT BEING TREATED

6 Remember to scoop the poop! Cleaning up after your pets keeps animal waste out of our rivers, lakes, and streams DID YOU KNOW? Poop Scoop stations with plastic bags are located in Greer City Park?

7 CLEAN WATER WE CAN ALL GET EXCITED ABOUT HAVING CLEAN WATER!

8 MAX NEEDS TO PUMP A SEPTIC TANK Making sure septic tanks are regularly pumped and the systems inspected helps prevent stormwater runoff pollution. Help Max find the correct path to the next house so he can pump the septic tank.

9 CONNECT THE DOTS & COLOR ME

10 REMEMBER, ONLY RAIN SHOULD GO DOWN THE STORM DRAIN!

11 FILL IN THE MISSING VOWELS (A, E, I, O, or U) A single gallon of motor O L can pollute one million gallons of water if disposed of improperly. Please take used oil to a proper recycling facility. Runoff of S L from barren land can cloud nearby streams, rivers, and lakes. The cattail is one wetland P L purify polluted runoff. Yard and vegetable food W additions to a compost pile. N T that helps S T E are suitable Bag grass clippings (or leave them on your L to reduce the need for commercial fertilizers). WN The City of GR R checks industrial and construction sites to make sure our water stays clean. The wakes of speeding B TS can erode shorelines.

12 301 East Poinsett Street Greer, SC