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Clean water isn't just something we drink. Healthy aquatic ecosystems are often teeming with life. Lakes and streams are homes to fish, insects, turtles, snakes, aquatic mammals and more.
 Clean
water is vital to our ecosystems
Every living thing needs water to survive. Animals need it to drink, and plants need it to grow. But healthy ecosystems also often depend on the critters living in the water. Grizzly bears, bald eagles and countless other species rely on fish for a large part of their diet. Many birds, bats and reptiles live off of insects that are born on bodies of water. It's surprising how many species depend on healthy aquatic systems.
Clean
water is important to people
Yeah, it goes without saying, we need clean water to drink. But people also enjoy clean water for fishing, canoeing, swimming and countless other types of outdoor recreation. That doesn't even count the massive fishing industries that have developed around healthy water ecosystems. Clean water is something we enjoy, and something our economy is built upon.
Individuals can make a difference
Individuals can help protect the balance of aquatic ecosystems by reducing the use of fertilizers on their lawns. These chemicals always runoff into streams, rivers, lakes or oceans, often leading to harmful algal blooms. People with lakefront property, or with a stream running through their yard, should not mow right up to the water's edge. Planting tall grasses, shrubs and trees to create a "vegetative buffer" will help to absorb runoff that could contaminate the water. Finally, individuals can get involved with community organizations working to promote regulations that protect the water on a large scale.
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