Why Water?

1. Why Water? • Water is fundamental to life. It flows throughout our State, our community, and within each of us. Introduction Action Awareness Advocacy Programs

2. We Rely on Clean Waterways For safe and healthy drinking water… • Habitat for fish, bugs, mussels and other wildlife • Recreation-- fishing, canoeing, kayaking, bird watching, and swimming Introduction Action Awareness Advocacy Programs

3. Storm Water Pollution • Roughly 2/3 rds of the pollution in our water ways can be attributed to storm water runoff. Storm water runoff threatens the water quality of both urban and rural water ways Introduction Action Awareness Advocacy Programs

4. State of Ohio’s Water WaysBy the Numbers In 2010 only 60% of Ohio’s streams tested as capable of supporting aquatic species falling short of the “80% in 2010” goal 25 public Lakes were closed to human contact Only 39% of public water sources were evaluated between 2008-2010 66-75% of fish in major water ways are unsafe for consumption. 66% of sites where people are most likely to swim are not meeting the recreational use standard. Introduction Action Awareness Advocacy Programs

5. What is the Clean Water Campaign?Protecting Our Water at The Source Advocacy Action Awareness Introduction Action Awareness Advocacy Programs

6. Clean Water Campaign “Taking Action” • River Clean Ups • Ecological Restoration • Water Testing Introduction Action Awareness Advocacy Programs

7. River Clean Up’s Trash too often ends up in our Rivers and Streams Over 200 hundred volunteers spent 500 hundred cleaning up our water ways in 2010. Tons of Trash Some items included; tires, bottles, carpeting, Styrofoam, clothing, more bottles, glass, electronics, batteries, scrap metal, and more bottles. Introduction Action Awareness Advocacy Programs

8. Ecological Restoration Wetlands, Rain gardens, and riparian buffers help control storm water pollution. In 2010, hundreds of volunteers cleared invasive species, restored wetlands and stream corridors, and built rain gardens. Introduction Action Awareness Advocacy Programs

9. Water Testing EventsWhat’s in the Water? Dissolved Oxygen PH Turbidity Citizen Science can be used to guide policy and inform law makers Introduction Action Awareness Advocacy Programs

10. Raising Awareness Educational Workshops Movie Nights, Lectures, and tabling events Introduction Action Awareness Advocacy Programs

11. Backyard Conservation Series What can you do in your own backyard to help protect our water? Organic Gardening Know your Watershed Native Plants Land Conservation Rain barrels Rain Gardens Composting Introduction Action Awareness Advocacy Programs

12. AdvocacySpeaking Out for Clean Water Tabling Events Public Hearings Collecting Petitions Legislative Lobbying Public Comments Watch Dogging Introduction Action Awareness Advocacy Programs

13. Issues in 2011 Great Lakes Compact -collected 850 comments -requires legislative action Nutrient pollution -Collected 1,500 postcards -Numeric Nutrient Standard -ODNR draft language Combined Sewer Consent Orders -Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo, Akron Introduction Action Awareness Advocacy Programs

14. Clean Water Campaign Programs Generous Support from Aveda -April is Earth Month -Last year we raised close to $100,000 Water Committee -Monthly Water Calls -Programming planning and implementation Introduction Action Awareness Advocacy Programs

15. Water Testing The Clean Water Campaign has 35 water testing and hopes to expand in 2011 Coordinating with groups and community stakeholder across the State Developing Partnership with OEPA Introduction Action Awareness Advocacy Programs

16. Clean Water Fellowship Program Goals of Program Addresses local water quality issues Train future environmental leaders Fellows learn to take action, raise awareness and advocate for clean water. foster connections between local Sierra Club groups and the State Chapter Visit Ohio Sierra Club’s Clean Water Program Page Introduction Action Awareness Advocacy Programs

17. Questions?