Gretchen Kraig-Turner

I will organize a trash clean up effort with friends, family, and neighbors at my favorite local trail or salmon stream to keep trash from flowing downstream via storm drains to Puget Sound and/or Pacific Ocean.

I will spend 10 minutesIdentifying what sub-basin I live in and learning about my watershed's water quality, fish habitat problems, and options for volunteering.

At least 30% of crops and 90% of flowering plants rely on pollinators to produce fruit. I will spend 15 minutes researching which plants support local native pollinators and plant some in my yard to improve our regional ecosystem.

Plastic bags and small plastic pieces like straws are most likely to get swept into our Puget Sound and/or Pacific Ocean waterways. I will keep 5 plastic straw(s) out of the landfill per day by refusing straws or using my own glass/metal straw.

I will not accept any disposable bags when making purchases further reducing plastics that may enter Puget Sound and/or the Pacific Ocean.

I will find out how I can limit single-use items and do my best to limit the waste I generate, so long term, it stays out of the Puget Sound and/or the Pacific Ocean.

I will make a piece of art that connects my life to the life of Orcas and Salmon, and share it on social media.

I will avoid sending 1 disposable cup(s) to landfills by using a reusable mug.

I will spend 10 to research, write-up, and deliver 1 page about why my family, landlord, apartment manager, or school should switch to natural/organic yard care practices, and deliver to that person.

I will pick up pet waste on every walk and once a week in my yard, since stormwater otherwise carries it to the Puget Sound and/or the Pacific Ocean.

I will pick up and properly dispose of litter on a daily walk through my neighborhood, since stormwater will otherwise carry it to the Puget Sound and/or the Pacific Ocean.

I will spend 10 minutes learning about local marine laws pertaining to orcas, responsible boat maintenance techniques, and will follow the Be Whale Wise guidelines.

I will learn where pumpout facilities are in the Puget Sound areas I go boating, and use those pumpout facilities instead of dumping into the Puget Sound or Pacific Ocean beyond.

When I wash my car I will always take it to a commercial car wash facility to avoid driveway drainage of toxic chemicals entering the storm drain and local waterways, poisoning fish and Orcas in Puget Sound and/or the Pacific Ocean.

Spend 10 minutes educating my family/friends about Southern Resident Orca Whales and their endangered food supply.

I will maintain my car/vehicle by fixing all car leaks and avoid leakage draining to the Puget Sound and/or the Pacific Ocean

I will keep 4 disposable plastic bottle(s) from entering the waste stream, and downstream in Puget Sound and/or the Pacific Ocean, by using a reusable water bottle.

Contamination prevents what is recyclable from being recycled. I will research and recycle all materials that are accepted by my local haulers or drop stations in my community.

I will engage in nature-based activities alone, or with my friends or family, for 10 minute(s) each day to connect with the shared ecosystem in which I live and rely on. (This can be anything from going on a walk or hike, to noticing the leaves changing color, to reading a book with nature themes.)