Charlotte Spang

Seattle Aquarium

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
700 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

560

gallons of water

have been saved
UP TO

21

locally sourced meals

consumed

Charlotte's actions

Water

5-Minute Showers

I will save up to 20 gallons (75 L) of water each day by taking 5-minute showers to minimize my water footprint, as in many watersheds, a drop for me is one less for salmon, which then warms streams or impairs salmon streamflows.

COMPLETED 28
DAILY ACTIONS

Education

Contact my elected officials

I will contact my local elected officials and explain why I care about Salmon/Orcas and how investment in habitat restoration and acquisition is needed for their survival.

UNCOMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Water

Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants

I will prevent harmful storm-water runoff to the Puget Sound and/or Pacific Ocean and increase absorbency by mulching the base of plants and trees at my home or work.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Locally-Sourced Meals

I will source 1 meal(s) per day from local Puget Sound producers.

COMPLETED 21
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?

Charlotte Spang 10/26/2020 6:36 PM

I was out of town over the weekend, so I missed the opportunity to get to the farmer's market. The only definitively locally sourced food items that I can find in our nearby grocery store are beets, potatoes, parsnips, eggs, cheese, apples and mushrooms. Kale, chard and carrots from WA and OR - not sure OR qualifies as local. Luckily I still have some left over chicken, as well as onions, celeriac and hazelnuts, from last week's visit to the Farmer's Market. I'm making stock now for a few different kinds of soups for the week ahead.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Water Mulch the Base of Trees and Plants

Where are your nearest natural bodies of water? How might they be affected by runoff?

Charlotte Spang 10/14/2020 2:29 PM

My nearest bodies of water are Green Lake, Piper's Creek, and Puget Sound. Since I live in an urban area with a lot of paved surfaces these bodies of water are getting a big pulse of polluted stormwater runoff any time it rains since our storm drains empty into our local bodies of water. Runoff is negatively impacting all the bodies of water I live near. Since I like to swim in Green Lake, I worry about what I might be swimming in. Since I care about salmon and know that carwash runoff can kill juvenile salmon, I worry about water quality and the health of salmon in our local streams. Each fall, coho and chum return to Piper's Creek, but many coho die before they spawn. Scientists consider urban runoff a probable cause for pre-spawn mortality in coho. Shellfish harvesting is not recommended along the eastern shoreline from Everett to Tacoma due to urban runoff. Even though Puget Sound looks beautiful and clean, there are many pollutants that are entering the Sound via runoff impacting water quality.

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- Marta Burnet 10/14/2020 4:19 PM
  
  I share your concern. I live near the Cedar River (been attending CRSJ for years before I started working here). I walk along the river trail and do clean ups to try to reduce some of the trash that ends up in the river that can negatively impact the salmon (as well as other wildlife).
  
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REFLECTION QUESTION
Water 5-Minute Showers

Five minute showers are an impressive step toward reducing your water footprint. What is the next step you can take?

Charlotte Spang 10/06/2020 1:15 PM

When using hot or warm water, use a bucket(s) to catch water as it warms up instead of letting it run down the drain.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Locally-Sourced Meals

If you were to only eat what is in season locally, what would be the hardest food item for you to give up?

Charlotte Spang 10/06/2020 1:08 PM

Coffee and tea would be the hardest things to give up, followed by salad greens and tomatoes.

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