Category: Fall 2025 Project Teams

Water Pollution & Kula Kamala

Kyleigh WardFall 2025 Project Teams

💜We are Team Lavender!!!💜

🌾Hunter Healy is a first-year student majoring in Accounting at Penn State Berks. Hunter is also a part of the Sustainability Council at Penn State Berks.

 

💐Eliana Koehler is a second-year student majoring in Animal Science at Penn State Berks. Her hobbies include being involved on the Penn State Berks Tennis Team and loves animals.

 

đŸŒčKyleigh Ward is a fourth-year student majoring in Psychology at Penn State Berks. Her hobbies include reading, and spending most of her time at work helping 

 

đŸȘ»McKenzie Tritz is a first-year student majoring in Business at Penn State Berks. McKenzie is also a part of the WBB team.

Research: Water Pollution

Our team is focused on water pollution, a critical issue that affects ecosystems, human health, and access to clean drinking water. Much of today’s water pollution is caused by human activity, including waste dumping, agricultural runoff, and industrial discharge. Nearly half of the U.S. rivers are unsafe recreation,and globally, most wastewater enters the environment without proper treatment. Agriculture contributes to the problem through livestock waste and runoff carrying fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides into nearby waterways. Industrial sources such as oil spills and chemical waste further contaminate rivers, lakes, and oceans, harming aquatic life and reducing safe water supplies. Solving water pollution requires action at every level. Enforcing environmental regulations, improving stormwater management and making responsible choices, like properly disposing of chemicals and conserving water, can help protect our water resources. Together, we can reduce pollution and support a healthier, more sustainable future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_Xw0E5Z7uM

Service: Kula Kamala

Together, we worked over the course of a few weeks at the Kula Kamala Foundation. This foundation is a yoga ashram where they teach yoga classes, provide spaces for religious practices, make meals to feed the community, host retreats, provide fruits and vegetables from their own gardens for the community, and more. During our time here, we learned about what they do at Kula Kamala, tested the water quality of a newly-acquired stream, collected samples from their gardens, corn field, and soil in their domes, and helped get their new domes together for the winter. They recently finished construction on domes that they will use to grow spices, herbs, and vegetables through the winter so that the community can continue to utilize their resources. This was an amazing experience to learn about new aspects of how to provide for a community, and what environmental aspects they contribute to here at Kula Kamala.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdchU4FkgNw

Reflection: We learned so much about water pollution through the research we conducted in preparation for our service project. We now know how we can contribute to improving water pollution in our own lives, rather than thinking it is strictly a larger issue that we cannot help combat. Additionally, our service project taught us how to conduct a water quality test, collect samples for soil testing, assist in cleaning up gardens to prepare for the spring, and learn about what the foundation does to give back to their community.

 

The Fight Against Plastic Pollution with EcoLogic

jjp7112Ecologic

 Hi! Our names are Jaeden, Esteban, and Christian, and we make up the team EcoLogic. We are all freshmen at Penn State Berks, and for our Fall 2025 EACAP project, we worked with WhatSUP Berks to tackle the issue of plastic pollution.

Research

Our group conducted research on the topic of plastic pollution, examining its causes, environmental impacts, and global significance. We explored how plastic production and use have increased rapidly since the mid-20th century, leading to millions of tons of plastic waste entering landfills and natural ecosystems each year. Plastic pollution has become a major environmental issue, especially in oceans, where plastics harm marine life, disrupt food chains, and break down into microplastics that persist in the environment. Our research highlighted key challenges associated with plastic pollution, including overreliance on single-use plastics, limited recycling effectiveness, and the difficulty of removing plastic once it enters the environment. By analyzing these issues, we gained a deeper understanding of how plastic pollution affects both local communities and the global ecosystem. We used our research to create a narrated presentation to help educate others about the problem and potential solutions, which you can view here.

 

Service

Along with researching about plastic pollution, our team worked with the organization WhatSUP berks, to help push a ban for single use plastic bags in the Berks County. If you would like to learn more, feel free to watch our short informational video about our collaboration with this organization.

 

Conclusion

We as a team have learned a lot, and have gained a lot of valuable experience throughout the semester. We have helped make a change and spread awareness in our community, and I am happy to say that I am proud of the work that we have done as a team.

CITY DWELLIN’ DEER INTRO POST

lvl5718Blue Marsh

Hey everyone! We are City Dwellin’ Deer!

Meet the Team

Team Name: City Dwellin’ Deer

Team Members:

  • Willow –  My name is Willow and I am a Psychology major at Penn State Berks. I enjoy the type of service we are doing because I enjoy keeping public places clean and healthy. 
  • Brian – Hi, I’m Brian, a lifelong learner with a passion for environmental stewardship, community service, and helping others. I enjoy working on hands-on projects that make a positive impact, from watershed cleanups to sustainability outreach. I’m dedicated, curious, and always looking for ways to support my community and keep growing personally and professionally.
  • Walten – I’m Walten. I’m a film production major at Penn State. I like to play music, draw and film. Coming from NYC, I’ve seen lots of trash and litter all around. Participating in cleanups is something I enjoy!

Team Photo:

 

  1. Our Research Issue: Plastic Pollution & Its Impact on Local Watersheds

Our team focused on plastic pollution in Berks County and its effect on the Blue Marsh Watershed, part of the larger Delaware River Watershed system. Plastic debris, microplastics, and recreational waste are harmful to water quality, wildlife, and ecosystem health.

Relevant SDGs

  • SDG 6: Clean Water & Sanitation
  • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption & Production
  • SDG 13: Climate Action
  • SDG 14 & 15: Life Below Water / Life on Land
  • Research Highlights

Our research presentation explored:

  • Types and sources of plastic pollution
  • Impacts on water quality, biodiversity, and human health
  • The role of recreation areas (like Blue Marsh) in contributing to waste
  • Solutions including policy, community involvement, and sustainable behavior

 

 

  1. Our Service Project: Litter Cleanup at Blue Marsh Lake

Partner Organization:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — Blue Marsh Lake Project Office

What We Were Asked to Do

We were assigned to help improve recreation areas by:

  • Removing litter
  • Documenting the types of waste found
  • Mapping cleanup zones
  • Supporting the Corps’ ongoing conservation efforts

Where We Cleaned

  • 📍 State Hill Boat Launch
  • 📍 Dry Brooks Day Use Area
  • 📍 Lakeview Pavilion

What We Accomplished

  • Number of bags collected: 8
  • Types of litter most commonly found: plastics, fishing line, food wrappers, bottles
  • Notable findings or patterns: It looked like considerable litter is generated by people fishing at the lake.
  • Hours contributed: 8

Photos & Artifacts

Dirty sock found when cleaning

 

 

Service Video – 

 

  1. Reflection: What EACAP Taught Us

Academic + Research Learning

Through our research, we learned:

  • The complexity of pollution in recreational watersheds
  • How individual actions accumulate into large-scale environmental challenges
  • The importance of interdisciplinary thinking in addressing sustainability

Community Service Learning

Through hands-on service:

  • We saw firsthand how quickly litter accumulates
  • We recognized the connection between human behavior and ecosystem health
  • We gained appreciation for the work of local organizations like the Army Corps

 

Personal Growth

EACAP helped us develop:

  • Teamwork and communication skills
  • Public speaking and research presentation skills
  • A deeper sense of environmental responsibility

 

  1. Our Message to Other Youth & Community Members

Environmental change starts small. Whether it’s reducing single-use plastics, joining a watershed organization, or simply picking up litter on a walk, every action matters.

We encourage future EACAP students, and anyone reading this, to take the step from awareness to action. Protecting our watersheds is a shared responsibility, and together we can make an impact locally and globally.

 

Environmental Avengers: Hooked on Sustainability — Impacts of Fishing on Marine Ecosystems

Ryan HighEnvironmental Avengers 2025

Team Introduction

Ryan High (Team Leader – Right) – Led the research and service project and coordinated group responsibilities.

Mia Kennedy (Team Progress Log Manager – Left) – Tracked project progress, deadlines, and organized documentation.

Corey Zimmerman (Team Liaison – Middle) – Served as the primary point of contact between the team and external partners.

Research Issue: Fishing & Recreation Impacts on Biodiversity

Our research focuses on how recreational and commercial fishing practices negatively impact marine biodiversity, particularly through abandoned fishing gear, non-selective fishing methods, and overfishing. Fishing line and nets are commonly made from durable synthetic materials such as nylon and polyethylene, which can persist in the environment for decades.

One major issue we explored is Abandoned, Lost, or Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG). An estimated 6.4 million tons of fishing gear enter the ocean each year. This gear continues to trap marine life in a process known as ghost fishing, harming fish, seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals while disrupting ecosystems and food webs.

We also examined bottom trawling, one of the most destructive fishing practices. Bottom trawling involves dragging heavy nets along the ocean floor, destroying habitats, capturing non-target species, and contributing to massive bycatch. This practice accelerates overfishing and threatens both biodiversity and coastal economies that rely on sustainable fisheries.

These impacts contribute to serious global consequences, including habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity, and food insecurity. Currently, 31% of global fish stocks are overfished, with another 58% fished at full capacity, leaving little room for recovery.

 

Service Project: Fishing Line Recycling & Environmental Protection

Our service project directly addressed the issue of discarded fishing line pollution, which poses a severe threat to wildlife through entanglement and ingestion. We partnered with the Sierra Club and Blue Marsh Lake staff to design and install fishing line recycling containers at high-traffic fishing areas.

Initially, the Sierra Club provided us with several possible locations and ideas. After planning and discussion, we finalized our project site at Blue Marsh Lake, where fishing activity is common and the risk of line pollution is high. Our group constructed PVC recycling pipes designed to be more effective than older models. Our containers are larger and include an unscrewable bottom, allowing for easier maintenance and safer removal of collected line.

An exciting aspect of this project is that our recycling containers also support a Boy Scout troop’s new handicap-accessible fishing area, helping ensure that sustainability efforts are inclusive and community-focused.

This project allowed us to take what we learned from our research and apply it in a real-world setting, directly reducing environmental harm while educating the public about responsible fishing practices.

 

EACAP Project Reflection & Message to Others

Participating in the EACAP project helped us understand how research and service work together to create meaningful environmental change. Learning about the long-term impacts of fishing gear pollution was eye-opening, especially seeing how something as small as discarded fishing line can cause severe injury or death to wildlife.

Working with the Sierra Club and Blue Marsh Lake staff showed us how collaboration between students, organizations, and local communities can make sustainability efforts more effective. This project reinforced that environmental problems are not just global issues, they are local, visible, and solvable when people take responsibility.

Through this experience, we gained a stronger appreciation for conservation, teamwork, and the importance of proactive solutions rather than reactive cleanup. To other students and young people, our message is simple: small actions matter. Whether it’s disposing of fishing line properly, supporting conservation efforts, or educating others, everyone has the ability to reduce their environmental impact and protect biodiversity for future generations.

Sustainabuddys Help the Environment One Tree at a Time!

jmf7518Berks Nature

Meet the Sustainabuddys

From left; Justin, Dime, Markus, Az

 

Az: Azahel Henriquez is a first-year student from Wyomissing, PA. He is majoring in business.

Dime: Dime Messina is a first-year student from Schuylkill Haven, PA. He is majoring in business.

Justin: Justin Fabbricatore is a first-year student from Brick, NJ. He is majoring in criminal justice.

Markus: Markus Geunes is a first-year student from Sinking Spring, PA. He is majoring in criminal justice.

 

Research

Our team’s project focused on learning more about the growing dangers of microplastics in water and how they impact both the environment and human health. Our main goal was to better understand the risks associated with microplastic exposure while also taking direct action to support environmental health within our local community.

We began our project by researching the presence of microplastics in water and the ways humans are exposed to them on a daily basis. Early on, we explored testing water at different sites to gain insight into the issue firsthand. As our research developed, we learned that addressing environmental problems also requires preventative and restorative action. This led us to focus primarily on a service project centered on improving local ecosystems.

Narrated Research Presentation

EACAP Sustainabuddys Presentation.pptx

Service

As part of our service component, all team members—Dime, Markus, Az, and Justin—worked together to plant trees at Baer Park and Reading Centre Park. Tree planting was chosen as a practical way to support environmental health, improve water filtration, and contribute to long-term ecological stability in our community. Through this experience, we were able to directly assist our local parks while applying the environmental knowledge we gained through our research.

Through this project, we accomplished both educational and hands-on goals. We not only gained a deeper understanding of the dangers microplastics pose to humans and the environment, but we also helped improve local green spaces by planting trees. Additionally, we learned valuable tree-planting skills and developed a better understanding of how to properly care for newly planted trees to ensure their long-term health and survival.

 Service Action Video

My Movie.mov

Reflection

Reflecting on this experience, our team gained a greater appreciation for the connection between scientific research and community action. Moving forward, continued research on microplastics and the development of new strategies to reduce exposure and pollution are essential. Projects like this demonstrate how small, local efforts can contribute to addressing larger global environmental issues, and we hope our work encourages others to take part in protecting both their communities and the environment.

Commute PA

Liam NoonanCommute PA

Saving the environment one car ride at a time!

Eco-Protectors Team Members

Liam Noonan- I am a Freshman majoring in Early Childhood Education.

Michael Thalassinos-I am a Freshman. I enjoy video games and baseball.

Owen Grove-I am a first year student, majoring in Business.

We are the Eco-Protectors and we are here to protect the environment. We are not only teammates for the environment but we are teammates on the baseball diamond too.

What is Commute PA?

Commute PA is a program designed to reduce traffic, cut pollution, and make traveling easier across Pennsylvania. It encourages people to use greener options like carpooling, biking, walking, or taking public transit instead of driving alone. By helping commuters find smarter travel choices, Commute PA aims to lower greenhouse-gas emissions and improve air quality in local communities. The program also offers tools and rewards that motivate people to build long-term sustainable commuting habits.

Scan Code_Logo for Commute PA

Research

Our team found that the number 1 contributor to global warming and climate change is air pollution. These particles and gases can come from many sources. These include exhaust from cars and trucks, pollution from factories, and smoke from wildfires. It also includes ash from volcanic eruptions, dust from deserts, sea spray, pollen, and mold spores. However, the number 1 contributor is pollution from the vehicles we drive. Carbon Dioxide is the primary green house gas emitted from cars and trucks. Other greenhouse gases include methane, nitrous oxide, but in smaller amounts. Green house gases contribute to global warming trapping heat in the atmosphere. Not only can the air be polluted from the burning of gasoline, but noncombustion sources like tire wear, brake dust, and road surface particles contribute to air pollution. Motor Vehicles are the largest source of air pollution in the US.

Climate Change and Pollution

Consequences of Air Pollution

  • Disrupts aviation including flight paths of birds, but also airplanes causing turbulence while traveling.
  • Contributes to climate change leading to global warming
  • Pollutes the water we drink
  • Respiratory sickness
  • Increase water-borne diseases from flooding and warmer waters, and the spread diseases like Lyme and Malaria

How Can You Help?

  • Decrease the amount of time you are traveling alone.
  • Increase your exercise and walk or bike whenever possible
  • Download the app and earn rewards.

Follow Along with Commute.PA on Instagram.

OR

Psuberks.commute.pa

Head on over to commute.pa.org

REFLECTION

Working with Commute PA helped us understand how everyday travel choices can make a real difference for the environment and our communities. We learned how small changes like carpooling or using public transit can reduce pollution and save money. Participating in the program also made us more aware of how transportation impacts air quality and traffic. Overall, it encouraged us to think more sustainably about how we get around.

osg5061Eco Protectors

Hello! We are the Eco Protectors! Our names are Michael, Liam, and Owen. This is a description of our research and our service we did regarding climate change and Commute PA.

Introduction:

My name is Michael; I am a first year. I am currently undecided about my major. I play baseball and enjoy playing video games.

Hi, my name is Owen; I am a first year. I am a business major and play baseball at Penn State Berks.

Hi, my name is Liam Noonan I am a first-year student that’s majoring in early education I play baseball at Penn state berks.

Sustainability Expo

Research

The research project we did focused on Climate Change and Air Pollution. This topic is really relative to today’s day in age. This topic is related to commute PA because of the emissions that vehicles give off when you drive them. Climate change is simply when there is a shift in the weather patterns on Earth. This is driven by the things that people do on Earth. Such as burning fossil fuels. Like when you drive a car with the gas going into the atmosphere and getting trapped.

Service

We worked with Commute Pa, a companion that has an app that helps to try to reduce air pollution. They do this by using the app to find ride shares and other ways of getting to different places. For example, like public transportation, biking, and walking. We all used the app to track our carpools and other things like that. To spread awareness on the app we have sat outside of our café telling our peers about the app. Even getting some download and try the app.

Reflection

In conclusion, we had a great time working with Commute PA to help make this planet safer one step at a time. It was a great experience working with everyone and getting the word out there to download the app. Michelle was amazing to work with and we loved her energy! We are very appreciative of her. We all think that everyone should download this app as it really is a good way to open your eyes of the problems, we have with car emissions, and you could help every day using the app.

 

Team Recycleables

Brayden ForrerFall 2025 Project Teams

Hello! We are Team Recycleables for the EACAP Project for Fall 2025. Our team consists of: Eshaan Tolani (Team Leader), Ryan La (Team Liaison), Brayden Forrer, and Ayokunle Mustapha. Together our group focused both our research and service on understanding how plastic pollution/waste occurs as well as ways to hopefully fix the problem for

the future.

Introductions

My name is Ryan La. I am a senior at Penn State Berks pursuing my bachelor’s degree inside of Business Marketing/Management. I am from Berks so I strongly believe in the ban on single-use plastic bags within Berks county and am glad to support What’SUP Berks.

 Hello, my name is Eshaan Tolani. I am a third year Psychology student. I’ve lived in the Berks County area my entire life so I very much support the efforts to ban single use plastics in the county.

 Hello, I’m Brayden Forrer, I’m a freshman at Penn State Berks and I plan to major in statistics. I’ve lived in Berks County my whole life and went to high school at Governor Mifflin. 

My name is Ayo, this will be my 3rd year at Penn State. I am an Animal Science major. I’m from New Jersey, a state that has already taken actions against single use plastics. So I know that such a thing is possible and helping to spread awareness is with the help of What’SUP Berks is an honor.

Research

The issue that we are trying to address with our initiative pertains to plastic pollution. A lot of plastics find their way to landfill sites, roadsides, and eventually enter rivers, seas, and other sources of fresh water, where they disintegrate into small plastics that affect marine life as well as sources of fresh water, which also find their way onto our dining tables. With increased plastic pollution, our ecosystems, health, and even climatic conditions are threatened. This requires actions from all of us, including individuals, governments, and even manufacturers of plastics. Our initiative involves promoting a policy in the Berks area.

 

Service

Our service project was in collaboration with the local organization WhatsUpBerks and their main organizers, Mr. Tom Crotty, Mrs. Grim Louise, and Mr. Arthur Grim. Their goal was to create grassroots support for a single use plastics ban in Berks County, based on similar bans in other areas of PA and other states. Their job for us was to go door to door to various local businesses to ask for managers or employees to sign a petition in support of such legislation. These petitions are then likely going to be sent over to PA state senator Judy Schwank to look over and see if there is enough support to pass such legislation. The specific details of the outreach we did can be seen in our video attached to the photo.

 

Reflection

Overall, our service project in collaboration with What’SUP Berks gave us as students an opportunity to make a difference within our local community by spreading information to the general public that may not have even known that plastic waste is a huge problem that is destroying our environment at such a rapid pace. Even as students, we were given insights that we will continue to carry with us when we are out shopping and see people using plastic bags. We wish What’SUP Berks the best on their journey as they continue to raise awareness on the ban on single use plastics continuing past local legislation in hopes to enter a state or country wide effort.

Photos

 

Invasive Species at the Wyomissing Borough!

jbt5875Bluegills

Introduction:

We’re Team Blue Gills, our members include:

Joseph Tomaro (Freshman. Major – Finance)

Edward Ye (Freshman. Major – Business)

Luke Whelan (Freshman. Major – Business)

(Left To Right: Joey, Luke, Edward)

Our Team:

Hello, my name is Joey Tomaro. I’m a first-year student here at Penn State Berks majoring in Finance and I’m from Belvidere, NJ. I decided to take this course because I’ve always found nature interesting and have wanted to learn more ever since I was young. I was the team liaison of our group managing communications between both environmental educator Jen Reimer, and my groupmates regarding community service hours, and managing our projects entirety. I recommend this course to anyone who strives to making a change in society because this is a perfect start to just that.

Hello, my name is Edward Ye. I’m a first-year Business major at Penn State Berks, and I’m originally from Connecticut. I chose to take this course because I wanted something that connected learning with real community involvement. I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors, but I also wanted to understand how environmental issues relate to everyday life and the choices we make. In our group project, I contributed to planning, research, and the hands-on work we completed at the site. Being part of a team showed me how small efforts can add up when everyone participates, and it helped me appreciate the impact students can have when working together.

Hello, my name is Luke Whelan. I’m a first-year student here at Penn State Berks majoring in Business and I’m from Shrewsbury, PA. I decided to take this course because I find the environment and the stuff constantly around us interesting. I was a contributor to our group and helped work on stuff and get community service hours. I recommend this course to anyone who strives to make a change in society.

Research:

For our research, our issue was invasive species. More specifically Honeysuckle, Porcelain Berries, and other organisms and how it affects the environment they occupy. We learned that invasive species spread quickly because they are brought to new places through human activities like trade, travel, and landscaping, and they thrive in disturbed or changing habitats. They also reproduce rapidly and outcompete native plants for resources. Our group examined the social and economic impacts as well, such as how invasive plants make parks less appealing and how costly it can be for communities and farmers to remove them. We then looked at solutions, including avoiding the movement of plants, reporting unfamiliar species, and using both manual and chemical control methods to manage their growth. Overall, our research showed how widespread the problem is and highlighted practical steps that communities can take to reduce the impact of invasive species.

Research Video:

Service:

During this Semester, we had the opportunity to work with Wyomissing Borough at the Wyomissing Parklands.

Jen Reimer, the environmental educator at the Wyomissing Parklands was in charge of running the organization and began by going over the parklands future goals and what she wanted us to accomplish since this is their first year running it. She introduced us to the ecological challenges the Parklands faces especially the threat of invasive plants and guided us through the hands-on work of helping to manage them. Our project focused on supporting the park’s efforts to protect native habitats and maintain a healthy ecosystem by removing the invasives that took over most of the riparian buffer. Understanding how these invasives behave helped us realize why removal is so important for the long-term health of the Parklands.

Service Video

Team Reflection

By the end of our EACAP project, we were proud to see the real difference we made in the Wyomissing Borough Parklands. As a team, we dedicated roughly 25 hours of hands-on community service to help restore the health and appearance of the area. The results were immediately noticeable as the sections we worked on looked cleaner, more open, and far more welcoming for both wildlife and visitors. Seeing the transformation reminded us that our time and effort truly played such a big role in a positive change in the park. Knowing that we helped improve the environment, even in a small part of the park, gave us a strong sense of accomplishment and purpose. It showed us that when people step up and take action, positive change can happen quickly. We hope that in future years, more students, volunteers, and community teams continue the work we started.

What We Discovered When We Tested the Water Around Us: The Minority

anb6312Fall 2025 Project Teams
  • Rishaan – a third-year data science student
  • Alyssa – third-year student majoring in psychology
  •  TK – a third-year business administration and management student

This semester our team took on the challenge of finding out what’s really going on in our local water. We learned about common pollutants, talked through our plan, picked a few testing spots, and grabbed our tools to measure things like pH, temperature, oxygen levels, and more. Then we headed out, collected samples, took photos and videos, and compared what we found. Some places looked great, while others clearly showed how things like litter or runoff can affect water quality. Doing both the research and the hands-on testing helped us understand the issue in a real way, and it made us realize how important clean water is for everyone. Going forward, we want to keep checking these spots and encourage other young people to care about their environment and make small changes that add up.

Click the picture to view our service video!

Service – We conducted water testing as part of our EACAP project, collecting samples from our assigned local site and analyzing indicators such as pH, nitrates, phosphates, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen. This process helped us assess overall water quality and understand how environmental factors and human activity influence watershed health.

Click the pic to view our narrated presentation!

Reflection-Participating in the water testing project gave us a deeper understanding of how our daily actions directly affect local ecosystems. Collecting samples, running tests, and interpreting the results made environmental issues feel much more real and immediate. It showed us how small changes in water quality can signal larger problems in a community and how important it is to monitor these conditions regularly. This experience helped us appreciate the value of hands-on scientific work and how it connects to protecting the places we live. Going forward, people can help by being more mindful of what they put into the environment—reducing litter, properly disposing of chemicals, limiting fertilizer use, supporting local conservation efforts, and staying informed about watershed health. Even small actions can make a meaningful difference in keeping our water clean and our ecosystems healthy.