Thrifty Tote Bags

2023, GREELEY, COLORADO, USA

Lida, a student at Greeley West High School, tackled the pressing issue of plastic pollution by designing and producing reusable shopping bags. After discovering the alarming statistic that 92 million tons of clothing find their way into landfills worldwide each year, she was inspired to make a difference. Lida took a creative approach by repurposing used shirts into tote bags, which she distributed to her peers and members of the local community. Each bag included an informative tutorial, enabling recipients to understand the gravity of the issue and learn how to create their own upcycled bags. By empowering others to participate in this sustainable solution, Lida aims to contribute to the improvement of their local watershed. Her initiative not only helps reduce plastic waste but also promotes awareness and encourages others to take similar actions in their daily lives. This solution contributed to Targets 14.1 and 15.5 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

eDNA and The Northern Redbelly Dace

2023, LONGMONT, COLORADO, USA

Anya and Taryn from Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools addressed aquatic wildlife conservation by using environmental DNA (eDNA). Our local Colorado Watersheds have been struggling with biodiversity for many years. This has caused a very important species of dace, The Northern Redbelly Dace, to become an endangered species in Colorado. Anya and Taryn have been working with their team in order to reintroduce this species of fish into the Colorado waterways. Their project was to look at how successful their previous releases have been by using eDNA. This solution addressed Targets 14.a and 13.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Hole Picture

2023, FORT COLLINS, COLORADO, USA

Callen from Rocky Mountain High School addressed water use and polluted runoff by providing a soil moisture sensor to a golf course. Over 2 billion gallons of water are dumped onto golf courses in the United States each year. In addition to that, most of them are overwatered which creates excess runoff that carries fertilizers into the watershed creating algae blooms. A great way to stop the issue of overwatering is utilizing a soil moisture sensor. The sensor measures how much water is in the soil. These readings can help a golf course adjust the amount of water they are putting on the grass. This solution addressed targets 6.3 and 14.1 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Shed Ed

2023, LOVELAND, COLORADO, USA

Mackenzie and Ryan from Resurrection Christian School created a fun, educational board game to educate peers and community members about their watershed. They surveyed students in 3rd – 5th grade. The surveys included the question “What is a watershed?” and “What are things that help/harm the watershed?” These students did not have a good basic understanding of the watershed and therefore could not answer the questions. Ryan and Mackenzie decided to create a board game with the concept of having fun but also showing the students what they can do to improve their watershed. The game was able to keep the kids entertained while also teaching them valuable lessons. This solution addressed Targets 4.1 and 15.1 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Reducing Litter and Trash in School Parking Lots

2023, JOHNSTOWN, COLORADO, USA

Alexa and Jonathan, students from Roosevelt, took decisive action to address the issue of excessive trash in the school parking lots by implementing effective solutions such as trash cans and nets on school grounds. Recognizing the lack of accessible trash cans in their school parking lots, which resulted in litter scattered across the school grounds, Alexa and Jonathan decided to conduct a comprehensive survey of the junior parking lot. Their survey revealed an alarming count of over 350 pieces of trash dispersed throughout that particular lot. To tackle this ongoing problem, they took proactive measures by strategically placing trash cans at light posts and installing nets in areas prone to wind-blown litter. These initiatives are expected to significantly reduce the amount of trash making its way into the local watershed, thereby safeguarding animals and vegetation from harm caused by environmental pollution. This solution addressed Targets 14.1 and 15.5 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Why We Need Green Cleaning

2023, BERTHOUD, COLORADO, USA

Olivia Martinez from Berthoud High School addressed the effects of the improper use of chemical cleaning products on her watershed by creating green cleaning kits containing ingredients that are not harmful to the watershed. Olivia’s project helped find better products for families, industrial buildings, and schools that will essentially benefit the watershed rather than hurt it. Changing the way we clean would ultimately help the environment by reducing air pollution, protecting endangered species, and can assist in preserving Earth’s natural resources. This solution addressed Targets 14.1 and 6.1 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Young People Leading American Eel Species Repopulation

2023, Lewistown, PA, USA

Wildlife and Fisheries Science students at Mifflin County High School took action to help restore the native American Eel population in Kish Creek.

They partnered with Susquehanna River Basin Commission, Cerry Township, Mifflin County Conservation District, PA Fish and Boat Commission, and the PA Game Commission to create a sustainable action plan.

Upon learning about the eels and their impact in the waterway, students raised eel in the classroom, released them into the local creek, and planted native seedlings along the creek. This project occurred throughout the duration of the school year and resulted in an immediate increase in the local eel population.

The students plan to continue monitoring the eel in their local watershed, conduct water testing, and involve future classes in macroinvertebrate monitoring. The knowledge and resources that they have gained while monitoring this eel population, is inspiring them to educate friends and families and involve themselves in other projects that can improve their local watershed.

SDG: 4: Quality Education, 14: Life Below Water, 15: Life on Land

Targets: 14.1, 15.1

The Problem with Menstrual Waste

Roosevelt High School, Johnstown, Colorado, USA

Olivia Chamberlain, Maerron Lovern, and Cassidy Poley from Roosevelt High School noticed a common theme in their lives; that menstrual products produce a lot of waste. These single-use products are some of the most common pollutants in watersheds, with tampon applicators being the second most common plastic found on beaches. These products take a long time to break down and have unfortunate implications on ecosystems. To address this problem, Olivia, Maerron, and Cassidy distributed multi-use period products, specifically menstrual cups, to community members and peers. Menstrual cups can last up to ten years, save thousands of dollars for consumers, and are better for the health of watersheds and communities. Ten cups were distributed to their community’s menstruators and an educational flyer on how they can reduce their period waste. Olivia, Maerron, and Cassidy helped contribute to Targets 6.3 and 14.1 of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Menstrual cup in packaging with pamphlet of watershed info, students posing with menstrual cup

Saving Our Watershed and Decreasing Inequality, One Fork at a Time

Rocky Mountain High School, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

In the United States, over 100 million plastic utensils are used and tossed every day and can take up to 1,000 years to fully decompose. If these plastic utensils get into the Cache La Poudre, they can break down into microplastics that can harm the organisms who consume them. This can result in an imbalance in the ecosystem, such as an overproduction of algae or other organisms, that can then affect the overall water quality of our watershed. To combat this issue, Rylan Nicholson from Rocky Mountain High School decided to donate biodegradable utensils to the Fort Collins Rescue Mission organization. The utensils were handed out with the meals in place of the nondegradable, plastic utensils. This solution addressed Targets 6.3 and 14.1 of the Sustainable Development Goals and will ensure that less non-recyclable utensils will find its way into our watershed and improve the water quality overall.

Man signing clipboard with student watching, students loading boxes into vehicle, student checking clipboard in office

American River clean-up

2022, SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, USA

Trash in bag
Lillian and Ximena, students at The MET Sacramento High School are very worried about the amount of litter on the riverbank and in the water of the American River. After researching, they learned that the American river is “the most heavily used recreation river in California”(Rivers.gov). The litter not only impacts recreation and visitor experience, but also can have many negative effects on the environment. Fish, birds, and other wildlife in and around the aquatic environment might consume bits of plastic or other waste that are toxic to them, or they could get trapped in plastic bags or 6-pack rings. Other trash may introduce toxins into the water or even increase fire hazard in the riparian area. The team assembled a group of classmates and family members to participate in their clean-up on June 2 along a stretch of the American River between Sutter’s Landing and the 16th street bridge. To encourage student participation, the team confirmed with their school that the clean-up would count towards community service requirements. With this project, the team provided a great day to engage in watershed stewardship and to reflect on how human behavior and waste impacts the river.

Group of students cleaning up beside river