Do Your Part

The daily activities of life, multiplied by the tens of thousands of people living throughout the watershed, add up to a major impact that profoundly affects the Great Bay estuary’s health. We can all make a difference by reducing our individual impacts in many ways:

Get involved in decision-making!
Demand that the state and federal governments take action to protect the estuary; participate in regulatory decisions, such as permitting decisions for new or existing polluters; serve on your local planning board or conservation commission; speak up on behalf of the estuary when your town makes decisions about land-use planning, individual development proposals, and funding for land conservation.

Avoid harmful lawn-care practices.
Lawn fertilizers are a source of nitrogen pollution; pesticides introduce additional pollutants and stress; and the simple act of watering lawns consumes huge amounts of water—often during dry periods when local rivers and streams need water most!

Maintain septic systems.
Septic systems can be a significant source of nutrients and bacterial pollution when not properly maintained.

Drive less!
In recent decades, the number of miles that people drive has risen dramatically throughout the region and the nation as a whole. In addition to contributing to the growing problem of climate change, cars and trucks emit nitrogen oxides, which can exacerbate the problem of nitrogen pollution. They also drip fluids containing metals and other pollutants carried by stormwater into rivers, streams and the estuary.

Have fun!
Get to know the Great Bay estuary. The estuary provides a wealth of recreational opportunities for all, so go out and enjoy it. Learn about the wildlife and plants that call the estuary home. Better still, to build and sustain concern for this sensitive resource for the future, explore the estuary with kids. You might try starting at the Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (GBNERR) and one of their discovery or conservation centers.