by Isha Rajput

What’s in our tap?.......The Tuolumne River!!

The Tuolumne River from California supplies water and habitats for countless organisms, including you and me. Think of all that usage for water! With all these people and organisms using water, the Tuolumne River is facing a new challenge: It will start to become polluted and unhealthy.  What can we do to save this caring river? Think about what you did throughout your day. Did you possibly waste any water? Now think about if everyone wasted water. We couldn’t use the clean and fresh water we get from our tap! The Tuolumne River is especially important to the plants and animals that depend on it for food and shelter. Without the Tuolumne River, these organisms would have nowhere to live and nothing to eat.

How?

Every single droplet from your tap is a droplet that should be appreciated with great care. We as humans have so many needs for water, that sometimes, we don’t realize that we can reuse the same water again. Around your community, try using these effective ways to conserve water:

1. Turn off water in the tap, when you are not using it.
2. Take shorter showers.
3. Check for any leaks in equipment using water.
4. Recycle water

Anyone can make a difference, and it all starts with someone ready to help out. Be that someone in your community, and help the Tuolumne River.

    Inspire Others by Sharing What You Know

My knowledge might not go as far as you can go with conserving water for the Tuolumne River. To give you a mental picture of the scenery in the Tuolumne, here are some facts I know about the river. The Tuolumne River is home to many animals, such as the Foothill Yellow Legged frog, mountain lions, and Chinook Salmon. Day to day, you can watch these creatures in their natural habitat. Green plants are found on the banks of the river, which are food to many other creatures. If you listen closely, you can hear the soft calls of the birds, the buzzing of little critters, and the ripples of the water. From Mount Lyell in Yosemite National Park, the Tuolumne River flows 162 miles long, until it intersects with the San Joaquin River. Along the way, a lot of the fresh water in the Tuolumne River collects in the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. 

That’s where a lot of our tap water comes from. Usually, we only think about the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, but never the source that provides the water for the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. That’s why the Tuolumne River is so important. Ways we use this water is to:

1. Water our crops
2. Drink
3. Power objects that use electricity.
   

To make sure we have enough water to fulfill these needs, and many more, we have to be the ones that prevent the Tuolumne River from becoming unhealthy.

Expand your Knowledge, Visit Nature

Another way to learn about the Tuolumne River is to visit nature. After all, the Tuolumne River is a part of nature. I really enjoy nature, especially when my family and I go to Yosemite. We all wake up early to explore the forest of giant redwoods that seemed to touch the sky. Little frilly, green pine needles are stuck to the branches that stretch out towards us. The earth below us is moist, rocky, and a bit dry, and the morning air is a damp and fresh scent of pine needles. Some rivers and creeks flow by with some sounds of the water crashing on nearby rocks. It is an overwhelming experience.

Why?

As I talked about before, we need the Tuolumne River for various reasons. We, as humans only get about 1% of earth’s water due to the fact that the rest is frozen or is salt water. With the population up high, water that is fresh is soon becoming harder to get. By conserving water, we can achieve the goal of keeping the Tuolumne River healthy, so that it can supply us with the water we need.

Water Tu-ol-u-mne and Tu-ol-u-you, thanks to the Tuolumne River!!!

Choose your site:

Legion Park (Meet at 1600 Legion Park Drive)

Open to all ages!

Join us by canoe or foot.

Bring your water bottle and sunscreen.

Click here to register

For more information email karlha@tuolumne.org 

West Modesto (Meet at the John Thurman Field parking

lot-601 Neece Drive)

Open for ages 8 and up.

Join us as we walk to the rivers edge.

Bring your water bottle and sunscreen

Click here to register

For more information email analisa@tuolumne.org. 

Colma Creek Cleanup

Volunteer for Coastal Cleanup Day!

Saturday, September 15, 2012

9:00 am to 12 noon

180 Utah Avenue at Harbor Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080

Colma Creek needs your help!

Colma Creek is a trash “hot spot” in the Bay Area. Garbage from the streets gets washed into storm drains, which flow directly to our creeks and bay. Help us prevent this trash from making its way into the Ocean!

Gloves and garbage bags will be provided, however we encourage you to BYOB (Bring Your Own Bucket) in order to reduce the number of plastic bags we use. Long pants, sturdy shoes, water, and sunscreen are recommended.

This event is sponsored by the Tuolumne River Trust, the San Mateo County Department of Public Works, and the City of South San Francisco.

 Register Today!

For more information, contact Karen Gardner:

karen@tuolumne.org or (415) 882-7252

by Sunny Sun

     During science camp, I went on a hike called the solo hike. The kids needed to go on a hike trail by themselves between 3 minute intervals. During my hike, I concentrated on the repeating sound of bird and the occasional squirrel skittering across my path.

     That hike was one of my closest encounters with nature. IN the middle of the hike, I took out my water bottle and took a sip of water from the Tuolumne River. The Tuolumne River is the source of my water suplly as well as my friends’ and neighbors’. Other than humans, many other animals need it too. Some of these animals are: the Foothill Yellow Legged Frog, Mt. Lyell Salamander, Chinook Salmon, and the River Otter. The Tuolumne River starts in Mt. Lyell and flows through Yosemite National Park. It goes into the San Joaquin River, which flows into the San Francisco Bay.

     Water is a very essential resource. Not only us humans need it, but plants and animals need it too. Without water, almost every living thing on Earth would die off and become extinct. Our bodies are made up of 70% of water! Over three fourths of the Earth is covered with water, but only one percent of that is drinkable. Most of that one perfect is stuck in glaciers, where we can’t get it. That leaves only less than one percent of water on Earth that is drinkable.

     Despite all these limitations, there are myriads of ways to conserve water. Taking short showers are one way. Using low flow toilets don’t use as much water that use up to five gallons per flush. Watering plants in the early morning allows the water to not evaporate as quickly. Fixing leaks saves thousands of gallons of water from washing away wastefully. Overall, water is a very important resource and should be used correctly and carefully.

     Water is a beautiful liquid, the base of all our life on. Without water, humans would not survive. Nothing would. Water is the key source to all life on Earth.

     Everywhere you look, you see water. Our water comes from the Tuolumne River, which starts in Yosemite Valley, and winds down through a string of reservoirs such as the Hetch Hetchy and the San Pablo reservoir. This is very pure and sweet water, delicious and cooling to the taste and nice and clean to wash with. Tuolumne water is some of the best fresh water in the world!

     Yet there is a bountiful supply of this magical liquid from the Tuolumne, water is a very limited natural resource. Only 2.5% of the Earth’s water is not salty, and the majority of it lies in great underground aquifers, leaving a mere 1.3% of Earth’s fresh water easily accessible to humans (or 0.007% of all of the Earth’s water). And the plants and animals need water too. But many water sources are being polluted! Watersheds are large, low-lying areas of land that drain directly to a river or other water source. If the watersheds are polluted, then so is the river! The majority of the world does not have clean water to drink, and we are very lucky to get clean water from the Tuolumne.

     Conserving water is important. We must protect this valuable resource! But many obstacles stand in our way – thirst, plants, cleanliness, cooking, and many other needs. A few easy water conservation tips include turning off water when you’re not using it: wash dished in a basin instead of leaving the sink on, and turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. Water your garden in the cooler hours, so the water doesn’t evaporate. Some people even take buckets to save this ever-useful liquid when they’re waiting for water to heat up in the shower. The recycled water, or gray water, can be used to water plants, wash dishes, and help wash cars.

     Whenever my family and I go on road trips, we enjoy stopping by cool lakes and streams to swim in. Occasionally, we will find a sun-warmed spot, but the water temperature is mostly frigid-cold. We have discovered swimming holes, ponds, and special lake spots that make our trips unique and memorable. These wonderful pockets liven up trips and create special memories. Once, we even found a swimming hole in a river deep enough to dive into! It is so pleasant to find a clean place to cool off in, especially when we have encountered a long, boring, hot drive. Finding a watering hole is like seeing the sun come out after a month of rain!!

     Water is the most wonderful natural resource. Wherever you go, water is with you. This ingenious resource is in nearly everything you see, from trees to trashcans. Water is the key source to any and all life on Earth.

    But science camp is not the only place to show your love for the earth by conserving water. You can perform the task daily in the comfort of your own house. There are several apparent ways, such as keeping the faucet turned off when you brush your teeth. You should also check for leaks both indoors and outdoors. Some ways that are less conventional and would require more work would be putting a bucket of water under the shower while you wait for the water to heat up (which by the way, should only be four minutes long); washing clothes in a front-load washer which requires less water or washing them with a normal washer when there is a full load; and putting bricks in the tank of the toilet, or simply buying a low-flush one. Some methods benefit the environment the most, but are also the most challenging. They include washing your car on the grass because it waters plants at the same time or going to a car wash because it uses recycled water, the method is more efficient, and the entire process is timed. One of the most common ways, to manage water usage, though, is to frequently check a water meter.

     Exploring reasons to conserve water and learning how to do it in daily life is a great encouragement to put in the best effort to save water and promote it in the society.

Just the sound of rushing water crashing upon the surface of rocks sounds unfamiliar to me. I live in San Francisco, “the City by the Bay,” as some people call it. But guess what? I barely get to see that bay!!! I’ve been in nature a few times. The closest to nature I’ve gotten to recently is my garden. I really want to know what it’s like to take in the feel of nature.

I heard the Tuolumne River is a place where you can admire nature, touch the plants, and go fly fishing. I think I’ve gone fishing once, but that was six years ago when my uncle took me, but he’s not around anymore…

I’m amazed by the length of the Tuolumne River. 162 miles! That’s over 855,000 feet long! Has anyone ever walked along it and made it to the end of the river before? I’d be amazed if someone did!

It’s really important to conserve water. We should use rain barrels to save water and use the collected water for our gardens. We can do this at home and at school too!

Water is a very valuable resource. If we use a lot of water in a short period of time, the water cycle can’t work fast enough to give enough water back.

I want to hike on the damp dirt and watch the water look like smoke as it evaporates. I want to know what hikers do by the river on breaks. Sit down? Read? Relax in the shade of a tree? I want to know! But most of all, I want to know how it feels to hike 162 miles in a hiker’s boots.

by Alice Talker

     The Tuolumne River is located in Yosemite National Park and is the most attractive place anyone could go to. It is a fun sight for everyone because there’s such an amazing view, old looking trees, lots of hiking trails and rafting too! People always come canoeing in the Tuolumne River. The Chinook salmon comes there every fall to spawn. Around the Tuolumne River you can see amazing looking animals and birds. For example, the Black Bear, the Mountain Beaver, and the Spotted Owl. Those are only some animals that live by the Tuolumne River.

     Although I live in a city, I love nature. I like to go outside and look under rocks to search for bugs. I love going to different parks, explore around, collect leaves, watch birds and look for small animals. I also love water. I live near the bay in a city and love playing in the sand and looking for shells and stones. I also love to watch sea gulls and pelicans trying to catch fish in the water. I also watch sea lions at Pier 39.

     One year, when I still lived in NJ, I spent a summer at a Girl Scout camp and went on camping trips. The camp was in the woods, near lake. We spend so much time outside. We learned to make fire, make smores, and went through the woods searched for specific plants and insects, for birds and learned about habitat of the woods. We also slept outside in tents and went swimming in the lake. I saw some people fishing in that lake and I felt really bad for the fish.

     I also learned a lot about nature and importance of water from my grandfather. My grandfather lived in a rural country, with farms, and fields. He took river water to grow vegetables and crops. My grandfather barely went to the store. He grew all the fruits and vegetables that he needed in his own back yard and had small animals. He didn’t buy bottled water, he drank from a well. He said that the well water was very good and was very fresh and healthy. He also told me about importance of water and said that without water there would be no life, no people, no animals or plants. He told me that river near him provides water for all the villages around and people able to grow their gardens and have food because of the water from that river.

     Rivers provide habitats and water for animals and plants. Many plants and trees grow around the Tuolumne River. Animals such as beavers and ducks make a home in the Tuolumne River. Birds and bears eat fish out of the water. Water lets people, animals and plants stay alive! Ships deliver goods through rivers to different places. Rivers provide water and make soil fertile for farmers in drive regions that allow them to grow crops and vegetables that we would later have food in our supermarkets. Water is also used on electro station that we would have electricity.

     That’s why it is very important to conserve water. We need water to stay alive. We need water to drink and grow vegetables. We need to conserve water for watering plants to have oxygen to breathe. We need to conserve water, so animals could drink and eat, for fish to have a home. We need water for plants, people, and animals. We need water for ships to deliver goods and for people to discover new things and explore countries. We need water for factories and electro stations, for different small and large businesses, hospitals and homes. We also need water to stay clean and prevent diseases.

     Ways to conserve water in our homes and school are taking short showers, turning off the water while you brush your teeth, and using your towel for a couple of days instead of washing them every day. Doing less laundry would mean using less water. When we drink bottled water, we should finish all bottle before we start another one instead of throwing half a bottle away. We can water our plants at night instead of when it’s sunny that they water would not evaporate right away.

     We have a lot of water on earth, but we should still be mindful of how much water we use in order to have water in the future. If we conserve water, we would have more water every day for people, plants and animals. We should always appreciate the water we have and preserve every drop of it because in some countries they don’t have much water.

     Therefore, protect rivers and conserve in any way you can. And be creative in how you do it. Remember, more water we have, longer the planet and everything on it will stay alive.

     One day, about a year ago, my family and I went canoeing in the Colorado River. We focused on paddling, but then I noticed something in the lake. I examined the many creatures in the lake, not really paddling. There were so many fish swimming in it, all different sizes and colors. I gazed at the wildlife outside the river. I saw frogs jumping, lizards and iguanas crawling around, snakes slithering, mice wandering around, and rabbits hopping. I perceived that all of these animals depended on the river to survive. I also realized that if we waste the water that we receive from this river, these animals will die. After the canoe ride was over, I decided to not waste water. This experience helped me discern how valuable water is.

     The source of our valued water is the Tuolumne River, which flows from the central Sierra Nevada to the San Joaquin River in the Central Valley. Some examples of wildlife there include Foothill yellow-legged frogs, Mt. Lyell salamanders, deer, river otter, and Chinook salmon. The Tuolumne River also goes through Yosemite National park. There are two reservoirs located there: the Hetch-Hetchy and the Don Pedro reservoir. The Tuolumne River is pertinent because it is where we get our water.         

     There are many ways you can save water. Reusing water is an excellent example. Turning off the water while brushing is way water can be saved. You can also take only 5 minute showers. Fixing leaky pipes will also save water. Another way to save water is to only take as much water as you need. Plus, you could install low flow shower heads and toilets. Another way to save water is to run only full loads in dish and clothes washers. Every drop you save is a step to a better community.