Do you know a person or group who deserves recognition for their tireless efforts in helping to prevent stormwater pollution? Give them their time to shine as #OrcaHero by posting their story with a picture and tag @PugetSoundStartsHere on Facebook through May.
Puget Sound Starts Here Month is a great way for you to connect, educate and empower yourself, your friends and your community to use simple actions and volunteer locally to help Puget Sound and the orcas that swim there. This year’s theme is Orca Health Starts Here! This highlights the fact that orca recovery starts with clean water and good habitat.
Who can be an #OrcaHero?
An #OrcaHero can be any individual or group who consistently takes actions to prevent stormwater pollution. From picking up after our dogs to building rain gardens, we show our commitment to clean water. Other simple actions include:
- natural yard care,
- volunteering on restoration efforts,
- using green infrastructure,
- proper disposal of toxic wastes and pharmaceuticals
- reducing plastic waste
- or any of the many other recommendations from the Orca Task Force report and our “Take Action” tab.
How to recognize your #OrcaHero
When you post your #OrcaHero’s story on Facebook and tag it with @PugetSoundStartsHere. Please also include:
- Nominee’s name (person or organization)
- City where the nominee works or lives. And, tag that city!
- Name and tag of person or organization nominating the hero.
- Reason for recognizing: Tell us what your hero does to prevent stormwater pollution and help our Southern Resident orcas?
- With your hero’s permission, include a photo of them doing their orca heroics.
Some of the #OrcaHeroes will be featured on our Facebook page all month and on our website’s new #OrcaHero page.
Why we all need to help
Millions of pounds of toxic pollution enter Puget Sound every year. Much of it washes to the Sound in rainwater, when it flows over hard surfaces like houses, parking lots, driveways and streets. The rainwater picks up pollution along the way. Most of this polluted runoff is not treated. It flows through ditches or storm drains and into local waterways and on to the Sound.
The over 80 local governments, state agencies and non-profit groups are working together and with you to keep pollutants out of this stormwater. We’re working to undo more than 100 years of pollution and environmental degradation, all while balancing the needs of people and the environment.
Clean water and healthy shorelines supports a vibrant food web. Everything that helps salmon and the smaller fish they eat – and the even smaller critters the small fish eat – helps orcas, which eat the salmon!
About Puget Sound Starts Here
Puget Sound Starts Here is an education campaign comprised of more than 750 organizations in the 12 counties that touch the Sound. Members include state agencies, local governments, tribes, and non-profit organizations. All do work to clean up and protect Puget Sound and the waterways that flow into it.
Puget Sound Starts Here Month raises awareness that Puget Sound is in trouble from a variety of pollution sources, and that simple actions and local volunteer opportunities truly make a difference. Learn more about the bounty of Puget Sound and how you can help protect it at http://www.PugetSoundStartsHere.org.
With the Orca Health Starts Here theme, Puget Sound Starts Here Month joins with other orca recovery campaigns and efforts throughout Washington. These include Orca Awareness Month in June and Orca Recovery Day in the fall.
We’ll be recognizing a random selection of #OrcaHeroes identified on Facebook and Instagram with a few #OrcaHero branded gifts, included tote bags, a pin, and a stainless steel mug.