Wyland Foundation’s Streams of Hope An Action-Oriented Non-Profit Initiative for Healthier Aquatic Environments
The Basics Streams of Hope is an interactive, non-profit action campaign aimed at encouraging citizens to actively engage in safeguarding our lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and coasts. By using Google maps, USGS data sets, and user-friendly tools, we connect users with six major watershed regions across the nation. Through this platform, users can share insights, partake in citizen science, and execute local actions that make a difference to watershed health and eventually our oceans.
How it Works Streams of Hope guides users to choose a freshwater landmark within a principal watershed basin that holds significance for them. This could range from popular national landmarks to humble creeks cherished in childhood memories. Once selected, users create a Streams of Hope location marker complete with photos, research, personal thoughts, and community news. Users can also identify potential risk factors for their chosen location and rate how it inspires them. The interactive campaign doesn't stop there. Users can take up home- and community-based volunteer projects, using Wyland Foundation's guidelines. This allows them to generate measurable impact reports that reflect on reductions in hazardous waste runoff, greenhouse gas emissions, improvements to groundwater recharge, and more. Optional water quality testing encourages users to contribute valuable data to the Streams of Hope site and our national research partners.
The Need Healthy ecosystems rely on a complex web of life. Any harm can trigger a chain reaction that endangers entire aquatic environments. Our Streams of Hope campaign offers a grassroots solution to water pollution issues, enabling residents to make a difference at the most fundamental level.
Benefits
Rubric/Ranking Systems We provide comprehensive rubrics for Water Quality Monitoring, Risk Assessment, and Beauty Assessment. Each system is userfriendly, enabling users to actively contribute valuable data to the campaign. These systems can be accessed and utilized via our platform.
Additional Applications Streams of Hope is scalable and age-inclusive. It can rally community groups to protect jeopardized water systems, or help school students conduct comprehensive research projects, integrating various educational disciplines. The application of MyVolunteer Water Project can bring together people to reduce stress on water systems collectively.
Final Thoughts for Educator Streams of Hope is a platform that balances marine ecosystems, builds engagement, and fosters larger communities of support. It facilitates continual data collection by thousands of users, indexing water quality data from various water systems. Multivariate behavior analysis can be performed to create continually updated engagement tools. This way, Streams of Hope offers a comprehensive understanding of our nation's water systems' state and fosters a culture of environmental responsibility and conservation.