Making an Impact for Oceans, Right Here in Colorado
May 31, 2019 · Blog
By Mindy Wagner, Interpretation Manager at Butterfly Pavilion
It’s hard to believe that World Oceans Day is almost here! Every June 8th people all over the world, including folks here in “landlocked” Colorado, gather to celebrate our oceans and the wonders of life found within them. Here at Butterfly Pavilion, we celebrate the aquatic diversity of invertebrates throughout the year in our Water’s Edge exhibit, and World Oceans Day is no exception—it is one of our favorite days of the summer!
As a native Coloradan (yes, it’s Coloradan and not Coloradoan), my heart belongs to the mountains. I grew up hiking through muddy trails in the spring and cheering on the Broncos with two blue and orange braided pigtails. I decided early on that I was going to help protect the animals and plants that call our state home. It wasn’t until I started working at Butterfly Pavilion that I grew to appreciate oceans as an immense resource, discovering just how connected to it we are, despite being thousands of miles away and a mile high above sea level.
The beautiful snow that falls in our mountains every year provides epic snowboarding and skiing opportunities, as well as thrilling white water rafting. With the Continental Divide running through our majestic mountains just west of Denver, the water in Colorado’s creeks, streams and rivers will eventually find its way to the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of California. Here in Colorado, we have an important responsibility to keep our waterways free of trash and other pollutants to ensure a clean water supply for our oceans. It all starts with us.
Now, I know that helping to protect the water in our oceans seems like a very big and somewhat overwhelming task. However, individual action has a powerful impact. So how can we help?
Use less plastic products. Bring reusable water bottles with you wherever you go and use reusable cloth bags at the grocery store. On top of my grocery list, I always write “GRAB REUSABLE BAGS,” so I don’t forget.
Purchase sustainable seafood. At Butterfly Pavilion, we provide Seafood Watch Guides © to help us all purchase seafood that is caught or farmed in environmentally friendly ways. You can also download the app on your Apple or Android device.
Don’t litter. This is something we’ve all heard since elementary school, but it still rings true to this day. Putting our waste in the proper trash, recycle or compost bin can keep pollution out of our waterways and prevent them from becoming harmful microplastics. Microplastics are small plastic pieces less than five millimeters long, about the size of a sesame seed, which can be harmful to our oceans and the animals that live there (NOAA 2019).
Reduce your carbon footprint – Drive less. Walk, bike, take the bus or light rail and carpool more!
We all want our world, and the amazing opportunities it provides, to be healthy for our children, grandchildren and beyond. I hope you will join Butterfly Pavilion in taking small actions to protect our water here in Colorado, ultimately protecting the health of our oceans. Visit Butterfly Pavilion on World Oceans Day on June 8th to get inspired through live animal feedings in Water’s Edge, sustainable giveaways, art and crafts and more!
