Freshwater Future Weekly: November 24, 2021

Freshwater Future Weekly: November 24, 2021

THIS WEEK: Give the Gift of Clean Water on #GivingTuesday – Nov. 30th + Communities Working Together to Solve Lead in Water Problems! + Cookbook Features History and Recipes from Tribal Communities + Ontario’s Carruthers Creek Faces Threats from Hospital Development


Give the Gift of Clean Water on #GivingTuesday – November 30th

#GivingTuesday is a global day of generosity taking place on November 30th. This day is an opportunity for people around the world to come together to thank, help, give, show kindness, and share what they have with those in need. Across the Great Lakes, Freshwater Future believes building the capacity of local groups and community is the best way to help everyone in the region access clean, safe, and affordable water. We are committed to finding solutions that make real, lasting change for every Great Lakes community. Please support these efforts on #GivingTuesday by making a financial gift, no matter the size. Click here to give your gift today. Thank you!


Communities Working Together to Solve Lead in Water Problems!

The Flint Community Water Lab and the Benton Harbor Community Water Council have both been ensuring residents in their communities have access to safe drinking water.  In Flint, the Water Lab was created specifically to help residents understand and trust the water in their own homes.  In Benton Harbor, the Water Council has been key in advocating for solutions to the high lead levels in public water and are now delivering water door to door on behalf of the state.  The youth leaders in these communities will soon come together in Benton Harbor to collect water samples that will be analyzed at the Water Lab. 

As the Water Lab recently celebrated achieving its weekly goal for helping 100 residents per week understand the water safety in their own homes, the youth and adult leaders couldn’t wait to extend their services to helping residents in another city with a similar problem.  We congratulate both of these amazing community groups in achieving their goals of helping their respective communities and working together to find community driven and centered solutions.


Cookbook Features History and Recipes from Tribal Communities

Manoomin or wild rice means the good berry in Anishinaabemowin and is highly valued not only for food but culturally and spiritually.  Tashia Hart, an ethnobotanist who has learned the food of her ancestors authored a cookbook that celebrates manoomin and other wild food with recipes entitled The Good Berry Cookbook.  


Ontario’s Carruthers Creek Faces Threats from Hospital Development

A proposal to develop a new hospital is being proposed in the sensitive headwaters of Carruthers Creek, a narrow cold water creek that flows into Lake Ontario. This small watershed in Durham region is currently in the ‘white belt’, an area of intense growth and development surrounding Ontario’s Greenbelt.  Development would significantly impact the watershed’s wetlands and other green infrastructure.  The Carruthers Creek watershed plan indicates a significant increase in flooding if these lands are developed.  Inclusion in the Greenbelt would ensure the long-term protection of this watershed. Freshwater Future Canada and Freshwater Future support the inclusion of the Carruthers watershed in the Greenbelt to prevent impacts to wetlands and green infrastructure and prevent increased flooding.