Blue Communities has its beginnings in the Grand Traverse Bay watershed. However, as a coastal community, there is not just one source of water you have to be concerned about, there are multiple. Here in Traverse City, there are two sources in particular that need our upmost attention, the watershed and the bay. The flow… Read more »
We need to use a resilient approach to solve the water problems caused by urbanization. This resilient approach is more commonly referred to as Green Infrastructure.
Water for all means that water is clean, sufficient in supply, and accessible to all economically, socially, and environmentally. Blue Communities aims to empower communities to protect these qualities of water for current and future generations. At the foundation of this effort are some basic principles for water management: valuing water for the diverse benefits… Read more »
With collective impact, we are all in the same boat, rowing in the same direction, thus reaching our goals faster.
Freshwater Facts Only freshwater will sustain human life. About 97% of the water on earth is salt water. Of the remaining fraction of approximately 3% that is freshwater, over 98% is locked in ice caps, glaciers and groundwater. Of the remaining fraction of about 1.2% of all freshwater, about .25% is found at the surface… Read more »
Above: A Summer day on western Lake Eire A lake, river, creek, parkland, wilderness, or canopy of redwoods or old sugar maples can’t walk to the courthouse to file lawsuits to protect their right to be free from harm, nor can they walk into a precinct and vote. Come to think of it, neither can… Read more »
Collaboration So what is collaboration, what about it makes it so great? Enhances Understanding As individuals we can only apprehend a portion of the problem, by pooling perceptions greater understanding of the context can be achieved. Effective Decision Making Leads to better decisions that are more likely to be implemented Broader Support for Needed… Read more »
This is the second installment in a series of essays by FLOW board member Rick Kane on the vital issues of risk management and the responsibilities of public officials under the public trust doctrine. Rick is the former Director of Security, Environment, Transportation Safety and Emergency Services for Rhodia, North America. He is certified in… Read more »
Meet Aubrey Miller, outdoor enthusiast, passionate advocate for our wild places, and founder and co-owner of Redbudsuds, a female-owned company that created a four-in-one shower bar for the eco-minded adventurer. Redbudsuds is part of Patagonia’s 1% for the Planet and gives 1% of its total annual sales to several organizations, including FLOW! In this partner spotlight,… Read more »
Collaboration at Work “Large-scale social change comes from better cross sector coordination rather than from isolated intervention of individual organizations.” – Julia Wondellock Why Collaboration Without it no win-win solutions can be made Purposeful action by any one stakeholder alone profoundly influences the ability of the others to achieve their goals It leads to better… Read more »
