As with our own health, it is important to pause and reflect on how our decisions today will manifest in the environment tomorrow. For example, humans have a long history of inventing and producing durable materials (microplastics, PFAS). These persist and accumulate in the environment only to later discover, and be forced to manage, the unintended consequences. Human-induced climate change, industrial byproducts, and the environmental pressures of tourism are just some of the challenges to healthy ecosystems. Successful management of these challenges depends upon an understanding of history, current state, and future goals, to move toward a sustainable future that works for all. In addition, connectivity exists through all water systems, and we are connected to those systems. Just as we make time to assess our personal health, it is critical that we do the same for our aquatic environment.
