The information was written by Eric Lambert, Clean Water Outreach Specialist at Clark County Public Works, Clean Water Division.

Clark County educators have a new digital tool to explore local watersheds in the classroom. Stormwater Partners of Southwest Washington recently launched Explore Your Watershed, an interactive StoryMap, as part of a grant project from the Lower Columbia Fish Recovery Board. StoryMaps entice readers to engage with information by enhancing text with maps, videos and photos. 

Explore Your Watershed contains six chapters – Clark County watersheds, what you can do, our pollution, stream health, fish and wildlife, and recreation. For the first time, users can find their watershed, see which streams are used by protected fish species, learn how scientists measure stream health, investigate pollutants, find nearby parks and much more, all in one place. The connection between human activities and watershed health is a theme that runs throughout Explore Your Watershed.

Green Teams can utilize the Explore Your Watershed StoryMap to complete Washington Green Schools' water and school grounds certifications and get ideas for making a lasting change. "We really hope that students and teachers engage with this resource to gain a deeper understanding and connection to our watersheds," says Eric Lambert, Clark County Clean Water Outreach Specialist. "And we'd love to hear feedback about how teachers are using it in their classes."

The Explore Your Watershed StoryMap can be accessed at www.clarkwatersheds.org, which also has information about the broader project, including new watershed signs and a watershed health campaign. Follow the campaign on social media with the hashtags #ExploreYourWatershed and #CleanWaterStartsWithMe.