As 2026 begins, individuals, organizations, and industries are redefining what sustainability truly means. One of the most impactful commitments to make this year is a Clean Water Pledge, a pledge that goes beyond drinking water to protect all forms of clean water, including stormwater, wastewater, groundwater, irrigation systems, industrial water, and natural waterways.

When the federal government shuts down, it isn’t just a matter of locked doors and furloughed employees. For the vast ecosystems of our national parks and the watersheds they sustain, the impacts can be far-reaching, long-lasting, and quietly destructive.