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.

When rain falls, it feels like a fresh start; streets glisten, air clears, and the world seems cleaner. But what happens next tells a different story. Every storm sets off a chain reaction called stormwater runoff, a process that quietly damages ecosystems, worsens floods, and wastes an essential resource.

August is National Water Quality Month, and it’s the perfect time to pause, reflect, and recommit to protecting one of our planet’s most precious resources: clean water.

This St. Patrick’s Day, celebrate responsibly by taking small steps to protect clean water.