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Washington | Waterways

Rivers, lakes, watersheds, waterfalls, + wildlife refuges, oh my!

· Photography,Washington,Environment,Water,Public Health
Cedar River Watershed at Lake Washington, Renton, Wash.
Cedar River Watershed at Lake Washington, Renton, Wash.
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Snoqualmie Falls, North Bend, Wash., December 2016
Ducks at Gene Coulon Beach Memorial Park, Renton, Wash., December 2016
Sailboat at Gene Coulon Beach Memorial Park, Renton, Wash., December 2016
Cedar River Watershed at Lake Washington + Boeing, Renton, Wash.
Cedar River Watershed at Lake Washington, Renton, Wash., July 4, 2015

Water is a well of life! Water has built cities + civilizations throughout history.

Water is important to survival + thrival of the species because of its use for public health + fitness, play, + even spirituality. Think of it: my faith ritual of baptism needs water; Jesus called himself "living water;" even "the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters" (Gen. 1).

Water is important to our story.

Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, Renton, Wash., October 2017
Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, Renton, Wash., October 2017
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Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, Renton, Wash., October 2017
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Sunset at Cedar River Watershed at Lake Washington, Renton, Wash., May 8, 2016

My best moments have been with water ranging from the funnest to most serene or meaningful. I went into labor after being near water; women's water "breaks" or helmets the baby's head on the way out; wells of water have been long regarded or steeped in conflict throughout history. My favorite beverage is tea. I also like kombucha, smoothies, vinegar water, beer, wine--anything fit for human consumption needs clean water.

Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, Renton, Wash., Summer 2017
Cedar River, July 4, 2017
Mercer Island via Cedar River Watershed at Lake Washington, Renton, Wash.
Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, Renton, Wash., Summer 2017
Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, Renton, Wash., Summer 2017
Lake Sammamish, June 2, 2017
Lake Sammamish, August, 2017
Lake Sammamish, June 2, 2017
Firepit at Lake Sammamish, June 2, 2017

How long can a person live without water?

 

(~3 days).

 

I can live without Facebook, other social media, + other forms of enter/infotainment.

 

Not water.

 

People need to be fed + hydrated to thrive in school + at work. Poverty limits success. If we want to be a successful people, then start by meeting basic needs.

Turtle family on log at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, Renton, Wash., October 1, 2015
Salmon spawning at Cedar River Watershed at Lake Washington, Renton, Wash., October 8, 2017
Boeing airplanes + boats via the boathouse at Lake Washington, Renton, Wash.
Snoqualmie Falls, North Bend, Wash.
Mercer Island Slough Park, Bellevue, Wash., April 23, 2016
Mercer Island Slough Park, Bellevue, Wash., April 23, 2016
Mercer Island Slough Park, Bellevue, Wash., April 23, 2016
Cedar River Trail, Renton, Wash., Fall 2015
Snoqualmie Falls, North Bend, Wash.
The Boeing Co. airplane takes off from Clayton Scott Field as seen from the West Hill
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually Wildlife Refuge near Olympia, Wash.
Snoqualmie Falls, North Bend, Wash.
Rain drop on branch, Renton, Wash., Winter 2016

Water crises around the world + nearby come from lack of access to clean drinking water. A plethora of organizations exist to address the need for access to clean water. In the U.S.A., the presence of faucets doesn't remove the need to protect water sources. Fracking + other unhealthful energy production pollutes water. So does industry. Ever wonder why so many "mills" exist along rivers? Sad, but a reality even today. A nation that pollutes wells, an age, old way to defeat people is to destroy their crops + wells, seems at war with itself.

Grass at Cedar River Trail, Renton, Wash., August 15, 2015
Cedar River Watershed at sunset, Renton, Wash., October 2017
Muscovy duck at Soos Creek Trail, Kent, Wash.
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually Wildlife Refuge near Olympia, Wash.
Rubber Ducky Derby at Cedar River, Renton, Wash.
Mercer Island Slough, Bellevue, Wash.
Mercer Island Slough, Bellevue, Wash.
Lake Sammamish via trail, Summer 2015
Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, Renton, Wash.
Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, Renton, Wash.
Lake Easton, Wash.
Wind Boarder at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, Renton, Wash.
Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, Renton, Wash.
Ducks at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, Renton, Wash.
Renton Sailing Club sailboats at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, Renton, Wash.
Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, Renton, Wash.
Mount Rainier vista via Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, Renton, Wash.

If you can't tell by now, I'd like to invest in the preservation of water. Parks. Natural resources that future generations need to survive + thrive. We need water for hygiene + the prevention of disease. Breast +/or formula -fed Mamas + Babies need fresh water. That is the missing link for the charged debate over which to feed a baby. Not water, but formula needs water, + mamas need water to breastfeed. A society that doesn't protect + cherish the resources that it needs to continue will be/is on the decline (hence the rise of extremism--topic for another post).

Drain at Cedar River Trail + Watershed, Renton, Wash.
Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park at Lake Washington, Renton, Wash.
Snoqualmie Falls, North Bend, Wash.
Langus Riverfront Park + Trail, Everett, Wash.
Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park at Lake Washington, Renton, Wash.
Cedar River Trail + Watershed, Renton, Wash.
Boeing product at Cedar River Trail + Watershed, Renton, Wash.
Boeing product at Cedar River Trail + Watershed, Renton, Wash.
Warehouse stacks at Cedar River Trail + Watershed, Renton, Wash.
Cedar River Trail + Watershed, Renton, Wash.
Cedar River Trail, Renton, Wash.
Cedar River Trail + Watershed, Renton, Wash.
Riverfront Park, Spokane, Wash.
Riverfront Park, Spokane, Wash.
Bridge over Spokane River via Riverfront Park, Spokane, Wash.
Riverfront Park, Spokane, Wash.
Stillwater National Wildlife Reserve, near Fallon, Wash.
Rattlesnake Lake, North Bend, Wash.

We need healthy waterways to be a healthful thriving people + society.

Basin at Snoqualmie Falls, North Bend, Wash.
Canoe at Lake Crescent, Olympic Park Institute, Pt. Angeles, Wash.
Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park at Lake Washington, Renton, Wash.
Snoqualmie Falls, North Bend, Wash.
Motorcraft at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park at Lake Washington, Renton, Wash.
Basin at Snoqualmie Falls, North Bend, Wash.
Sailboats at Kirkland Marina + Waterfront, Kirkland, Wash.
Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park at Lake Washington, Renton, Wash.
Snoqualmie Falls, North Bend, Wash.
Dogs swimming at Cedar River Watershed, Renton, Wash.
Kachess Lake, Cascade Range, Wash.
Snoqualmie Falls, North Bend, Wash.

For now, I'll suffice with pretty pictures. Born + raised in Washington, I have enjoyed many of Washington's abundant lakes, rivers, waterfalls, + wetlands.

Raindrops on window at Spring, Renton, Wash.
Cedar River Trail, Renton, Wash.
Cedar River via KCLS Renton Public Library, Renton, Wash.
Snoqualmie River, North Bend, Wash.
Lake Easton, Cascade Range, Wash.
Kachess Lake, Cascade Range, Wash., Photo courtesy James Rosko
Columbia River via Vantage, Wash.
Columbia River via Vantage, Wash.

Washington has approximately 70,439 miles of river, of which 197 miles are designated as wild & scenic. Of course, the controversy remains unresolved with the use of hydroelectric dams, salmon runs, + native land rights or fights in court to preserve water + its tie to way of life (culture).

 

Liquid gold (at sunset if you prefer).

For everyone.

Raindrops on window late winter, Bellevue, Wash.
Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park at Lake Washington, Renton, Wash.
Wildfire smoke Summer 2017 + I-90 Bridge via Seward Park, Seattle, Wash.
Franklin Falls, Cascade Range, Wash., Photo (c) James Rosko
Lake Boren, Newcastle, Wash.
Workers at Cedar River Trail + Watershed, Renton, Wash.

There are many parks + trails to enjoy waterways, + with that growing public demand they need extra tender loving care. (Cheeky: Maybe as much + more than that 401K or military spending?).

Pond at Kubota Garden, Seattle, Wash.
Pond at Kubota Garden, Seattle, Wash.
Rainbow at Baby Shower, Renton, Wash., February 2016
Rainfall at Cedar River Trail + Watershed, Renton, Wash.

--> Which waterways do you recognize here or cherish? How would an ideal society treasure water? Comment below. <--