Social Media Tool Kit
Social Media Tool Kit
Follow the Water is a public outreach campaign led by the Clean Rivers Coalition. Follow the Water’s mission is to bridge clean water and healthy communities through education and engagement in Oregon, Southwest Washington, and communities along the Columbia River.
We hope you’ll help us share everyday actions to protect water on social media. Thank you for your support!
Follow the Water Campaign Pages and Social Media Sites
Please share our posts on your organization’s social media pages and tag us on Facebook @FollowtheWater and on Instagram @FollowtheWaterPNW.
Share Our Seasonal Content
What's Your Lawn Style Tips
- Spring is here! Time for mowing, weeding, and seeding. Check out this page for more information.
- With spring in full swing and summer on the way, here are timely tips for lawn care.
- It only takes a few simple steps to get the lawn of your dreams! Learn how here.
- The best time to apply fertilizer isn’t necessarily the best time to apply herbicide. Get more lawn facts here.
Download graphics here.
Prevent Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)
Algae alert! Did you know that using fertilizer in spring or summer can cause harmful algal blooms (HABs)? Excess fertilizers run off into our waterways, where an overabundance of nitrogen and phosphorus cause algae. HABs rob streams of oxygen, making it hard for fish to survive. They also can make water unsafe for swimming and fishing.
Download photos here.
Spring Stream-Friendly Solutions
Are you preparing to do some spring cleaning 🧹?
Choosing natural methods for your home and yard is not only easy and affordable, but it is also better for our rivers. When water flows downhill, it picks up pollutants such as oil, grease, pesticides, fertilizers, and pet waste. These pollutants can end up in waterways and impact the water quality of the area.
If you are planning to pressure wash, treat your roof, or maintain your lawn, you can check out stream-friendly solutions from Clean Water Services at https://cleanwaterservices.org/community-home/resources/yard/stream-friendly/stream-friendly/.
Download photos here.
Prevent Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)
Algae alert! Did you know that using fertilizer in spring or summer can cause harmful algal blooms (HABs)? Excess fertilizers run off into our waterways, where an overabundance of nitrogen and phosphorus cause algae. HABs rob streams of oxygen, making it hard for fish to survive. They also can make water unsafe for swimming and fishing.
Download photos here.
Introduction to #FTWConnect2024 Summer Campaign
It’s time to Follow the Water! Dive into the beauty of Oregon’s waterways with #FTWConnect2024
Show us how YOU connect with water. Whether you’re exploring hidden waterfalls or visiting a fountain at a local park, every moment by the water counts. Let’s inspire each other to appreciate and protect this precious resource.
Here’s how it works:
Post a picture or video of water in Oregon or SW Washington.
Use the hashtag #FTWConnect2024 with all submitted photos, reels, or videos. Please set your account/posts to public so that we can view your entry!
Follow us and tag our Facebook or Instagram accounts. Tag any friends or family that joined you!
Tag the location where you took the photos or video or note the general whereabouts in your post.
Sit back and wait to hear back if you're a winner! Be sure to browse the #FTWConnect2024 hashtag for inspiration all summer long. For more details about the campaign, visit https://followthewater.info/ftw-connect/.
Download photos here.
Winterize Your Lawn - What’s Your Lawn Style
Have a lawn? It's starting to get colder, which means it’s time to get ready for winter. Do you know how to prep your lawn? Here are a few lawn winterizing tips:
- Spare yourself some raking! Occasionally mulch mow fallen leaves by making multiple passes. This improves soil quality and suppresses weeds!
- Before the first frost comes, aerate your lawn to prevent compaction.
- Upkeep your yard equipment and irrigation system to prepare for spring.
Learn more about chemical-free lawn care on our website: https://connectthedrops.info/winterize.
Download photo here.
Mulch Mow Your Lawn - What’s Your Lawn Style
If you have a lawn, mulch mowing is an easy way to get healthier grass—without using unnecessary pesticides or fertilizers.
Get more advice for perfect turf on our website: https://connectthedrops.info/lawnstyle.
Download photo here.
Clean Storm Drains
The rainy weather and snow have arrived, so it’s important to take care of our storm drains.
When the ice melts, water runs downhill and picks up harmful pollutants. These pollutants can wash into waterways and harm the quality of the water.
Download photos here.
Avoid Using Salt for Ice and Snow
Brrr! It’s cold out there! A gentle reminder to not use salt for your slippery walkways. Stormwater runoff goes directly to our local waterways without treatment, and EPA scientists have identified a high level of salt concentration across urban areas. Too much salt in freshwater can harm aquatic life, pollute drinking water, and cause harmful algal blooms.
Try using gravel, alfalfa meal, wood ashes, or coffee grounds instead! Even rubbing alcohol, Epsom salt, and urea are effective alternatives that do less damage than salt.
Download photos here.
About Follow the Water
Do you know where your drinking water comes from? Do you know where your rainwater goes? Learn how water cycles through our rivers, neighborhoods, and lives from Follow the Water.
Follow the Water wants to connect what we do with what we drink, where we swim, how we survive. Follow to learn more about our connection to water.
Download photos here.
Follow the Water Videos
“Water is life. Water is our first medicine.” – Judy Bluehorse Skelton
Celebrate water by watching the Follow the Water video series. How do you connect with water in your daily life? Let us know in the comments!
#followthewater #connectthedrops
Download photos here.
What’s Your Lawn Style
You may know that what you put on your lawn can end up in our water—but did you know it can be cheaper and easier to skip out on chemicals? Whether you’re a lawn novice or a lawn nut, What’s Your Lawn Style has tips for you.
Check out our lawn videos to learn how to care for your lawn with little to no pesticides or fertilizers: https:// followthewater.info/whats-your-lawn-style/.
Download photos here.
Plant Trees For Salmon
Plant a tree for salmon!
Water partners across Oregon and Southwest Washington are collaborating to protect our salmon. Without shade, streams heat up causing lethal temperatures for salmon and their offspring. You can help by connecting with local watershed councils to help plant shade-generating trees close to streams.
Contact your local city, county, or watershed council and ask about stewardship opportunities or restoration events. #PlantATree #ProtectSalmon
Download photos here.
Prevent Muddy Runoff
Fish like clean water, too!
Cover your dirt, compost, and mulch piles when it rains to prevent muddy runoff into streams. It also helps sweep up any mess on driveways, sidewalks, or storm drains for clean and clear rivers. The fish will thank you!
Download photos here.
Tire Pressure and Salmon
We have some bad news—tires are toxic to salmon. When car tires wear out, the rubber breaks down into particles that wash into our rivers. Several studies have identified compound “6PPD-q” as the main culprit in salmon pre-spawn mortality.
But there’s good news, too: One quick and easy way to reduce harm is by checking your tire pressure. This will not only help you conserve fuel but also prevent tire breakdown. Don’t wait, inflate!
Download photos here.
Fish-Friendly Car Wash
What’s a fish-friendly car wash?
The best way to wash your cars for the fish is to take it to the professionals. Their systems capture and treat water and the harsh chemicals needed to clean your chrome, etc. Their system conserves more water than washing your car at home. Plus their soaps are specialized so they won’t harm your paint.
Check out more tips from KPTV’s Mark Nelson https://www.kptv.com/page/clean-water-its-our-future/.
Download photos here.
Throw Away Pet Waste
Doo something pawsative for our rivers! Scoop it. Bag it. Trash it.
Dog poop is gross to step in, disrespectful to others using parks and trails, and can even carry diseases. It’s also a primary source of bacteria pollution in our streams.
Pet waste left on the ground mixes with stormwater washes into storm drains that lead directly to our water sources. This waste carries harmful bacteria which can affect the health of wildlife, people, and children.
Download photos here.
Throw Out Pesticides
Let’s keep our rivers and streams healthy by waiting until fall to fertilize.
Old pesticides taking up space in your garage?
Keep harmful chemicals out of our waterways and get rid of them the responsible way! The Oregon Department of Agriculture hosts annual free waste pesticide collection events for local pesticide applicators.
If you would like to request a pesticide collection event in your area, fill out this interest form: https://www.oregon.gov/oda/programs/pesticides/water/pages/pesticidestewardship.aspx.
Download photos here.
Find Your Watershed
Wetlands are often overlooked, but wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rainforests and coral reefs. They provide fundamental wildlife habitat, stream flows, and buffers against storms and flooding.
Are you passionate about wetlands and want to make a difference in your community? You should check out your wetland organization dedicated to preserving and rejuvenating wetlands. Consult our guide below!
Find your local watershed council here: https://www.wetlandsconservancy.org/significant-wetlands.
#GenerationRestoration #ForWetlands
Download photos here.
Use A Drip Pan
Don’t drip and drive!
A friendly reminder to use a drip pan if your vehicle is leaking fluids. Auto fluids quickly find their way down the drain, contributing to water pollution.
Download photo here.
