The health of our environment and economy depend on responsible stewardship from every citizen! Here are some simple ways that you can ensure a brighter future for Mississippi:

• Never put litter or yard trimmings down a storm drain! If you wouldn’t dump it directly into a river, it’s also not ok to put it down a storm drain.
• Return your old car battery when buying a new one and dispose of oil properly at a recycling station.
• Reduce your use of pesticides and fertilizers and only apply after a rainstorm when the ground is dry.
• Water your plants or garden in the early morning or evening to reduce evaporation and water use.
• Wash your car in the grass to reduce runoff and allow the soil to filter water and soap.
• Watch for soil erosion around your home. Seed, install sod or plant ground cover to protect the site.

You couldn’t live long without clean water. Nothing can. Do your part to protect Mississippi’s waters.

• Rather than concrete and asphalt, use porous surfaces around your home like gravel, stone and interlocking pavers so water can percolate into the ground.
• Plant native vegetation that supports habitat for insects and wildlife.
• Mulch your garden—mulching conserves water, moderates soil temperatures, and controls weeds.
• Plant vegetation along stream banks if you have a creek running through your property and maintain a vegetated buffer zone along the waterway. This improves infiltration of water into the ground, helps filter runoff entering the stream, and holds soil in place.
• Participate in school programs. Learn about an environmental topic and volunteer to make a presentation at a local school.
• Join an Adopt-A-Stream program and help clean a water body in your area.

Public participation is critical to the success of our work to conserve our state’s waters. 

Some citizens of Mississippi understand the importance of their natural resources, both for their environmental and economic values. By dedicating their time to the public good, local teams, whether formal or informal, are working to identify concerns and develop watershed implementation plans. These plans will not only restore, protect, and sustain environmental resources, but also provide opportunities for economic development and community growth.

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and its resource agency partners are actively involved with local watershed teams through Mississippi’s Basin Management Approach. Watershed planning, education, protection, and restorative initiatives are all critical tools for carrying out this important work. Mississippians are working hard to preserve their abundant natural resources that provide outstanding fishing, hunting, economic development, and quality of life. Contact the Basin Management Branch for assistance or to get more involved.