JUNE 2009 BRIEFING
HIGHLIGHTS
Topic: The 90-Day Plan—90 Ways in 90 Days to Clean and Conserve Water
On June 18, 2009, Kristian Gustavson presented his exciting educational program aimed at saving the Mississippi River. It's a simple mission to reduce pollution through simple actions in our everyday lives. The event was held at the Village Hall in Lincolnshire, Illinois.
Upstream actions are leading to serious impacts downstream. The connection is clear: problems on our coasts do not start there; in order to address water quality concerns in our oceans, we must introduce solutions upstream.
The 90-Day Plan serves as a solution to non-point pollution in the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico by focusing on the regenerative ability of a river's constant flow. If we can allow the Mississippi and other rivers within its watershed to run their course, while cleaning up our act for three months—we could see conditions improve as the rivers replenish themselves. The Plan is based on the three-month retention time (duration of flow from source-to-sea) of the Mississippi River. By using the Plan as a model, this program can be applied to improving water quality in any river or watershed in the US and beyond. All we need to try are 90 ways for 90 days.
Kristian Gustavson recently graduated from UCSD, during which time he took an independent study course at Scripps Institution of Oceanography where he learned that the Mississippi River that he grew up near is one of the single greatest carriers of non-point pollution to the ocean in the world. The resulting hypoxic “dead zone ” in the Gulf of Mexico propelled him into action. As a surfer, Kristian has great respect for the ocean and an intimate knowledge and connection with the damage pollution causes. To educate himself and begin to spread knowledge of this problem and work for restoration of the Mississippi, Kristian completed a canoe trip down the lower half of the Mississippi River during massive floods and a major oil spill. This venture was inspired by a similar journey two of his uncles took in 1966; Kristian used the same canoe.
Kristian created the 90-Day Plan, a series of simple daily changes that people can make that will lead to clean water. This plan mimics the 90-day retention period of water in the Mississippi River. Through partnerships with the Governor of Illinois, the Illinois public school system, a number of non-profit organizations, Shedd Aquarium and academic institutes along the Mississippi River, Kristian will carry out the 90-Day Plan. He has partnered with explorer Brett Rogers on the “Great Water Road” trip, which will include a second expedition fully documented by a film crew, departing from Lake Itasca in Minnesota (late August) and paddling to New Orleans.
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