While standing at the edge of the Russian River yesterday, in the heat of eighty degrees at high noon it really hit home how challenging it is to understand the situation our county and in fact the entire state of California is in. In just a few days, this river will be full of Memorial Day guests and locals. Do they or will they think about what this body of water means to all it serves? I know I have to stop and consider it. How can I help ensure the plants and animals will continue to thrive and survive, while us humans enjoy this resource for pleasure and a myriad of water uses? Understanding what we do everyday and how it impacts our lives is a good place to start. Maybe on Memorial Day we can not only consider what sacrifices our friends and family made for freedoms and rights, but what our earth also is continuing to sacrifice and how we can honor being better caretakers. It would be nice to know that someone else, years from now, can also walk down to this spot and see a lovely place too.