Fourth Grader Takes Prize in Essay Contest

Fourth grader Jenna Tam knows where her water comes from. The South San Francisco fourth-grader won second place in an essay contest sponsored by the Tuolumne River Trust about ecology and water conservation. Jenna's essay is reprinted below:

The Tuolumne River starts in Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The river is 162 miles long and flows through tall trees, mountains, forests, and deep valleys. You can do many things on the river or near the river such as hiking, camping, fishing, and canoeing. The Tuolumne River is a home for many animals, such as Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, and river otters. Bears, mountain lions, and bald eagles depend on the river for water and food. The river powers hydroelectric plants which send electricity to San Francisco, Santa Clara, and San Mateo. More importantly, it sends clean water to the Bay Area.

It is important for everyone to conserve water because water is important for everything. Only about 1% of the earth’s surface is usable fresh drinking water. About 2% is fresh water, but not usable or drinkable. The remaining 97% is salt or ocean water. Today, there are about 7 billion people in the world. Some estimates predict that in 10 years, there will be about 8 billion people in the world. Therefore, in the next 10 years, there will be a lot more people who need water. Also, the animals and plants in the world won’t be able to survive without enough water either. That is why we should conserve water.

Some ideas to save water are to turn off the water when you brush your teeth, because you save 2 gallons of water every minute! Another way is to take shorter showers and still be clean by putting on soap and shampoo with the water turned off. A leaky faucet that drips at a rate of 1 drop per second can waste 2,700 gallons of water a year. Try to only run your dishwashers and washing machines when they are full. Dispose all chemicals properly at a hazardous waste center and not into the sewer or down the drain because it pollutes our drinking water. Another way is if you don’t finish a glass of water, pour it in the plants. You can use rechargeable batteries because the mercury in disposable batteries will eventually leak out and poison the water it runs into. You can use a reusable water bottle to use less plastic and reduce the cups and glasses you have to wash. Finally, help someone install a water-saving shower head.

In 2010, my family went to Yellowstone National Park. We saw bison, bald eagles, and other exciting animals. I learned about Yellowstone tries to preserve everything the way it was over 125 years ago to keep the same amount of wildlife. Yellowstone cares a lot about their nature.

- Jenna Tam