Happy Valentine's Day from the Groundwater Foundation!

On this special day we wanted to take the time to thank you, our donors, supporters, and volunteers for everything you do. We wouldn't be around without your support, and we are so thankful for you! Happy Valentine's Day!

To celebrate the day, we thought we would share a few fun Valentine's facts:

• An estimated 145 million units of cards (not including classroom Valentine's) will be sold today.
• About 233 million roses were grown for today.
• 58 million pounds of chocolate are expected to be sold today.

That's a lot of cards, roses, and chocolate! But what does that mean for groundwater?

• 1 sheet of paper has a water footprint of 2.6 gallons. With 145 million units of cards estimated to be sold that's 377 million gallons of water.
• 1 rose flower has a water footprint of 1.8-3.4 gallons. That's around 419 to 792 million gallons of water to produce 233 million roses.
• 1 pound of chocolate has a virtual water footprint of 2,876 gallons. With 58 million pounds of chocolate candy expected to be sold that's more than 166 billion gallons of water!

That's a lot of water to produce our favorite love-day gifts! Maybe you are wondering how you can choose groundwater-friendly options this Valentine's Day. Here are some ideas we came up with, let us know if you have more!

• Send an E-Card in place of a paper version.
• If E-Cards just aren't your thing, give a card made from recycled materials.
• Give native flowers. Flowers native to your region take less water to grow and are often more affordable as they don't require importation.
• Buy local, non-processed food items to help reduce your water footprint. Think local candy stores, fruit producers, etc.

Let the Games Begin!

By Lori Davison, The Groundwater Foundation

The 2014 Winter Olympic Games are scheduled to begin with the opening ceremonies on February 7, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.  Olympic planners were concerned by how little winter snowpack collected in Sochi last year.  To prepare for this year’s games, the Olympic committee set up snowbanks in Sochi to preserve last year’s snow.  After the snowfall in 2013, roughly 28 million cubic feet of natural and artificial snow was moved into massive piles and covered with reflective and thick blankets to reduce melting.  If there is not enough snowfall for all of the outdoor events, workers will be able to produce more artificial snow from the 446 snow guns positioned along the ski runs, and withdraw from the snowbank.  

Olympic Fun Facts:

How much water is used to build an Olympic ice skating rink and how does it compare to domestic water use?

An ice hockey rink needs between 12,000-15,000 gallons of water to create the ice surface before maintenance over the Olympic festivities.  In the United States, the average person used 54-190 gallons of water per day depending on where they live.

Where was the idea of an Olympic Flame burning from the start of the games to the closing first introduced ?

At the 1928 Amsterdam games.

What country has hosted the Winter Olympics more than any other?

The United States has hosted the Winter Olympics four times; 1932 in Lake Placid, 1960 in Squaw Valley, 1980 in Lake Placid, and 2000 in Salt Lake City.

Where will the next Winter Olympics take place?

In 2018, the winter games will be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea. (The next Summer Olympics will take place in Rio de Janiero, Brazil in 2016).

 

 

Welcome to the New Groundwater Foundation Offices

By Cindy Kreifels, The Groundwater Foundation

Monday was a long and busy day of moving file cabinets, desks, shelves, and oodles of boxes. Now we are in our new office space and beginning to settle in and find the book we need or the file we have to have in order to complete a project.  And, as with all changes, there have been a few technology glitches to sort out, but as the week draws to a close we are back to the important matters at hand, protecting groundwater through our various programs and projects.

Here is a sneak peak of our new offices.



Cindy, Heather, and Amy in program meeting

Jane working on a grant proposal

Jennifer at home in her office

 

Heather likes her new space

Amy at work on education programs

   









We are anxious to show off our new space and share with you the new training room where we can hold meetings, demonstrations, trainings, etc.  We also have a smaller meeting room for advisory committee meetings and program meetings. Please stop in and see us sometime soon, we’d love to show you around.

                   The Groundwater Foundation

                   3201 Pioneers Blvd, Suite 105
                   Lincoln, Nebraska 68502

I know this may sound crazy, but I think our new digs have inspired and motivated each of us to push even harder to accomplish our mission of educating people and inspiring action to ensure sustainable, clean groundwater for future generations.

Hope to see you soon!

The Groundwater Foundation is Moving!

After spending 20 years at our South 48^th street location, next week we will be relocating to Pioneer Plaza in Lincoln. Our new address will be:

 

3201 Pioneers Blvd. Suite 105

Lincoln, NE 68502

 

We are excited for the move and all the opportunities the new space will provide. First, we will be able to better educate the public about groundwater with our designated space for workshops, meetings, and trainings.  Additionally, Pioneer Plaza allows for better visibility and more signage opportunities. Finally, the move will provide us with upgraded equipment, supplies, and a fresh looking space in order to enhance our ability to work nationally and locally. 

 

If you would like to help with our move, visit The Groundwater Foundation website to make a donation.  All gifts will be matched!