By Joe Moore
A few weeks ago at Mass, one of our readings was from Ezekiel 47, and it stopped me in my tracks. It described a river whose flow brought life wherever it went. Wherever the river flowed, living creatures multiplied. Fishermen gathered along its banks. Trees flourished because the water sustained them. Even the marshes and swamps played their role, remaining salty by design.
I took note of it and parked it for a bit, contemplating whether I should mix something like this with my work in stormwater and water quality. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized this is simply more than that. It is a reminder that long before science, policy, or regulation, people understood how essential healthy waterways and wetlands are to life.
Wetlands, rivers, and marshes have always acted as natural filters and life-givers. They support fish populations, stabilize ecosystems, and even provide resources that heal and sustain. Today we use more technical language, but the principle has never changed. When we protect our wetlands and waterways, we protect the foundation of life around us. When we diminish them, the consequences ripple outward far beyond what we see in the moment.
Ancient wisdom and modern science point to the same truth.
Water quality matters. Wetlands matter. These natural systems have been quietly doing their job since the beginning of time. Regardless of our political affiliation, Our job is to make sure they can continue to.
#CleanWaterCleanWorld
