ENOUGH WATER TO LAST
Experiencing the reality of water scarcity
Dennis Kittel uses a specialized net to search for microplastics.
“When you live in Wisconsin, you don’t think about water,” said Dennis Kittel, citizen scientist and retired engineer. “You expect to go anywhere and find a bubbler. But in certain parts of the world, you have to plan your water all day,” he recalled.
“I traveled with the United Nations,” he said, “and still, it was a challenge to make sure you had enough water to last the day.”
When Dennis was chosen to volunteer with the World Food Programme, he thought he was going to learn about food packaging. Dennis and other volunteers were on location to see the challenges of delivering precious food resources via awful road conditions.
What struck him most was not the lack of infrastructure, but how much he took water for granted.
“It was mind blowing. It was the first thought of the day – do I have enough bottled water to make it through the day? And we didn’t get water every day,” he remembered. “Soda can last longer in a bottle. We had to look for those alternate fluids. There were days when I thought: wouldn’t a glass of water be nice!”
That experience stuck with Dennis, and when he hit retirement, he wasn’t looking for a break. He was looking for something to do.
Living in Michigan at the time, Dennis found a home volunteering with the Huron River Watershed Council. He chose to research microplastics in the Huron River, which involved figuring out a way to capture, measure, and quantify their presence.
“I was most surprised to see the amount of grass clippings that we captured,” Dennis recalled. Grass clippings don’t belong in rivers; they break down into elements that fertilize harmful plants. They can supercharge the algae blooms that threaten our waterways. He started making deeper connections between his international travels and our local waters.
“I don’t think we understand how much a person really impacts the water,” Dennis said. “Salt, medications, fertilizers… Humans can impact the water without realizing the collective nature of the impact.”
Finding the grass clippings was just the beginning. Dennis volunteers now as a citizen scientist with Fox-Wolf. It’s something he can do to make a difference, hoping that he’ll never have to question where his next safe water is coming from.
Dennis is also fond of sharing his love of the outdoors, especially with his 6-year-old grandson. “I take him outdoors,” he shared, “get him active, talk about the eagles. He’s old enough now that we’re going to start fishing this summer.”
Dennis happens to be the president of Fox Cities Greenways, an organization dedicated to meet the growing need for trails and greenspaces in the Fox Cities. This includes land-based trails for hiking and biking, but also water trails for paddlers.
“I’m just happy I found this environmental avenue,” Dennis said. “It’s not just volunteering; it’s finding something that’s interesting to do. It’s just fun to be involved with people with similar interests.”
When you give to Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, you’re protecting our lakes and rivers so that we know where our next glass of water is coming from. You make it possible for Dennis and other volunteers to get involved. And you’re giving hope to grandkids everywhere, as they learn to fish and find joy in our local rivers and lakes.
Watershed Moments is a publication of Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance, sharing the stories of how your donations have impacted lives in our community. Read our latest project updates, make a secure online donation, or become a member at www.fwwa.org
