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Ask a New Yorker where her water comes from, and many will tell you, "out of the tap." And up until a few years ago, Chanel Ramirez may have said the same thing. But in 2009, Chanel was selected to participate in The Nature Conservancy's LEAF program (Leaders in Environmental Action for the Future). She spent two summers on preserves in Maine and on Long Island, taking part in everything from beach clean-up and water restoration to whitewater rafting and surf lessons. We talked to Chanel to find out what fresh water meant to her before, what it means to her now and why her perspective on the tap has changed forever.

nature.org:

Chanel Ramirez:

To be completely honest, no not really. The only thing that I ever really thought about regarding fresh water would be the lack of fresh drinking water available in developing nations. My family is from the Dominican Republic so whenever we would visit, the reality sank in to me. We couldn't shower as comfortably as we did here in the States, and we sort of had to ration our water. My grandparents were really keen on not wasting any water. I didnt understand why at the time. I was much too young. I just figured water came out of the faucet the same as it did at home. It wasn't until I went to middle school, possibly even the beginning of high school, that I understood the real reasons why. In the Dominican Republic, the issue of fresh water availability is as much an environmental issue as it is a social, economic and political one.

nature.org:

Chanel Ramirez:

Completely! My experiences with The Nature Conservancy changed my perspective on every possible thing! Now I see things, such as fresh water, as far more than just an environmental matter. I'm able to make connections with social and political aspects of it as well.

nature.org:

Chanel Ramirez:

This past summer I worked on Long Island with the shellfish restoration project. I learned why and how restoring the oyster and other shellfish population in the New York area was important to restoring our water quality. It was definitely an educational approach to the water issue.

nature.org:

Chanel Ramirez:

Yes, and I absolutely loved it! My first summer with LEAF up in Maine we went whitewater rafting which has been on my "To Do" list since what seems like forever. We went kayaking and canoeing both for work purposes and pleasure! It was my first time for many if not all of the water fun. We also went swimming in a pond in Maine. I remember this perfectly, it was absolutely breathtakingly beautiful! One of my favorite experiences out of like 500. We also had surfing lessons in Long Island. That was great too. Scary -- because I've never been in that deep of water before -- but super fun.

nature.org:

Chanel Ramirez:

I guess that pond in Maine would have to be my favorite. I can never remember the name of it, but I always think about it. I want to go back and swim in it again. It was just so beautiful.

nature.org:

Chanel Ramirez:

It means a lot. I realize that as New Yorkers, we are lucky to have such good water available,  but I also realize that too many people don't have that luxury. But it shouldn't even be a luxury; it's a human right to have fresh water available to sustain basic life.

Chanel Ramirez, 18, participated in the LEAF program in Maine and Long Island during the summers of 2009 and 2010. In February 2011, she was featured alongside women around the world when she was named one of Latina magazine's 15 Emerging Leaders.