My neighbors have a beautifully cut lawn with a small stream running through it. They cut their grass three times a week and it looks like you could play a game of miniature golf on it. Beautiful, right? WRONG!

Most people don't know why this is wrong, but that is why I'm here. Cutting grass right up to stream banks causes erosion, takes away hundreds of animals' homes, and makes the water temperature rise. When the water temperature rises it starts to kill all the types of cold-water fish.

Stream banks are just one small part of our wetland problem. Wetlands are areas covered by water at least part of the year. In the years since Christopher Columbus came to America we have destroyed half of our wetlands. Wetlands have been lost because of people building housing developments and farmers draining the wetlands to grow more crops. In 2003, the government will make towns preserve or restore stream banks.

If you have a stream bank on your property, use Kutztown Elementary School's Saucony Creek Preserve as an example of what to do. Plant a willow tree to cool down the water or plant shrubs for animal homes. Let Mother Nature help with some wild flowers and build a birdhouse.

There are many ways to save our environment. Often it is easier to start in your own backyard.

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