What is a Watermark?

A Watermark is a true story about you and a body of water. Your story can be a memory, experience or moment about a time you connected with a body of water.

Whatever your story may be, your Watermark connects you to a shared water heritage. Every Watermark has the same five characteristics:

• A person (you)

• A waterbody (the waterbody you are connected to)

• A specific time (date, era)

• A location where it took place (town, park, beach, etc.)

• A description or narrative of a personal story of how a waterbody impacted or became significant to you.

Watermarks are filed in the archive. They create a living record of our powerful connection to water.

Why share your Watermark?

• When you contribute a story to the archive, you register the waterbody in a national database of important waters.

• You document the value of that waterbody to you and your community.

• You help researchers identify waters where people swim, drink, or fish, so that those uses can be protected in the future.

• You provide evidence that ensures environmental laws can be used to safeguard your waters.

As part of his sustainability efforts in collaboration with Swim Drink Fish, Theodore TOO hopes to collect 100,000 watermarks over the next year.