"PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE... STOP RELEASING BALLOONS!" That's how the lyrics go, right?! Over the last year, our watershed staff collected 155 balloons scattered across the entire landscape! Mylar balloons have a significant impact on the environment because they are non-biodegradable. These balloons litter the landscape, fall into streams, hit power lines, and are occasionally found floating in the drinking water reservoir. Balloon strings and fragments can entangle wildlife and be mistaken for food by birds and aquatic animals. They also have a negative impact on water quality due to pollution and particle contamination in riverbeds. If you purchase balloons for your next celebration, handle them carefully and ensure they do not release into the air. Consider using them indoors, tying them to weights, and deflating them when done. Our trees and salmon thank you! PS: Yes, we organized the balloons by color and staged them for dramatic effect.