Sustainability means working with nature, not against it

As published in Lake Travis View, August 2024.

Working with or against nature is, and always will be, a powerful driving force in our decision making. We can either adapt to it or modify it: build around a tree or plow through it. Nature’s elements can inspire us or provide us with an opportunity to exert control. Our interaction with nature not only applies to our physical environment, but to everything we do and even to how we think. Sustainable decisions start by observing what naturally exists and working within those limits. Anything other than this can require a greater upfront investment and produce short-term results that require ongoing maintenance. It’s a delicate balance of “nature versus nurture” that our biodiverse planet relies on for quality of life.

Sustainability has become a buzzword that is gaining traction in many different industries from fashion to engineering to landscaping and even personal growth and development. For something to be sustainable, we have to learn to co-exist with nature to meet the needs of today without compromising the ability to meet the needs of tomorrow. In the water industry, that means educating our customers to use only the water they need while simultaneously developing new ways to reuse the water we have. Since water usage habits are deeply engrained into our daily routines, changing how we think about water requires tapping into our innate level of acceptance to change.

“Nature versus nurture” is the concept that all decisions we make are shaped by personal traits that have both genetic (nature) and environmental (nurture) components. This “environment” includes such factors as how we are raised, what we eat, who we socialize with and how we spend our time. But not just anyone can be the next Albert Einstein or Jane Goodall. We also have a genetic predisposition with (natural) tendencies that provide the foundation on which everything else is built. These innate characteristics, including how inclined we are to accept change, are firmly ingrained personality traits that we may be able to modify, but not easily. This foundation establishes the limits we must work within when making, or encouraging others to make, decisions.

Nature’s foundation is maintaining biodiversity so it has spent billions of years refining processes and systems that are efficient, sustainable and resilient to support quality of life for all living things that share this planet. Why would humans want to make decisions that go against this? Access to water is essential to sustaining biodiversity so how it is used has a lasting impact.

For something to be sustainable, we have to learn to co-exist with nature to meet the needs of today without compromising the ability to meet the needs of tomorrow.

LAKEWAY MUD

Making the decision to support conservation efforts that prioritize the protection and restoration of the natural habitat in your area is fundamental to sustainability. The decision to work with nature could be as simple as using less water, which includes incorporating landscaping decisions that require less ongoing maintenance. Choosing to minimize the size of your grass lawn and add native planting beds is a sustainable decision. Native plants are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, requiring less water, fertilizer and maintenance than non-native species. They also provide essential habitat and food sources for local wildlife, including pollinators like bees and butterflies, which are crucial for the health of our ecosystems.

Decision-making starts with assessment and understanding, such as being conscious of how and how much you use water. All we can do is plant seeds, literally and figurately, by setting an example, observing which ones grow naturally and which ones require constant nurturing to thrive. Nature should be seen as less of an obstacle to be conquered, and more as a partner to be cherished and respected. By embracing this perspective, we can create a brighter, more sustainable future for ourselves, our future generations and the environment.

^{Written by Stephanie Threinen, public information liaison for Lakeway Municipal Utility District. Earl Foster is the general manager of LMUD.}