Water is a point of connection across the differences that can (artificially) divide us. Our shared experiences of rain from the sky or the bodies of water that shape our landscape are some of the tangible ways we are all connected by Seattle’s waters. Celebrating these connections is an important part of Shape Our Water’s long-term planning effort.

This summer, Shape Our Water is making space to celebrate our waters at the Seattle Design Festival on August 17 & 18 – and you’re invited! This year’s Festival theme of “What if?” inspired us to imagine a water future that’s made by all of us. Shape Our Water is teaming up with local artists Nina Vichayapai and Britta Johnson to create an installation at the Festival’s opening weekend Block Party that is free, hands-on, and open to all ages and abilities.

Seattle’s natural wealth surrounds us as we go about our daily lives. Our city is fed by spring rains and animated by the connections we build with nature – from the trees that shelter city sidewalks, to the glimpse of seabirds soaring over local lakes and coastline. Earth Month is a wonderful time to reflect on how we can be good stewards of the place we call home all year round.

Seattle’s rainy season makes water a big part of everyone’s life in the winter, as major storms create mountain snowpack, nourish plants and animals, refill reservoirs, and pour stormwater across hard surfaces in our towns and cities.

Summer is here and the rain is gone—for now! Cooler and wetter days may seem like a distant memory at the height of July, but this is the perfect time to talk about what Shape Our Water analysis work says about our City when it is raining.