Photograph courtesy Alexandra Cousteau
Name: Alexandra Cousteau
Place of Birth: California
Current City: Washington, D.C.
Occupation: Explorer and Global Water Advocate
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I first went on expedition with my family when I was four months old. I have always wanted to continue in the tradition of exploration and travel the world investigating water issues.
How did you get started in your field of work?
I very much inherited a passion for the natural world from my family that has grown into a desire to engage people in conversation about the conservation of our water resources for a healthy planet and productive societies.
What inspires you to dedicate your life to freshwater?
Water issues touch every aspect of life on our planet and of our societies. The issues we face are challenging and working towards solutions is both urgent and fascinating.
What’s a normal day like for you?
Every day is different. Some days I'm on the water, or climbing a mountain, and others I'm in an airport or board room. The sheer diversity of what I do is part of what I find so thrilling.
If you could have people do one thing to help save freshwater, what would it be?
Protecting freshwater has a lot to do with both where and how you live. Identify your local watershed and find out what threatens it and how you can help protect it.
What are your other passions?
Horseback riding, scuba diving, and rowing.
What do you do in your free time?
If there is anything that I've learned from starting my non-profit, Blue Legacy International, it is that having your own business has a way of eating up all your free time.
Freshwater Videos
More About Freshwater
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Blue Legacy
Blue Legacy is an initiative started in 2008 by Alexandra Cousteau to engage individuals around the world through telling the story of our water planet.
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Summit on the Summit
A team of actors, musicians, and National Geographic explorers—Jimmy Chin and Alexandra Cousteau—set out to climb Africa’s tallest peak to raise awareness about the global clean water crisis.
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Alexandra Cousteau, Social Environmental Advocate
Cousteau's latest initiative, Blue Legacy, was created to tell the story of our Water Planet to the world, to inspire people to take meaningful action on critical water issues.
In the Field
Freshwater News
- Returning the Colorado River to the Sea
- Take a Pledge to Save a River
- Help Save the Colorado River
- Big Trout Invade Lake
- Pictures: Trout vs. Trout
- Grabbing Water From Future Generations
- Pictures: The Life-Giving Nile River
- Saudi Arabia Stakes a Claim on the Nile
- Pictures: Greening the Desert
- Saudi Arabia's Great Thirst
- Mali Drained by Foreign Business?
- Pictures: Unspoiled Rivers
- Pictures: Surprising Drought Effects
- Colorado Wildfires Threaten Water Supplies
- Philadelphia Cleans Up Storm Water
- Dances Revive Parched Rivers?
- Pictures: Hindu Pilgrims Leave Mark on Mountain
Environment Photos
Help Save the Colorado River
You can help restore freshwater ecosystems by pledging to cut your water footprint. For every pledge, Change the Course will restore 1,000 gallons back to the Colorado River.
Freshwater Advocates
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Sandra Postel
Sandra is a leading authority on international freshwater issues and is spearheading our global freshwater efforts.
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Jonathan Waterman
He's paddled the Colorado River from its headwaters to the delta, in an effort to bring awareness to this mighty river at risk.
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Osvel Hinojosa Huerta
For more than 15 years, Osvel Hinojosa Huerta has been resurrecting Mexico's Colorado River Delta wetlands.
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Change the Course Infographic
Check out this infographic and learn how you can conserve water and save the Colorado River, as well as other freshwater ecosystems. |
Water Currents, by Sandra Postel and Others
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Timelapse Shows Beauty of Lake Superior
A year in the making, this video highlights nature's splendor.
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Wastewater Brings New Life
A wetland flourishes in Mexico thanks to a treatment plant.
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Uncovering Great Lakes Garbage Patch
Scientists investigate the impacts of "micro plastics" on lake ecosystems.
