Have you ever wondered what it would take to get people to stop throwing trash into a creek or to take a moment to appreciate the beauty of a river while quickly passing by on an urban trail?

Contemplation of these questions led to the start of Blue Index, a project that set out to measure the impact of Austin’s waterscapes on the emotional state of those who experience them. As the project evolved, it became clear that the outcomes provided numerous benefits for communities and city managers alike. Blue Index demonstrated that a single project can use art, technology, and people power to reimagine how urban waterways are designed and maintained, how the public interacts with them, and how communities can participate in a conversation to protect the waters that matter to them.