Generally the Bolton flats area lies between Route 117 in Bolton and the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge. There's a significant trash problem there, and I've been working on it over recent weeks from the 117 side.
The trouble with this stretch is that there are many obstructions which create several impassable areas. If I was doing a 1-way trip downstream I wouldn't have to portage, but carrying cargo is a problem for maneuverability and being heavy in the water.
Saturday, I threw in at the Oxbow at Still River Depot and headed upstream. I hadn't traveled that stretch in about 2 months so I wasn't sure what I'd find. My goal was to paddle as far upstream as I could, collect what I could carry and survey what needed to be done. In that, I was successful.
I paddled as far as I could until I reached a logjam that must only be a mile or so from Rt. 117, it was simply impassable without portage, and portage would have also been quite difficult. So I turned around and headed back. I'd collected a lot of debris, and spotted a few more areas of concern. I'm pretty sure in a good day, with 2-3 trips I could finish that stretch. There were 3 tires, I collected one and sent the others further downstream for easier collection on another day.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Bird Watching on the Nashua River
Rubber Duckies are cute, but not when they become trash in the river. How they get there is no mystery either. Some local civic group decides to have a duck race fundraiser/raffle by selling a rubber duck for a buck or so, and setting a whole pile of them adrift down the river. The first duck that gets to a particular destination wins the prize.
Do the planet a favor, pick up all the ducks you send downstream or better yet, use your imagination and come up with a better fundraiser that doesn't teach kids that it is fun to put junk in the river and watch it float away.
Do the planet a favor, pick up all the ducks you send downstream or better yet, use your imagination and come up with a better fundraiser that doesn't teach kids that it is fun to put junk in the river and watch it float away.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Earth Day
Most every day is Earth Day to me, but sometimes I need to remind myself that rivers aren't the only thing that need cleaning up. Since my daughter was young we'd walk up and down our street and pick up the Dunkin Donuts cups, beer cans, and McDonalds wrappers, among other things.
This year for Earth Day, I decided to extend that reach a bit and include a nearby town forest. I filled my truck, but did a good job. The thing is, it's not very much street frontage, maybe 1/4 mile. But it was messy and I don't like to see it that way.
Yesterday, I repeated the task, but only needed my wheelbarrow. It is amazing with all the drunk driving laws that the majority of roadside trash is empty beer cans. I guess that'll never change.
This year for Earth Day, I decided to extend that reach a bit and include a nearby town forest. I filled my truck, but did a good job. The thing is, it's not very much street frontage, maybe 1/4 mile. But it was messy and I don't like to see it that way.
Yesterday, I repeated the task, but only needed my wheelbarrow. It is amazing with all the drunk driving laws that the majority of roadside trash is empty beer cans. I guess that'll never change.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
What's New?
I ran into a friend and they asked me what the most interesting item I'd found was. I said well, it's either the plastic yellow banana, the big wheel, or the oil cans and torch tank (like the bernsomatic you use at home for plumbing).
Sometimes it's a rubber ducky, sometimes a mudflap. Whatever it is, I tend to rember the interesting stuff. One time I even found Nemo.
How's to say I can't have some fun along the way?
Sometimes it's a rubber ducky, sometimes a mudflap. Whatever it is, I tend to rember the interesting stuff. One time I even found Nemo.
How's to say I can't have some fun along the way?
Big Wheel, big deal
Yesterday I went paddling on the Nashua River at the 117 put-in. We'd had some rain so the water level was a bit higher than recent weeks. I had just completed the first trip downstream and was on my way for round 2, and I ran into a couple canoeing down to the Bolton Flats area.
They questioned whether I was a member of the Nashua RIver Paddlers (apparently some group) or whether I was just doing this on my own. That kind of puzzled me a bit since I've only ever seen the presence of the Friends of the Oxbow contribute in any way to cleanup activities (and I feel like I know where the trash is). I said no, and moved on.
I did see the woman want to contribute, which was cool, but she almost went for a swim. She wanted to get a trash can out of the crotch of a tree. She stood up in the canoe and almost swamped it. She did manage to grab it and throw it in the canoe, so that's great, nice to have a little help. I think the name on their van was Bob's Carpentry or something like that. I can't say whether he's any good, but his heart's in the right place so that count's for something.
Several trips later, I had a full basket, and had managed to wrestle a big wheel out of the river. It weighted a ton. I managed to hoist it on to the rear deck and head on my way. When I reached the logjam downstream (which I barely cleared empty), I nearly swamped the kayak, bit I did lost the basket, creating a huge trash spill. I paddled frantically collecting everything for the second time.
When I'd collected everything, I turned around and realized I'd lost the big wheel. Damn. All thet work. I know at some point I'll find it again, but it must have sank like a rock.
They questioned whether I was a member of the Nashua RIver Paddlers (apparently some group) or whether I was just doing this on my own. That kind of puzzled me a bit since I've only ever seen the presence of the Friends of the Oxbow contribute in any way to cleanup activities (and I feel like I know where the trash is). I said no, and moved on.
I did see the woman want to contribute, which was cool, but she almost went for a swim. She wanted to get a trash can out of the crotch of a tree. She stood up in the canoe and almost swamped it. She did manage to grab it and throw it in the canoe, so that's great, nice to have a little help. I think the name on their van was Bob's Carpentry or something like that. I can't say whether he's any good, but his heart's in the right place so that count's for something.
Several trips later, I had a full basket, and had managed to wrestle a big wheel out of the river. It weighted a ton. I managed to hoist it on to the rear deck and head on my way. When I reached the logjam downstream (which I barely cleared empty), I nearly swamped the kayak, bit I did lost the basket, creating a huge trash spill. I paddled frantically collecting everything for the second time.
When I'd collected everything, I turned around and realized I'd lost the big wheel. Damn. All thet work. I know at some point I'll find it again, but it must have sank like a rock.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Tanks for Nothing
Over the course of the past few years, I've dragged... oh, say... 3 dozen propane tanks out of the river. Why would items like propane tanks end up in the rivers? First, the old tanks were made obsolete in 2002. You can't fill it, so you had to get a new one and get rid of the old one. Second, local landfills and recycling centers charge you to get rid of the old tank. So that costs a few bucks. I guess the only sensible thing to do is kick the old one into the river.
Now, months or years later, I find it and take it to the recycling center who, through their generosity decide to take them for no fee because it's part of an environmental clean-up project.
Kind, yes, but it's a great deal of work for what seems like no reason at all. I understand towns need to charge to dispose of problematic items, but I also think that leads to increased illegal dumping.
-Ed
Now, months or years later, I find it and take it to the recycling center who, through their generosity decide to take them for no fee because it's part of an environmental clean-up project.
Kind, yes, but it's a great deal of work for what seems like no reason at all. I understand towns need to charge to dispose of problematic items, but I also think that leads to increased illegal dumping.
-Ed
Friday, July 6, 2007
Nashua River in Pepperell
Last Saturday, June 30th, 2007 My friend Dennis and I went to the Nashua River for a morning paddle before our party that evening. What a spectacular day! We paddled all the way upstream to Rte. 2A where the Squannacook meets the Nashua.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised! I hadn't paddled much past Rte. 225 this year, and to my surprise, I was able to cover that whole 8-mile-ish stretch and not even fill my basket with trash.
That was a great feeling.
Often, because the volume of trash is high, I have to choose which trash I pick up. I have to decide to pick up the motor oil containers, spray paint, solvents, or other waste before I pick up trash. My logic is that the highly toxic items need to go before the stuff that's mostly just unsightly.
Not sure if the logic really holds up, but it might.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised! I hadn't paddled much past Rte. 225 this year, and to my surprise, I was able to cover that whole 8-mile-ish stretch and not even fill my basket with trash.
That was a great feeling.
Often, because the volume of trash is high, I have to choose which trash I pick up. I have to decide to pick up the motor oil containers, spray paint, solvents, or other waste before I pick up trash. My logic is that the highly toxic items need to go before the stuff that's mostly just unsightly.
Not sure if the logic really holds up, but it might.
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