On Saturday, my girlfriend and I went over to the Oxbow. I knew we had made great strudes toward cleaning it up this year, and really wanted to finish it up.
Until now, she hadn't really carried much in the way or trash - she's new to kayaking this year and I didn't want to have her grossed out right away;-). But Saturday I picked up a new laundry basket and bungied it to her kayak and we were off.
A couple of weeks ago we had the rain from T.S. Hanna, so generally that type of floodwater moves the debris downstream. Some of the debris found it's way back into the Oxbow, so we got to work.
I'm really proud of how she did. Especially since that was her first experience with a basket full of pungent trash. She didn't puke, so that's good!
Well we went from the Oxbow downstream to Hospital Rd. and collected just about everything! There are probably a few bottles here and there, and one large plactic thing - like a Barbie play house or something, but it's all clear of tires, propane tanks, etc. Now with that effort, we're basically all clear to Rte. 111 in Hollis, NH.
I understand there was an effort on Sunday to clean up between 117 and the Oxbow - that's a good thing because the last clean-up effort wasn't very thorough. That should make next year's cleanup a bit easier.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
Nashua River Clean-Up - Rt. 117
A few weeks ago I went to the Oxbow and there were signs posted about a clean-up project that some volunteers had done. I say good job, thank you for the assistance! However, I went back on that stretch on labor day and discovered that perhaps their claim of "all-clear between the Oxbow and 117" was not quite what they said. I DO appreciate the effort they must have put in, and the river does regularly deposit new material, but check out this stuff - it's NOT brand new - and all of it was between Rt. 117 and the Depot. And this wasn't even all of it - I didn't even start taking pictures for more than a mile or 2.
Now, I want to repeat that I'm sure the volunteers put in a good effort, but don't claim to have cleaned it all up if you have not.
A tire and some trash...
Big pile of trash...
Paint bucket and a fire extinguisher..
A sled...
Another tire and a propane tank (I took one with me too.)
And another big pile of trash...
Now, I want to repeat that I'm sure the volunteers put in a good effort, but don't claim to have cleaned it all up if you have not.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Still River Depot
Saturday I went to the Oxbow - I've been working on getting the downstream side toward Rt. 2 cleaned up this year. I made a couple of runs and pulled out a lot of debris. We went out again Sunday and made one large run - nearly finishing it up! Once I finish that last bit - the Nashua River will be clear from The Oxbow to Rt 111 in Hollis NH. And now up to Rt. 117
There was a group of volunteers that had posted some signs stating that they'd cleaned up the stretch between Still River and 117. That's very cool, but also reminds me of a few things. Last year I had cleaned that stretch of river completely. This year I'd made several trips through. I'm sure the volunteers worked really hard to clean up the mess.
What we all need to take a way from that is this: Last year I had the river clean from past 117 all the way to Rt. 113. This year I had to start all over again. This project will never end. You can feel as though you've cleaned up the river, only to discover new trash the very next day - as was the case today.
I applaud the volunteers - thank you for your help. But I ask you to remember stewardship isn't like Earth Day, it needs to happen all year round. Keep up the good work!
-Ed
There was a group of volunteers that had posted some signs stating that they'd cleaned up the stretch between Still River and 117. That's very cool, but also reminds me of a few things. Last year I had cleaned that stretch of river completely. This year I'd made several trips through. I'm sure the volunteers worked really hard to clean up the mess.
What we all need to take a way from that is this: Last year I had the river clean from past 117 all the way to Rt. 113. This year I had to start all over again. This project will never end. You can feel as though you've cleaned up the river, only to discover new trash the very next day - as was the case today.
I applaud the volunteers - thank you for your help. But I ask you to remember stewardship isn't like Earth Day, it needs to happen all year round. Keep up the good work!
-Ed
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Would you believe...
Today we went out on the Nashua River in Hollis, NH. It's a nice stretch of river and there's a couple of mild rapids right at the put-in point, so it's fun. We paddled upstream for a couple of miles, and I collected what I found. There wasn't that much trash, so that was encouraging.
After we came back downstream, my girlfriend was sort of sitting there staring with wonderment at the shore. I came around the weeds and there was an exercice bicycle - like the modern kind standing up right at the shoreline. Very strange.
OK, so bottles, cans, styrofoam cups, etc. all have some level of plausible deniability that they ended up in the river accidentally. Not an exercise bike! I wonder if they have serial numbers that can be traced back to the owner?
I'll go drag that out of there one of these days and see.
After we came back downstream, my girlfriend was sort of sitting there staring with wonderment at the shore. I came around the weeds and there was an exercice bicycle - like the modern kind standing up right at the shoreline. Very strange.
OK, so bottles, cans, styrofoam cups, etc. all have some level of plausible deniability that they ended up in the river accidentally. Not an exercise bike! I wonder if they have serial numbers that can be traced back to the owner?
I'll go drag that out of there one of these days and see.
Friday, June 27, 2008
North Pacific Gyre
If you don't know about this, you need to. The North Pacific Gyre is an enormous vortex of plastic debris roughly twice the size of the United States. Check out this article.
I do my little part to keep the debris I find from reaching the ocean, but I was horrified when I saw this. There's no way my little kayak can have an impact of this, but I think people need to seriously think about the use of plastics in our society.
Sure, plastics help with sanitary things like medicine and food, but everything from the petroleum used to the energy needed to process it, to the disposal of it is a serious ecological disaster. Think about this: A glass bottle can be recycled, melted down and made into another glass bottle, the same goes for metals. Plastic however, cannot. A plastic bottle gets re-manufactured into something like a fleece jacket or sleeping bag stuffing. And from there it certainly won't get recycled.
Here's a couple of sobering facts:
- Plastic debris kills more than 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals every year
- Plastic pellets soak up chemicals and DDT they are then ingested by fish and eaten by us
- It is estimated that each square mile of ocean contains 46,000 pieces of plastic
- Degraded plastic particles resemble zooplankton and are consumed by marine life
- Plastic particles outnumber zooplankton by a factor of 6 in this area
Additional Information: from Wiser Earth
I do my little part to keep the debris I find from reaching the ocean, but I was horrified when I saw this. There's no way my little kayak can have an impact of this, but I think people need to seriously think about the use of plastics in our society.
Sure, plastics help with sanitary things like medicine and food, but everything from the petroleum used to the energy needed to process it, to the disposal of it is a serious ecological disaster. Think about this: A glass bottle can be recycled, melted down and made into another glass bottle, the same goes for metals. Plastic however, cannot. A plastic bottle gets re-manufactured into something like a fleece jacket or sleeping bag stuffing. And from there it certainly won't get recycled.
Here's a couple of sobering facts:
- Plastic debris kills more than 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals every year
- Plastic pellets soak up chemicals and DDT they are then ingested by fish and eaten by us
- It is estimated that each square mile of ocean contains 46,000 pieces of plastic
- Degraded plastic particles resemble zooplankton and are consumed by marine life
- Plastic particles outnumber zooplankton by a factor of 6 in this area
Additional Information: from Wiser Earth
Nashua River at the Oxbow
Last Sunday I went back to one of my favorite spots - the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge. When I got there I saw a man, woman and a boy of about 13 or so pulling something up the boat ramp. It was a large rubber raft - like those you'd pull behind a boat for recreation. I had seen this thing in the river just past the firing range, but I couldn't budge it from my kayak.
They were in a canoe and a kayak and between them had managed to wrestle it free and remove it. Thanks to those folks! I very seldom see any involvement like that, but it was great to see. So I went out and made a couple of trips to clean up some of the logjams down near Rt. 2, and the whole day I felt happy knowing others shared my passion.
They were in a canoe and a kayak and between them had managed to wrestle it free and remove it. Thanks to those folks! I very seldom see any involvement like that, but it was great to see. So I went out and made a couple of trips to clean up some of the logjams down near Rt. 2, and the whole day I felt happy knowing others shared my passion.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Nashua River - Hospital Road
We went kayaking on Memorial Day from the Still River Depot at The Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge, down past the new bridge at hospital road. During construction, which appears to be nearly complete, they had a barrier strung across the river to catch debris. I had feared that when they removed the barrier, a huge pile of rubbish would be set free downstream.
I was very pleasantly surprised! I looks like when they pulled it out, they must have taken the time to clean up the trash first. Kudos to those involved with that! So for all the stuff that's newly acumulated in the Oxbow, there's very little from Rt. 2 down to Shirley.
We did pull another tire and a basket full out of the Oxbow, and there's still probably 5 or 6 more trips needed to get that back into shape, but you know, one basket at a time...
I was very pleasantly surprised! I looks like when they pulled it out, they must have taken the time to clean up the trash first. Kudos to those involved with that! So for all the stuff that's newly acumulated in the Oxbow, there's very little from Rt. 2 down to Shirley.
We did pull another tire and a basket full out of the Oxbow, and there's still probably 5 or 6 more trips needed to get that back into shape, but you know, one basket at a time...
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Duck Races
OK, so duck races are kind of cute, but is this really necessary? I was at the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge on May 10 for a paddle. On the bridge was a huge box of rubber ducks they were going to pour into the river.
http://www.harvardpress.com/CurrentEvents/tabid/146/Default.aspx
Thankfully they were conscientious and (We think) collected all the ducks they threw in the river (We checked). This behavior does explain why I do find so many ducks - or trash, one might say.
Now, after looking for the organizers, I found the next batch to be introduced to the river: http://www.fitchburgpride.com/news/2007/0608/Front_Page/003.html.
Somehow I doubt the city of Fitchburg is going to be that conscientious and will continue to demonstrate to their citizens that it's OK to throw trash in the river. Nice job, Lisa Wong, Mayor of Fitchburg - the "City by the River" Why not just have your citizens bring their old propane tanks and tires down to the river? Oh yeah, they do that already.
http://www.harvardpress.com/CurrentEvents/tabid/146/Default.aspx
Thankfully they were conscientious and (We think) collected all the ducks they threw in the river (We checked). This behavior does explain why I do find so many ducks - or trash, one might say.
Now, after looking for the organizers, I found the next batch to be introduced to the river: http://www.fitchburgpride.com/news/2007/0608/Front_Page/003.html.
Somehow I doubt the city of Fitchburg is going to be that conscientious and will continue to demonstrate to their citizens that it's OK to throw trash in the river. Nice job, Lisa Wong, Mayor of Fitchburg - the "City by the River" Why not just have your citizens bring their old propane tanks and tires down to the river? Oh yeah, they do that already.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Nashua River - Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge
Today was the first day of the new year I'd paddled downstream from the Still River Depot in Harvard, MA. The weather was kind of cool and damp, but otherwise a good day for a paddle.
Each spring the first trip on any stretch of river is full of surprises. I'm no rookie, I know there is going to be new trash all the time, and the high waters of spring make it easy for debris to wash in, or move downstream.
I was paddling down river, picking up a few pieces here and there, nothing too bad, but all the while, in the back of my head, I was thinking "where's the mess?" Then I found it. I really couldn't believe it. There were several very large logjams just on the south side of Rt. 2. One has 3 (more) tires, and loads of trash, another had another tire and a propane tank. I loaded up a tire and one of the tanks, along with an empty 5gal. pail of hydraulic fluid and headed back.
I know it's not that bad, certainly not compared to what it was, but finding all that new debris is discouraging at some level. Ah well, work for another day...
Each spring the first trip on any stretch of river is full of surprises. I'm no rookie, I know there is going to be new trash all the time, and the high waters of spring make it easy for debris to wash in, or move downstream.
I was paddling down river, picking up a few pieces here and there, nothing too bad, but all the while, in the back of my head, I was thinking "where's the mess?" Then I found it. I really couldn't believe it. There were several very large logjams just on the south side of Rt. 2. One has 3 (more) tires, and loads of trash, another had another tire and a propane tank. I loaded up a tire and one of the tanks, along with an empty 5gal. pail of hydraulic fluid and headed back.
I know it's not that bad, certainly not compared to what it was, but finding all that new debris is discouraging at some level. Ah well, work for another day...
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Earth Day 2008 Cleanup
What would Earth Day be without a blog post? This weekend I had the pleasure of paddling down the Nashua River with a couple of friends. We did find a fair amount of new trash, but it wasn't that bad. I grabbed a bag of trash and a tire and my buddy Dennis also grabbed a bag of trash.
For Earth Day, I took someone special out for her first paddle. The Squannacook River makes a great first paddle, and I think she's hooked. She also got a chance to see me in my element, cleaning up what little trash there is in the Squannacook.
But the day wasn't over - on Earth Day I do tend to want to do something on terra firma, so we grabbed my wheelbarrow and cleaned up my street - well about 1/4 mile of it or so. It's kind of funny in a way... for all the drunk driving laws, virtually all the roadside trash you find is empty beer cans, nip bottles, and even small bottles of stuff like Vodka. We found about 6 Smirnoff Vodka bottles all about the same size, all on the same side of the road. So it seems someone polishes off one of these on a regular basis - possibly on their way home - and throws it out the window in the same spot. ah well.
Happy Earth Day everyone!
For Earth Day, I took someone special out for her first paddle. The Squannacook River makes a great first paddle, and I think she's hooked. She also got a chance to see me in my element, cleaning up what little trash there is in the Squannacook.
But the day wasn't over - on Earth Day I do tend to want to do something on terra firma, so we grabbed my wheelbarrow and cleaned up my street - well about 1/4 mile of it or so. It's kind of funny in a way... for all the drunk driving laws, virtually all the roadside trash you find is empty beer cans, nip bottles, and even small bottles of stuff like Vodka. We found about 6 Smirnoff Vodka bottles all about the same size, all on the same side of the road. So it seems someone polishes off one of these on a regular basis - possibly on their way home - and throws it out the window in the same spot. ah well.
Happy Earth Day everyone!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Westford Electronics Recycling
Westford will be holding its Spring electronics recycling event at the Blanchard School, 14 West Street in Westford from 8 am to 2 pm this Saturday, April 5.
You can get directions by Googling 14 West Street in Westford or The Blanchard Middle School in Westford. There are fees involved and this is a cash only event.
The rate sheet for recycling electronic items can be found at http://www.westfordrecycles.org by clicking on Electronics Collection under Upcoming Events.
You can get directions by Googling 14 West Street in Westford or The Blanchard Middle School in Westford. There are fees involved and this is a cash only event.
The rate sheet for recycling electronic items can be found at http://www.westfordrecycles.org by clicking on Electronics Collection under Upcoming Events.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Nashua River - Pepperell
Early each spring I make it a point to check out my favorite spots to see what the changes were over the winter. Typically the spring melt changes the landscape somewhat - new blowdowns, old blowdowns washed away, and of course, checking on the status of ne trash.
Today I went in at the Nashua River in Pepperell at Rt. 119. It's an easy place to get in and out of. I went upstream to just about Rt. 225. I dodn't find too much new debris - I did collect about a basket full including a 1-gallon container of Coleman Fuel - I hope it was empty when it did find the river. All-in-all though, the river was in good shape.
Today I went in at the Nashua River in Pepperell at Rt. 119. It's an easy place to get in and out of. I went upstream to just about Rt. 225. I dodn't find too much new debris - I did collect about a basket full including a 1-gallon container of Coleman Fuel - I hope it was empty when it did find the river. All-in-all though, the river was in good shape.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Squannacook River
I finally got a chance to get back out on the river - it's so good for my head. I went to the Squannacook River in West Groton. The ice was up to the boat launch so I portaged through the woods a ways and threw in.
The current was strong and was a pretty good paddle after a couple of months off. There were some new blowdowns, particularly one just below the Bertozzi rapids. I might have been able to get over it, but really didn't want to risk swamping in the icy water.
There wasn't much trash either, I did a pretty good job and only came away with a basket full - and nothing too nasty either, mostly Dunkin Donuts cups and water or beer bottles.
The current was strong and was a pretty good paddle after a couple of months off. There were some new blowdowns, particularly one just below the Bertozzi rapids. I might have been able to get over it, but really didn't want to risk swamping in the icy water.
There wasn't much trash either, I did a pretty good job and only came away with a basket full - and nothing too nasty either, mostly Dunkin Donuts cups and water or beer bottles.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Project or Process?
When I began cleaning up the Nashua River, I pretty much considered it a project. You know... finish this, move on. But really it's become much more than that for me.
Think about your daily life. You do the laundry, take out the trash, etc. Sure some stuff seems like a project, but it's really a process built around taking care of your loved ones.
The river's kind of like that for me. Sure there are selfish reasons for doing what I do - I like to kayak in pretty places, not dumps. But the other side is that I know somehow I'm part of something bigger, and having a positive effect, not a negative one.
So it's that process of change that drives me. I know that no matter how good of a job I do, there will be more to do. So it's a process. I'm not going to be able to stop people from being careless or destructive, but I can do 2 things: 1. accept that I can't change the way other people are; and 2. Minimize the negative impact.
In that way, it's a process for me not only to improve the environment, but also for personal growth.
Think about your daily life. You do the laundry, take out the trash, etc. Sure some stuff seems like a project, but it's really a process built around taking care of your loved ones.
The river's kind of like that for me. Sure there are selfish reasons for doing what I do - I like to kayak in pretty places, not dumps. But the other side is that I know somehow I'm part of something bigger, and having a positive effect, not a negative one.
So it's that process of change that drives me. I know that no matter how good of a job I do, there will be more to do. So it's a process. I'm not going to be able to stop people from being careless or destructive, but I can do 2 things: 1. accept that I can't change the way other people are; and 2. Minimize the negative impact.
In that way, it's a process for me not only to improve the environment, but also for personal growth.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Nashua River - Water's up
On Saturday a buddy and I went for a paddle on the Nashua River water was up, but it sure was pretty. There's some new trash, always is, but not too bad really. I probably won't get out again til March, but we'll see.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Nashua River - Open Water
Hey, the warm weather is opening up the river! I'll probably go out on Saturday. Anyone been out this week?
-Ed
-Ed
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