Kudos to p.net and Tamia Nelson for the Talking Trash article! I love the “America the Landfill” reference…
Although I’m sad to report that the Litterbug Disease is every bit as rampant in northern Illinois as it is in the Adirondacks, I’m also happy to report that there are paddlers who are organized into Water Trail Stewardship groups – have been for years, and growing. Look on Facebook for the “WaterTrail Keeper Pride” group, which is connecting people from Ohio to Missouri. The Illinois Paddling Council sponsors The Illinois Water TrailKeepers group (http://www.illinoispaddling.org/trailkeepers). Capitol Water Trails (http://capitolwatertrails.org/) is based in Madison, WI. Friends of the Rappahannock is based in Virginia, in the Chesapeake Bay watershed… the list is long!
For the 30 miles of the upper Des Plaines River which the group I belong to covers, we’ve been noticing (maybe dreaming?) that there’s just less trash to pick up along the river than there used to be. Of course, there’s still the influx of everything from upstream (it all flows downhill), and the residual heavy stuff seems to show up regularly, including a 1950s vintage BMW, engine blocks, other parts of cars and farm implements, household appliances, trash barrels, etc. But the local litterbugs seem to be getting the message.
Without these sometimes small but always dedicated groups of volunteers, the litterbug situation will only get worse. Waterways can always use more help, and every river needs a “Friends of the…” organization. Start yours today! Talk to your Forest Preserve or Conservation District, or search the web for your local group…
Besides, this gives you an excuse for playing in the mud! What more could you want???
This would be better on Discussion
Forum. Check it out. Here, you seem to have been ignored.
Thanks Paul
I know you are busy hosting a canoeing event this weekend.
This indeed is better filed under this forum.The advice to talk to your local enviroment based group is a good reminder.
some other suggestions
The Water Trail program is a great program. Local paddling clubs, fishing groups such as Trout Unlimited, and watershed committees are also good places to check for annual cleanup efforts.