Saturday, March 28, 2009

Assabet River - Rt. 62 Hudson to Orchard Hill In Stow

Today I trash patrolled a section of the Assabet River that I'd never paddled before. Using Ron McAdow's book The Concord, Sudbury, and Assabet Rivers as my guide, I launched into the Assabet River at Cox Street in Hudson and paddled upstream. The air was filled with birdsong and the tapping of woodpeckers. A small mink that I encountered stared me down for about a minute before he slipped beneath the surface. I turned around where Main Street presently, and two railroads formerly, crossed the river. Construction of a new bridge is ongoing and when finished it will carry bicyclists across the river on the Assabet River Rail Trail. I returned to Cox Street and stowed 57 pieces of trash below deck before heading downstream towards Stow and the drumlin Orchard Hill. Trash was plentiful at every snag and there were many snags. As I approached Orchard Hill the river turned to the left to begin its wide sweep around the 300 foot high drumlin....

Shortly after the left turn, I came upon this snag and the large amount of trash it had captured...

Following about 20 minutes of work it looked a little better, but there was still ample trash left for another day's patrol...

Just downriver from this worksite, the river was blocked by downed trees in two locations...

After turning around I headed upstream towards the west-facing side of the hill...

Arriving back at Cox Street the bungees on my deck were stretched to the max...

Lastly, here's the lot of them after being transferred from the deck of my boat to the deck of my home. I think they're smiling...

Today's haul was 142 pieces of trash. Of these, 66 were recyclable and another 23 were both recyclable and redeemable. My YTD total stands at 688.
This section of river could easily provide for another 2 or 3 trash patrols.

3 comments:

Lis said...

Quite the haul! Sad what it says about society these days. I'm shocked and disturbed by the trash I see on the roadside when I'm out running. I always flash back to that public service ad back in the 70's with the indian in tears as he looked at the trash-filled landscape. I admire you for taking action! Maybe some day I can join you and learn the art of trash paddling.

Al said...

Lis, It is hard to understand how folks can discard their trash so carelessly. A monetary deposit might help to persuade them to redeem their empty containers. If not, it would, at least, make it worthwhile for others to recover it.
I agree with you in regards to the 'Crying Indian' PSAs. The original won 2 CLIO awards and is regarded as one of the top 100 advertisement campaigns of the
2oth Century. It was first aired on Earth Day 1971.
There were 2 versions (canoe & horseback):

http://www.aef.com/misc_video/adcouncil/indian_in_canoe_60.mpg

http://www.retrojunk.com/details_commercial/7072/

You're welcome to join me on a trash patrol anytime. Not much art to it. Just gloves, bungees, bags and handi-wipes! Al

Al said...

Lis, For some reason the link to 'Crying Indian' ad did not show correctly. It is:
www.aef.com/misc_video/adcouncil/
indian_in_canoe_60.mpg Al