Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Sudbury River - Little Farms Rd. to Danforth St. and Back

This morning, after work, I launched into the Sudbury River at Little Farms Rd. in Framingham and trash patrolled the river upstream to Danforth St. and back.  The usual types of trash were recovered along the way.  However, when I reached the MWRA (under river) aqueduct crossing, I noted quite a few beer cans on the river bank and around some newly installed vaults/tanks.  A short shore patrol netted about a hundred assorted cans and bottles.  Looked as though some kids had a beer drinking party, complete with campfire.  The area is pictured below, after the shore raid...
Upon returning to Little Farms Rd., I walked my loaded kayak down through the short riffle which was gleaming in today's brilliant sunlight...
Unloading took place alongside the river...
The total for the day was 204 pieces of trash.  The breakdown: 149 recyclable containers (73 redeemable) and 55 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic bags, styrofoam cups, and a formerly elegant plastic lawn chair.  My YTD total stands at 4562.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Sandy Bay - Rockport

Another beautiful day!  Not a cloud in the sky!  And Mrs. Trashpaddler and I were in our boats floating upon the waters of Sandy Bay in Rockport, Massachusetts.   For me, the theme song for this day would have to be Fred Neil's Everybody's Talkin' .  The lines that echoed through my head were: I'm going where the sun keeps shining, through the pouring rain, going where the weather suits my clothes, banking off of a northeast wind, sailing on a summer breeze, skipping over the ocean like a stone.
The summer of 2010 will be tough to top weatherwise.

Paddling through Straitsmouth Gap, I came upon this blue heron who must have had a hankering for seafood today...

Just the other day, I was looking at a cormorant on the Assabet River.  Perhaps these guys decided to swap locations for a bit.
We went ashore briefly at Gap Cove for a snack and an impromptu trash patrol ensued.... 
A lucky number of 7 empty containers were recovered from amidst the washed-up seaweed. The modest haul posed briefly back at the Old Granite Pier...
There were 7 recyclable containers (5 redeemable).  YTD total = 4358.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Getting the Message Out with Single-Use Plastic Water Bottles?

While Mrs. Trashpaddler and I were pedalling our bikes on the Nashua River Rail Trail yesterday, we came upon and recovered this discarded single-use plastic water bottle, pictured at left.  It is unusual in that it bears the name of a candidate for Massachusetts State Representative.
The bottle is also interesting because it states the bottle has a redemption value of five-cents in California, Connecticut, New York, Oregon, Hawaii, and Maine (not exactly what I'd call the lunatic fringe).
So, I'm left to wonder what this candidate's position is in regard to expanding the Massachusetts Bottle Bill to include redemption for single-use plastic water bottles that often end up in the environment.  I'm also left wondering if this might be part of the bottled water industry's response to activist Jean Hill's recent efforts to ban the sale of such bottles in the town of Concord, Massachusetts.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Assabet River - Hudson to Gleasondale & Return

The approximately four inches of rain received over the past 4 days had the Assabet River in Hudson running swift and clear this morning.  I guess you could say, "It was just what the doctor ordered!".
I launched at Cox Street in Hudson and headed downriver.  Trash was found at just about every snag.  A cormorant joined me for about a mile on both the trip down and up.  When I finally reached the limit of his territory, he watched silently as I paddled by...
 The flowers of the arrowhead plant are now blooming...
Passing the golf course on river left, I was surprised to see no one playing on the section near the river.  Shortly thereafter, I reached the village of Gleasondale and founds things quiet and peaceful, as usual...
 
At the dam, I turned around and began the trip back upriver.
By the time I reached Cox Street, my boat was carrying a fairly good haul of 136 pieces of trash.  The breakdown: 64 recyclable containers (14 redeemable) and 72 pieces of rubbish such as styrofoam, plastic bags, nip bottles, a small basketball, a small plastic bat, a spray can of pesticide, and several fishing bobbers.  My YTD total stands at 4351.
 

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Link to Article on Low Water Levels in Area Rivers

The following article, written by Michael Morton, appeared in the MetroWest Daily News.  It documents just how low water levels in area rivers have become.

Link to article

As I'm writing this short post, the welcome sound of rain can be heard.

Thanks to Dixit et Fecit for spotting it and passing the link along.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Sudbury River - Egg Rock to Heath's Bridge and Return

On the Hill Nashawtuc
At the Meeting of the Rivers
And along the Banks
Lived the Indian owners of
Musketaquid
Before the White Man came

The early rays of daybreak had not yet reached down to the above inscription at the base of Egg Rock as I went about my work trash patrolling the area.  The shoreline within sight of Egg Rock has been visited by many shore fishermen recently.  This was evidenced by the large number of bait tubs and other fishing paraphernalia recovered from the northwest side of the Sudbury/Assabet/Concord confluence...
 While recovering this beer can, a deceased crayfish was found within it.  Hope it wasn't the beer that did him in...
 Approaching Route 2, the new day was now well in progress...
The river was becoming more and more populated by the minute.  Blue herons, killdeer, sandpipers, and turtles were being joined by flotillas of canoes and kayaks.  It was good to see Mike fishing from his electric powered canoe.  He reported the fishing to be not too good and we both acknowledged the need for rain.  That's the only downside to all this great weather we've been enjoying.  Even in Camelot it rains (though only at night). 
At Heath's Bridge all crew, passengers, and stowaways went ashore for some leg stretching...
The day's haul numbered 158 pieces of trash.  The breakdown: 59 recyclable containers (34 redeemable) and 99 pieces of rubbish such as 33 bait tubs (a new one-day record), a traffic cone, an a/c unit face plate, a wheel cover, styrofoam cups, plastic bags, etc.  YTD total stands at 4215. 
Half of today's trash was recovered within eyesight of Egg Rock.  The remainder was mostly stuff that had only recently become exposed as water levels dropped.  A couple of old bottles were found.  One was a blue-glass Keasbey & Mattison Co., Amber, PA that may have contained their most popular product Bromo-Caffeine.  Another was an old bottle of Phillip's Milk of Magnesia with a patent date of August 21, 1906.  It struck me as more than a little odd that today is, in fact, August 21.   The two old timers are shown with a long-neck Coke bottle...

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Charles River & Bogastow Brook in Medfield Meadows

Since most of the recent thunderstorms have passed to the south of my usual haunts, I decided to head in that direction and trash patrol the Charles River in Medfield.  Before launching my boat at the route 27 bridge, I came upon two recently created trash receptacles in the shrubbery.  Some shore fishermen had obviously put some thought into containing their trash but, apparently, didn't understand how to close the loop and properly dispose of it...
Trash recovered within 50 feet of the launch site made up the lion's share of today's haul.
Once afloat, I headed upriver passing these grazing cattle...

Reaching the point where Bogastow Brook joins the river, I couldn't resist the temptation to venture into the brook.  Around the second bend was this immature black-crowned night heron...
He wasn't bothered by my presence and made no attempt to flee. 
Around the next bend was this great egret and he, too, seemed used to having visitors...
The opening photo was taken at about the point where I turned around in Bogastow Brook and headed back to the Charles.
While paddling today, I found myself thinking about the recent hoopla concerning casinos in Massachusetts.  The politicians are arguing over how many casinos the state will authorize, and the racetracks are ready to jump into the slot parlor business as if it is their birthright.  I can't help thinking that the Native Americans have lost their rightful place in line and been bumped aside (yet again) by those with better political connections.  The Wampanoag and Nipmuc peoples have struggled valiantly for more than three hundred years to maintain their existence as tribes.  Now, when they finally have a chance to build casinos, such as the neighboring Pequots and Mohegans have, the Commonwealth appears to have forgotten the debt it owes these people.  One of the reasons the US government created the 1988 Indian Gaming Act was to protect gaming as a means of generating revenues for the tribes and thereby encourage their economic development.  The Commonwealth should allow the tribes to build and run any casinos.  Massachusetts will benefit from a percentage of the proceeds as Connecticut does with Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun.  I think many would agree that having our state government involved in running casinos wouldn't be a very good bet!
Once my bow hit the sand, it was back to the business at hand and my boat disgorged the day's haul onto the beach.  Total for this patrol was 102 pieces of trash.  Of these, 40 were recyclable (26 redeemable) and 62 were miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic bags, styrofoam cups, a plastic flower pot, and several clumps of fishing line.  YTD total stands at 4057.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Bird Island Challenge 2010 - Buzzards Bay

After participating in this morning's Bird Island Challenge, I think Jimmy Buffett might reconsider the lyrics of his otherwise great song Volcano.  In the song he sings of being forced into flight by a tropical island's volcano and speculating as to where he doesn't wish to land..."Don't want to land in no San Diego, don't want to land in no Buzzard's Bay".  What I know is that Buzzards Bay was looking spectacular today, and the paddle out to Bird Island and back was a memorable one!
Participants in this year's Bird Island Challenge enjoyed paddling or rowing into a refreshing breeze for the outbound trip and then having that same breeze as a tailwind for the journey back to Wareham. 
No trash was seen today but 2 ospreys were on a platform near Sippican Neck, and Bird Island was occupied by a loud and raucous bunch of terns.  Cromeset Point chipped in with a group of American oystercatchers, a bird I'd never seen before today.
This was the 8th edition of the Bird Island Challenge and each year it has grown.   Event organizers explain: "This event benefits the financial aid program at the YMCA.  The Gleason Family YMCA's mission is to provide memberships, camp and programs to those who simply cannot pay for the YMCA experience.  The Bird Island Challenge is a big part of that mission."  Participants had 3 turnaround points to choose from: Long Beach, Great Hill, or Bird Island.
Numerous sponsors donated materials and services.  The opening photo shows boats awaiting their captains at Zecco Marina in Wareham.  Their very nice marine facilities were made available to participants.
So, while I don't know where I'm going to go when the volcano blow, Buzzards Bay would suit me just fine!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Cochituate Waters

Yet another stellar day in this summer that just keeps rolling them out! 
With the Bird Island Challenge looming on the horizon, the waters of Cochituate provided a great place to get in some practice.  Still a long way from the chopiness and saltiness of Buzzards Bay! 
The photo at left shows the view entering the North Pond.  I believe the yellow boom acts as a blinking yellow light to slowdown the on-water traffic.  All vessels are required to make a 90 degree turn to the left before proceeding north.
The North Pond gave up a little trash at the far end and a tire on the west side.  I almost passed on picking up the tire, but thought back to having seen this recent account of some other's efforts.  One tire seems like the least I could do, considering their haul!   Check out the photo of the guy towing the tire barge!
Just before passing under the always busy Route 9, and entering the South Lake, I drank in this view of the cascading water falls at Boston Scientific...

Found myself thinking what a great model this would make for wastewater treatment plant outfalls.  Certainly nicer than a pipe jutting out into the water!
Once in the South Pond, I watched this red-tailed hawk evict the resident cormorants from their favorite little island...
 Between the South and Middle Ponds, I climbed the banking to check out this view of the old PennCentral Railroad grade looking towards the Wonder Bread plant...
 Once back at the takeout, the day's catch smiled for the camera...
They numbered 27 and were composed of 20 pieces of rubbish including the tire, a styrofoam cooler cover, plastic bags, etc. and 7 recyclable containers (5 redeemable).  The tire was left at the vehicle gate where I hope DCR will be able to handle its disposal.  YTD total 3955.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Assabet River - Paddling to Pine Hawk

This morning I decided to follow in the "paddledips" of some long ago visitors to what is now known as Pine Hawk in the town of Acton.  The river travellers I followed visited the area several thousand years ago, as this Web site about Pine Hawk explains.
I launched into the Assabet River in Maynard, a little ways downstream of the Route 27/62 bridge, and paddled up to the bridge.  After seeing how bony it looked, I was glad to be heading in the other direction (at least for a while)...
 Heading downriver, this waymarker was reached and the blue heron atop it assured me I was going in the right direction...
 A little further along, a green heron concurred....
Other wildlife seen today were Canada geese, a lone duck, 2 belted kingfishers, and numerous turtles.
This sandbar behind the old Victory Plaza was littered with more than 30 tires...
 Finally, I reached a point that is fairly close to the Pine Hawk site...
Just downriver from this spot is the Powdermill Dam.  Most likely there was a natural falls of some kind there, and it would have made a great place to spear migrating fish.
Oddly enough (rather than a hawk) it was the distinctive cry of an osprey I heard and then watched as one flew above what water remains in the impoundment.
Soon, I was back to pulling my craft between rocks on my return trip upriver....
 Once back to where I had launched, the day's trash catch was disgorged from my boat...
This patrol netted 77 pieces of trash and the breakdown is as follows: 51 recyclables (20 redeemable) and 26 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic bags, styrofoam food containers, cans of spray paint, and a 2-way radio.  Remaining in this stretch of river are several shopping carts, several bicycle remains, and the aforementioned tires.  Most interesting find today was an old 8-ounce clear glass bottle labelled as Maydale Spring, Maynard, MA.  My YTD total stands at 3928.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Sudbury River - Sherman's Bridge to Lee's Bridge & Back

Early this morning, instead of heading to my client's Ice Cream plant as I usually do on weekdays, I reported to the Sudbury River for a trash patrol.  The Ice Cream plant cancelled production due to too much inventory.  Even with all the heat we've had, demand for ice cream is low?  Low, too, are water levels in the river. 
The air was heavy with humidity and a brief shower provided a little welcome cooling.
The opening photo, if clicked on to enlarge, shows two blue herons that appear to be acting as crossing guards for 6 Canada geese.
I launched at Sherman's Bridge and headed downriver.  A pair of red-tailed hawks were patrolling the skies between the river and Round Hill.  This was cause for concern to the many killdeer that were present today...

 Approaching Weir Hill, I came upon this group of ducks that appeared to be waiting for a bus...
 A liitle ways upstream of Lee's Bridge this Great Blue Heron had just finished a display that had wings outstretched while head held high...
 On the return trip upriver, I spotted what I believe is a green heron near the outfall of Pantry Brook...
It is the first one of these I've seen this season.
Other wildlife seen today were eastern kingbirds, a belted kingfisher, tree swallows, goldfinches, turtles, some acrobatic bass, and a large carp in the shallows.
When, at the patrol's conclusion, I arrived back at Sherman's Bridge, I encountered Susan K. and her canine friend, Isabella Rossellini.  They were conducting a terrestrial trash patrol in the area of the bridge.  The bridge is pictured...
We chatted about the river and how water levels have swung from one extreme to the other.  Susan recalled paddling her kayak across the roadway on either side of the bridge back in March.  She also recalled how the passageways between trestles had been blocked by a thick mat of river grasses.  So thick, in fact, that heavy equipment was used to remove it and lessen the strain on the bridge's piers.
Today's trashy haul posed on the small beach...
They numbered 44 in all.  Of that total, 26 were recyclable (21 redeemable) and 18 were miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic bags, solo cups, some fishing line, and a cigarette lighter.
These are combined with 15 pieces from last Friday's terrestrial patrol on the Nashua River Rail Trail and 90 pieces from a Sudbury River patrol conducted in Framingham, last Saturday.  An account of that patrol is in the works.  YTD total now stands at 3851.
Until my next patrol, I'll be working on my "Rain Dance"!