Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Further into the Mystic

After working a graveyard shift last night, I decided to trash patrol another stretch of the Mystic River before going home.  Rain showers had passed through the area at around 4 am and skies were still cloudy on my drive to Mystic Riverbend Park.  I launched at the same location as last Monday, but headed upriver this time.  By the time I reached Main Street, the sun had emerged from the clouds and a nice day was in the making (opening photo).
Trash was plentiful right from the start as were black-crowned night-herons...
These herons were seen in trees, on docks, and on boats.  Blue herons were few and far between, for a change.  Cormorants, Canada geese, and mallards were also present in good numbers.

In addition to large floating mats of lily pads there were large clumps of water chestnut plants.  Areas where folks had been removing the plants were evident.  Looks like hard work.

I kept an eye out for Rock Hill somewhere upstream of the Winthrop Street bridge, but couldn't discern where it may have been located.

Train horns drew my attention to the commuter rail bridge in time to see an inbound train cross over the river after having stopped at West Medford...

Shortly thereafter I gazed into Alewife Brook...
Though it looked inviting, I resisted and continued up the Mystic.

Not knowing how much further it was to Lower Mystic Lake, I almost turned around at the Route 60 overpass.  Instead I decided to take a peek around the next bend, and there it was...

I paddled up to the distant structures and could see the higher water level of Upper Mystic Lake...
This became my turn around point and I began heading back to where I'd launched.

Did I say that trash was plentiful?  Once my ship's holds were full, overflow began piling up on-deck...

Reaching the takeout, another good catch was unloaded hullside...
Today's haul numbered 191 pieces of trash.  There were 114 recyclable containers (27 redeemable) and 77 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic bags, styrofoam, nip bottles, and an open container of "Never-Seez" pipe thread coating.  My YTD total stands at 3635.
 
There's still lots of trash remaining along the banks.  I'm reminded of Bottle Bill opponents saying there's no need for a bottle bill nowadays because curbside recycling has made redemption programs obsolete.  The above picture tells a different story.


  

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