Monday, December 31, 2012

Skipper's Annual Report 2012

It was on this day five years ago that Trashpaddler.com was born.  Man, does time fly!  Pieces of trash recovered since that day total 29,088.
 
Yesterday, the last piece of 2012's river flotsam (aka trash) was packed into the old Boston and Maine Railroad boxcar, and the big door slid shut.  This morning the (virtual) local freight arrived at South Acton Junction and the boxcar was pulled from the siding (snow removal crew did a great job!)...
Once coupled to the rest of the small train, the engineer gave those of us sitting on the loading dock two quick blasts of the horn and the "2012 Trashpaddler Express" pulled slowly out of town.

Earlier, I had carefully filled out the bill of lading-

A total of 6914 pieces of trash were recovered during 2012 and the composition of the trash was as follows:

Recyclable (but not redeemable) containers = 34%          (35 in 2011, 34 in 2010, 32 in 2009)
Recyclable and redeemable: = 16%                                  (13 in 2011, 18 in 2010, 23 in 2009)
Miscellaneous rubbish = 50%                                           (52 in 2011, 48 in 2010, 45 in 2009)

SuAsCo waters (where I most often paddle):
Sudbury River saw 19 patrols netting 787 pieces for 44 per patrol.
Assabet River saw 34 patrols netting 1809 pieces for 53 per patrol.
Concord River saw 14 patrols netting 1021 pieces for 73 per patrol.

Other Watersheds (visited more than once):
Merrimack River (and tributaries) saw 11 patrols netting 737 pieces for 67 per patrol
Nashua River saw 7 patrols netting 837 pieces for 119 per patrol.
Ipswich River saw 4 patrols netting 234 pieces for 58 per patrol.
Charles River saw 3 patrols netting 184 pieces for 61 per patrol.
Tidal Waters saw 13 patrols netting 324 pieces for 25 per patrol.

Terrestrial Patrols numbered 30 and netted 556 pieces for 18 per patrol.

Waterways paddled for the first time in 2012 included:
Willimantic River, Quinebaug River, Quaboag River, Breakneck Pond, Stop River, Nissitissit River, French River, Taunton River, Powow River, Lake Boon, Parker River, Plum Island River, Tully River, and Salmon Brook.

Some memorable confluences paddled to in 2012:
Connecticut/White Rivers, Connecticut/Ompanoosuc Rivers, Connecticut/Black Rivers,  Merrimack/Souhegan Rivers, Merrimack/Nashua Rivers, Merrimack/Powow Rivers,  Taunton/Three Mile Rivers.

The year's most interesting piece of trash, to me, was the floating beer keg found in the Sudbury River.  Getting it out of the river was explained in this post.  Properly disposing of it was another matter, and explained in this post.  The beer keg demonstrated to me the importance of an empty container having a monetary value.  Beer and bottled water companies are very protective of their company owned containers.  We could all take a lesson from them.  One town has responded to the growing problem of homeless containers having no value.  The Town of Concord, Massachusetts became the first town in the United States to ban the sale of bottled water in single-serve plastic bottles holding 1 liter or less. This new ban will take effect tomorrow. Refillable water bottles are the way to go. Now if only the bottled water folks would get onboard and start providing their home-delivery customers with small refillable containers bearing their company logo. That way the reusable 5-gallon dispensers in the home could be used to refill smaller bottles for responsible use by folks when "on the go".
I think that might be called "sustainability" and "being part of the solution", or something like that.

This item in last week's Concord Police Log demontrates another disposal problem we face.  The log mentions a report of 30 tires having been dumped illegally behind a strip mall near the Assabet River. We, as a society, need to identify the things we want to prevent from entering the environment, and eliminate any financial impediment to their being properly disposed of. Any disposal fee for such identified items should be paid at the time of purchase.  In addition to tires, this should also apply to computer monitors, televisions, and fluorescent light bulbs.  Bring em' to the local transfer station and they'll be accepted no charge!

Getting back to the rivers, my favorite wildlife encounter of 2012 was coming upon this white-tailed deer crossing the Assabet River in Concord on a late October morning at sunrise...

Two expressions I, for one, wouldn't mind leaving behind in 2012 are: "Having said that..." and "At the end of the day...".

Looking ahead to 2013, when a coffee craving sends you to Dunkin' Donuts, please consider going small with your coffee and DD will reward you with a non-polystyrofoam cup!

Lastly, to my fellow trash picker-uppers, and readers of this blog... Happy 2013!

Saturday, December 29, 2012

A Deer Farewell to 2012

Snow was in the forecast and temps were close to the freezing point for possibly the last time this year.  So, why not get in one last paddle in 2012.  I launched at Lowell Rd. in Concord and ascended the Assabet River for a mile and a half before returning to find light snow falling at Egg Rock (photo at left).
However, shortly after launching and before reaching the Assabet, I encountered this white-tailed deer at the confluence...
This deer seemed intent on checking me out and didn't seemed the least bit afraid...
The deer remained in the same spot while I crossed over to check the inscription at Egg Rock...
The bottom line "Before the White Man came" was submerged.  Compare today's water level with this photo of the same rock 4 weeks ago to the day...
The approximately 4 inches of rain received in the last 2 weeks or so made the difference.

On the east slope of Egg Rock, someone had erected a temporary lean-to of sorts...
Perhaps it served as a duckhunter's blind?

Returning to Egg Rock from the Assabet, my deck was decked out for the last time this year...
 
Not wanting the day to end too soon, I continued down the Concord River to take a look at the Old North Bridge in the lightly falling snow...
 
Then it was back to Lowell Road where all passengers went ashore...
 
The year's last group of vagabonds consisted of 20 recyclable containers (4 redeemable) and 24 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as nip bottles and polystyrene (aka styrofoam).  YTD = 6914
 
Following some tasty hot cocoa (from my new thermos) and a wintry drive home, I began work on my fifth Skipper's Year End Report. 
 
For a self-confessed winter hater like myself, I have to admit to enjoying today's snow while out on the river (but not looking to make a habit of it).
 




Monday, December 24, 2012

Xmas Eve on the Assabet River

It was just too nice of a winter's day to pass up getting in a short but sweet Xmas Eve paddle on the Assabet River.  I launched near noontime at Pine Street in West Concord and headed upstream to the large blowdown above the Thoreau School.  There I turned about and drifted with the current for the short ride down to Nashoba Brook.  The river was chugging, though water levels remain relatively low.

My modest trash haul included the appropriate holiday colors...
There were 15 recyclable containers (3 redeemable) and 18 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic bags, polystyrene cups, and nip bottles.  YTD = 6870

The best part was that I and my newly decorated water bottle were home in time to scope things out under the Xmas Tree...

   Happy Holidays to all!

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Recess on the Ipswich River

Having a 3 hour layover between jobs this morning left me tantalizingly close to the Ipswich River and one of its nicer launch sites.  Therefore the decision was an easy one to launch my boat at the Bradley Palmer Canoe Launch (photo at left) in Topsfield and head upriver from there.  More than an inch of rain fell across the area yesterday, and the river was at a nice level.

Beavers look to have been very busy recently, and this photo shows where they've set up shop, so to speak...
The road in the background is Asbury Street.

The only critters seen up and about were a belted kingfisher, a red-tailed hawk, and some mallards.

Trash recovery was fairly typical until I came across this large black plastic bag...
It contained what appeared to be the residue from some group's camping and drinking adventure on the river.  Inside the bag were more than 45 glass beer bottles, soda cans, and plastic containers of food.  How the heck could anyone have allowed it to end up like that?

As I returned to Bradley Palmer, the sun was struggling to put in an appearance...

The day's catch languished hullside...
There were 58 recyclable containers (50 redeemable) and 22 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic bags, a mylar balloon, and assorted footwear.  YTD = 6837
 
Oddly today, a riverside jogger called out asking if my boat was a "Surge" kayak.  She's owned one herself since 1995 and mentioned being quite satisfied with it.  Ditto that with mine.

 

Friday, December 14, 2012

Musketaquid's Musquash Paradise

Yes, lucky indeed is the musquash (aka muskrat) family that will wile away the winter inside this well built Musketaquid abode (photo at left).  The Native American word "Musketaquid" is said to mean "grass-grown river" and nowhere is this description more accurate than the section of the Sudbury River between Route 27 and Sherman's Bridge Road in Wayland, MA.  For the nearly three miles between these two bridges, the river passes through the center of a large marsh-like area with nearly a half mile of grass on either side. 
Paddling this stretch today was like being in another realm where there is only sky, grass, and water...
For a musquash, it probably can't get any better than this.

I launched at Sherman's Bridge and headed upriver into the wind and against the current knowing they'd be at my back for the return trip.
After reaching the dirt ramp at River Road, I began my trip downriver with the late afternoon sun illuminating the underside of the Rt. 27 bridge...
Large numbers of mallards were about and they seemed more skittish than usual.

This blue heron may be pushing the envelope a bit by not having flown south earlier...
The ice is very close to his legs.

Back at Sherman's Bridge the daylight was fast fading...

My modest trash haul gathered hullside...
There were 17 recyclable containers (6 redeemable) and 10 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as a bicycle tire and tube.  Most of the trash was near the old causeway below Rt. 27.

Once back home, I found that Mrs. Trashpaddler had returned from an afternoon walk in which she recovered this haul...
She had scooped up 17 recyclable containers (1 redeemable) and 9 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish.

The two similar sized hauls bring the YTD total to 6757.

All the plastic containers brought to mind an uplifting editorial that appeared in the Boston Globe on 12/12/12 entitled "Kicking the Bottle-Water Habit".   According to the piece, "On Jan. 1, the University of Vermont will become the nation's biggest public university to ban sales of bottled water..."   By enacting this ban, students are turning down sizable monetary offers from a bottled water provider willing to pay for "pouring rights".  The true conviction of the students impresses me.



Sunday, December 9, 2012

Exploring the Assabet River's Mid-Section

This morning I was joined by a small contingent of RICKA (Rhode Island Canoe and Kayak Association) paddlers on a downriver passage from Rt. 62 in Gleasondale to Ice House Landing in Maynard.  Putting in (photo at left) are Erik, Jim, Frank, Paul, and Tom.  The rain received Saturday morning had helped to raise the river nicely. 
Our trip downriver was pleasant even though the promised sunshine didn't materialize until the very end...

Just before reaching Fort Meadow Brook, we encountered two folks in a canoe heading upriver.  Our group passed through the box-culvert and entered Fort Meadow Brook.  It's not every day that this brook sees this much traffic...

After returning to the Assabet, we continued downriver and witnessed Erik's indifference to the large croc near his boat's hull...
 
 
Paul's boat provided refuge for a recently escaped blue-winged teal (decoy)...
 
 
Other wildlife seen today were mallards, blue herons, bluebirds, a cardinal, a red-tailed hawk, a possible kestrel, a belted kingfisher, mute swans, and an osprey.
 
At Crow Island an airplane was practicing takeoffs and landings just above us...
 
At Ice House Landing, Erik allowed me to try paddling his Bell Yellowstone solo canoe.  While feeling a little strange, at first, for this long time kayaker, I soon began to appreciate the benefits of paddling in a kneeling position, especially considering my lower back and sciatica issues.  A very nice boat!
 
Our joint efforts at trash recovery resulted in this collection of riffraff getting to bask in the late-arriving rays of sunshine...
 
 
There were 16 recyclable containers (11 redeemable) and 8 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as fishing line, a flip-flop, and a nip bottle.  YTD = 6704
 
Even though the clouds hung tough, this is still one of my favorite stretches of the Assabet River...





Tuesday, December 4, 2012

The Merrimack to Tyngsborough Bridge

Paddling under the Tyngsborough Bridge (aka "the Carpet Bridge") is something I've long looked forward to.  The weather forecasters had led me to believe it was going be relatively balmy today.  It wasn't.  But nonetheless it was pretty decent considering it's December.  While temps were on the raw side, there was no wind to contend with.

Prior to reaching the bridge, I'd launched into the Merrimack River at Southwell Park in Chelmsford, and the river level had dropped quite a bit since my last visit...

Once underway, I headed upriver and soon was paddling alongside Passaconaway's beloved Wickasauke Island.  On the island's west side this rock garden stands exposed...
 
On closer examination, several casualties of the propeller variety, such as this one, were seen...
 
Perhaps the once great Pennacook sachem is extracting some revenge for having been swindled out of the island.
 
After paddling about 4 miles upriver the Tyngsborough Bridge loomed ahead...
 
It really is a beautiful sight from the river.  The bridge was built around 1930 and just recently reopened after undergoing extensive repairs.  A temporary span built alongside is now being dismantled.  The opening photo was taken from the upstream side.  I'd always heard this bridge described as "the Carpet Bridge" due to the carpet business long located at the bridges east footing...
 
 
My trash haul for the day posed hullside back at the landing...
 
There were 26 recyclable containers (7 redeemable) and 26 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic bags, a small propane cylinder, a syringe, and 2 more Hookset Disks (1023 disks TD).  Most of the beer cans recovered today were transients from New Hampshire and thereby not redeemable here in the flatlands of Massachusetts.  YTD = 6680




Sunday, December 2, 2012

Stone Bridges over SuAsCo Waters


 
Originally I planned to welcome the month of December by paddling further afield.  But after the advertised warmer temperatures were more than a little late arriving today, I elected to stay local and cobble together a SuAsCo waters sampler of sorts.  Launching into the lower Sudbury River, I paddled upriver passing under a fog enshrouded Nashawtuc Road bridge (opening photo).  At my turnaround point, between Clamshell Bank and Sudbury Road, the fog looked even thicker...

Enroute downstream to Egg Rock, the Route 2 and Elm Street bridges looked like mystical portals...

Once back at Egg Rock I headed down the Concord River to Flint's Bridge (Monument Street) which became my second turnaround point...

Lastly, I ascended the Assabet River from Egg Rock to Spencer Brook.  While the Assabet lacks stone bridges in this stretch, it did offer an elevated heron...
...and this lone male wood duck...

Other river travelers encountered today were Dan in his Placid Boatworks "Shadow" on the Sudbury, and two kayakers on the Assabet.

The relatively low water levels are attested to by this photo of the inscription at Egg Rock...

At the takeout, my trash haul got to bask in one of the few rays of sunshine seen today...
There were 10 recyclable containers (1 redeemable) and 18 pieces of miscellaneous rubbish such as plastic bags, a soccer ball and a frisbee.  YTD = 6622