Lee Creek Cleanup (9-8-12)

[Half Ton]

It's almost that time again for another FUN and REWARDING cleanup in the Lee Creek Watershed. All of the organizing team hope to see you there

[Half Ton]

Cleanup press release which can be shared on Facebook and twitter http://www.uaex.edu/news/august2012/080 ... eanup.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Dr. Steve Yaney]

River Valley Chapter will meet at 8:45 AM on Septemder 8th at the Lee Creek put in by the bridge off of Highway 220. We will focus our attention on the stretch of the creek that we paddle the most. We will split up and send some folks to the take out and clean in both directions. We will try to finish around 11:00 and then head to Devil's Den for lunch and fun!!
I need someone to go to a meeting at Devils Den visitor center on August 31st @ 1:00 PM to pick up supplies and get final instructions. Fuurther, this person would be in charge of directing our clean up efforts and handing out supplies on Sep.8th. First person to contact me wins!!! four79-four61-795four

[Dr. Steve Yaney]

The date of the meeting is August 30th insted of the 31st. I still need someone from River Valley to attend and pick up supplies...ANYONE?????

[Half Ton]

Thanks for making the meeting Steve! Talk about a BIG day getting a new river access and helping organize a cleanup within goes of each other. I guess that's why your the prez

Weather is looking primo for the cleanup this weekend.

[GN YAKN]

Huge turnout for clean up at Lee Creek today. Great job John. Tons of young folks out and involved.

River Valley Chapter concentrated efforts at the Lee Creek putin and takeout downstream. Thanks Steve for organizing this effort. Both access spots look much better now and are ready for some water!

Dave

[summerbee]

Hi Steve,
Just wanted to let you know you really did not have anything stuck in your teeth when you were being interviewed on camera by the news reporter.
You did fine job.

T Graham

[Half Ton]

I still have not received the total weight for the trash that litterbugs left behind and over 300 volunteers helped pick up, BUT I do have some pictures that I wanted to share from the event AND I would like to thank all of the ACC members and other boaters that read this message board and that came out to pick up trash.

By the way.....THE ACC HAD MORE VOLUNTEERS SIGN IN THAN ANYONE this year and WON THE LEE CREEK STEWARDSHIP PADDLE


Here is one of the 30 different community organizations that participated cleaning along a section of the creek, where trash left on the ground has already washed into the creek from the surrounding watershed.


Here is a picture of the folks that cleaned along the roads and ditches to pick up trash before it gets washed into the creek at some point in the future.


Here is a picture of the dumptster full of trash that all of the volunteers helped remove from the creek, the surrounding access points, and the roads, trails, and ditches that contain trash left behind by litter bugs.


And here's part all of the volunteers like, besides improving the water quality of the creek....Doorprize time!

In addition to having a lot of participation, the event made local newspapers and even TV news......which can help spread awareness about littering to the greater public at large. One of the reasons we decided to make this a big event several years ago, was so that it could get media coverage to help spread awareness and to educate the public at large. I'd have to say, it seems to be working since we generally pick up less and less trash each year for 5 years now.

Also, I have some interesting survey results back from our participants that I would like to share.
1) the most common type of trash found was plastic bottles and cans at 53%
2) the second most common type of trash was broken glass and glass bottles 33%
3) micro-trash like plastic wrappers and lids and cigarette butts accounted for 14%


When asked who was responsible for this problem.....here are the results
A. Campers – 27 (49%)
B. Irresponsible people – 7 (13%)
C. Party folks – 5 (9%)
D. 4-Wheelers – 5 (9%)
E. Hikers – 4 (7%)
F. Visitors/tourists – 4 (7%)
G. Hunters – 2 (4%)
H. Other – Morons, Idiots, Rednecks, Jerks, Smokers
(obviously not all of these groups litter or litter all of the time, but certain types of trash and locations where it is found give away the source of litterbuggery from time to time....also, the folks that belong to these categories are likely not educated about the subject.

Another interesting find was in the answers to this question.

3) How do you think we can stop this problem?
A. Education - 17 (31%)
B. Provide more trash receptacles – 16 (29%)
C. Enforcement – 7 (13%)
D. More signage – 6 (11%)
E. Higher litter fines – 3 (5%)
F. More cleanups – 3 (5%)
G. Shoot them – 2 (4%)
H. Other – Bans, Forbid drinking, provide trash bags to campers, sign in/sign out

I agree that all but B and H would help. Reason being, some USFS folks told me enough stories about placing trash recepticles to get rid of illegal dumping turning illegal dumps into larger dumps. I guess the rationale is that if there is a place to deposit trash then there is a person that will come pick it up. If someone comes to pick it up, then it is an okay place to bring the house trash, old furniture, and appliances and more and more folks bring more and more stuff.

To me, B will help in places that are not in the middle of nowhere where people can not drive in and dump stuff from a truck or trailer. In public places like parks where littering is more the problem, and illegal dumping does not happen I could see more trash cans working.

Now, while H would get rid of litterbugs if you could off them in the act - I don't like the idea of committing one crime to deal with another crime. Not to mention, some of the litterbugs might be family or friend in some cases.

I do think that the number 1 response is most likely the best option to stopping the littering epidemic.

Thanks again to those that came out and a special thanks to Summerbee for organizing a carpool, and to Steve Yaney for manning the check-in site down at the hwy 220 bridge. This event could not be as effective at all without the help and support of so many good folks from so many different organizations.

John

[waterhog]

way to go john wish i could have made it up there we need to do this on galla creek and the lake its horrible there when you take out you wade through trash

[Half Ton]

Turns out 2700 lbs were picked up.....thats about 500 more than last year, but less than the all of the year's before that. Overall improvement, I think.

Chuck, It's too bad to hear about all of the trash that's getting into Galla. I would make an uneducated guess that most of the trash is coming in from the tributaries in the City of Pottsville?

That would make a good project. Be sure to pull in some local organizations and clubs if you do it so that they can learn about how bad it is and get involved too.

If you want to sign up for free supplies - check in with the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission and fill out a cleanup coordinator form http://www.keeparkansasbeautiful.com/in ... as-cleanup" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and/or arkansas stream team http://www.agfc.com/fishing/Pages/Fishi ... msAST.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BHK Okie]

I volunteer to shoot 'em

[Cowper]

Pottsville is downstream of Galla, so it has to be coming in from somewhere else.

Chuck,
Are motors allowed on the lake? I could bring a jon boat; if motors are allowed, I'll bring a fifteen footer (four stroke motor, generally doesn't leave that classic two-stroke oil sheen behind). If not, I'll bring a 12 footer that can be powered by an electric trolling motor. Either way, just a few 'yakers collecting, with the jon boat to haul it across the lake, we should be able to make a huge dent in the problem in just 2 or 3 hours. Let me know if you want to do something.

[jnewcomb]

I was planning on getting down to Galla and hiking the creek to make sure it's clear (often times in the past it hasn't been) so I'd be happy to work something out to hike it and collect some trash down at the bottom and along the way as well.

[Half Ton]

Aha! I've never ran it. Ready to go any time.......

I guess all that trash comes from some of the lake users, landowners, and road side ditches then. Sad to hear about so much trash coming from such a small watershed and low populated area.

[prophet]

there should be a way to get some money for an exact survey of trash by type, brand, etc. from somebody.

advertisers, litter prevention folks,