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View Full Version : River Clean Up Issues


Banks10
09-05-2007, 10:09 AM
Before I go further, I know I am preaching to the choir...
Being new to the sport of fly fishing I am very impressed with the dedication I see and hear from fellow fly fisherman to conservation. It's fantastic to see the organized clean-up days on local rivers and I cannot wait to partake in them when they happen again.

Being a green fly fisherman, catching fish isn't the only reason I get out on the rivers. (If it was I would be bored because I have a lot to learn and don't catch a lot!). I got into the sport mainly to get outside, get some fresh air and enjoy time away from the maddening high-ways, malls and urban sprawl. It's a great feeling to be wading in a river, hearing the water, the birds and just enjoy the sounds of solitude (and hopefully the sound of my reel when a fish is on every once in a while).

The one thing that really irks me more than anything is seeing litter on the banks of a river. I always do my best to bring a little baggy when I go out to pick up any cans, bottles and yes THE STYROFOAM WORM CANS! But it seems like I am fighting a losing battle - when I return the next weekend there again is more trash.

For me and everyone else here it's an easy concept - when I go fishing, I NEVER leave anything behind. Wrappers, bottles and etc. always go in my pockets and then back into my car when I leave. I don't throw them on the ground just like I don't dump trash on my front lawn. I just can't see why this is such a hard concept for some people to understand.

Is there anything more we can do other than picking up after Neandertals who leave their crap on the river bank when they leave? I think organized river clean-ups are necessary and I cannot imagine what some of these rivers would look like without them. But even after clean-ups there are still a------- who think a beautiful river bank is a great place to dump their empty items.

Any ideas for mitigating this problem? Or is this just a losing battle that is never going to be helped.
Would signage work? Parking area trash cans in popular fishing areas? Slashing litterers tires?

lowwall
09-05-2007, 12:09 PM
Other than fines and enforcement there is nothing that can be done.
Recent imigrants I can under stand as they are used to the dumps they came from,Over time they should get it. But natives I just don't get. Just Lazy and Stupid.

We should pick a strech and do a clean up, get the local scout troop involved etc.

Got a Strech in Mind?

Also

Lets Wait Till Fishing Season is Over, To Short as it is

OTTER
09-05-2007, 12:51 PM
Trash on a river bank or on a road invites more trash. Studies have shown that if a section of road or river is totally cleaned, it is less likely to receive more trash.

What this means is that although I, like you, on an individual basis, pick up some trash every time I go fishing, it does not stop trash from being deposited. But when a group totally cleans up a stretch of river, it does deter further trashing. And here is where indiviual followup removing the occasional litter in that stretch is effective in maintaining a relatively trash free place.

This is something that we at Great Bay TU have noticed as we have had a massive and total clean up of the Lamprey River in Durham/Lee each spring. It takes very little follow up to keep it that way. In fact mostof the trash we pick up each spring tends to be stuff that is washed down and deposited during winter run off and spring flooding.

I wold recommend that anyone interested in cleaning up a site, team up with the nearest TU group so as not to waste time reinventing the wheel.

s2ary
09-07-2007, 06:00 PM
Maybe we could make up signs about river justice... :lol:

Poachers and Litter Bugs will be gladly beaten to a pulp. :lol: