Mayfly attack!

Well, it wasn't an attack, but that headline is sensational, and readers like a good sensation. That's what Jason and Sebastian got, along with mate Chris and I, when we were cleaning litter off the west bank above the Morgantown Dam Sunday.

We were poking around the shore where the litter had drifted up from behind the dam, and we disturbed their resting area on the leaves of trees along the shore. (click the photo for a closer look).

To see the mayflies in the closeup below, click it.

These bugs don't bother people, except for leaving their carcasses all over the place when they die. The lifespan of an adult mayfly can vary from just 30 minutes to one day depending on the species, says the Wikipedia article on these insects. They are very important in feeding fish.

I think our crew will remember this experience. The young men did a great job with us on The Monongahela Monitor, our pontoon boat. They worked hard.

Litter above the dam, along the east shore in particular, is as bad as I've ever seen it.

If I had three boats with three crews, I could get that cleaned up in a week. As it was, we were only able to pull in seven big bags of litter before it was too hot to be working, and we headed back down through the lock (the crew insisted on pulling out litter as we locked), then to Walnut Street to drop off our "catch" and then to the marina.

At left, Sebastian and Jason in the lock.


Jason and Sebastian are freshmen at Morgantown High School and were fulfilling some public service requirements for school.

I don't know who it was that came up with the idea of requiring public service of students, but I'd like to shake his or her hand. Our crew had an impact on the community (we did a real good job along the shore at the Ruby McQuain park) and they learned a lot, too. An of course, they got to steer the boat.
Thanks!

Haven't been swimming yet

I haven't gone swimming in the river yet. Can't say why for sure. We've had 90 degree days already, and there have been lots of people out swimming (triathlon, etc.) I simply haven't gotten around to it. Anyone want to go? I like to dive off my boat into the deep parts. It's such a sensation, falling into the water, then watching the myriad bubbles climb to the surface, as I'm falling still, embraced and enclosed, enveloped, lost in silent water, going deeper, darker, down. At last, the momentum into the depths ends, and I follow the bubbles back up, through the green, and green-blue, into the sunlight. And there, on a branch over the west bank, in the brilliant brightness and blue sky, is a kingfisher.

Last weekend cleanup

We had our first "casual" cleanup on the Mon last weekend. I say casual because the first time out this year we had the big debris release. I understand from the Solid Waste Authority that our crew (including BOPARC and the women's rowing team coaches) pulled more than 1,000 pounds of litter out of the river and about 20 tires on June 15.

This was last weekend, with Jim Geiger and his sons. I think everyone enjoyed the trip, but Jim got a little muddy. Jim, hope you didn't get in trouble. We picked up some litter, but perhaps more importantly, we introduced a couple young people to the Monongahela River and working for a clean environment. That's the goal.

Peggy Pings of the National Park Service went too, and took these photos. Click for larger versions.

Top: Jim, his boys, and me.















Below: Josh learning to steer the boat. He did a real good job. Whenever I take kids out, I always give them a chance to steer. They love it. I would have, when I was a kid.

Some of the public notice on our April 15 debris release cleanup.
Pittsburgh Post Gazette
WDTV
Metro News

Debris Release - June 2011

We had a pretty successful liter removal on the river in response to the Corps of Engineers release of debris at the Morgantown Dam. We were informed in advance, and had a crew in place. We were aided by the local parks department, BOPARC, the WVU Women's Rowing Team assistant coaches and the state Department of Environmental Protection. CLICK PHOTOS FOR LARGER IMAGE.

top: The crew off loading our first catch of the day at the foot of Walnut Street, Morgantown. It was about 10 a.m. The debris release began around 8 a.m.

Here we are in the Morgantown Lock, among a debris field. Josh, a WVU student, is giving his best reach with a long "grabber."



Scott, Shay, and Alex man the grabbers as Chris bags.
















The crew below the dam with a load for Walnut Street.















At the end of the day, about 2:30 p.m., actually the end of our ability to continue, we had removed about 50 bags of litter and 18 tires. Below, Scott Lemons of the DEP checks the total as Chris Wilson, a volunteer, rolls one last tire onto the pile. Thanks to all who participated!

People ask: Why doesn't someone do something about this problem (litter behind the dam). The Corps should do something, they say. But the Corps is not funded to do litter removal. Well then, why don't we get a litter skimmer out there and keep this cleaned up? Who has $100,00 for such a machine, and who will pay an operator. Well something should be done, they say. These photos you see are it: something being done. This is the best response we can mount. If you have a better idea, let me know. Of course the ultimate answer is to end littering, which causes this situation in the first place.

Remember "Tradgey on the Mon" last spring, well here it comes again

The Corps of Engineers is going to do some work on the Morgantown Dam, and the debris and litter behind the dam will be released on Monday morning.

They had planned to do the work beginning on Thursday, April 9, but were convinced to delay the project because of this weekend's Arts and River Festival.

So, we're going to have a mess on the river Monday. I am organizing an emergency litter response. I have contacted the county litter control, the WV Department of Natural Resources and our local parks department for help.

If you have a boat and can help Monday, please let me know. tterman@mail.wvu.edu If you want to see what kind of mess we are talking about, see my blog post from last April.

Back in business, finally

The deck is finished! Almost looks too good for picking up muddy litter, but that's our purpose. Took Alex Hines of WBOY up through the lock to get a look at the litter. Wow, we've got our work cut out for us this summer! Here's his story. Thanks, Alex. Here's our summer schedule.