William Matt
It is my pledge to always seek justice on behalf of the City of Lansing. As your neighbor, I will work diligently to find responsible solutions to our challenges, and lead with a vision guided by a hope of an ever-better city.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Grand River Clean Up
Early this morning, a merry band of hardy volunteers ventured into the Grand River and canvassed the now revealed river banks to pick up trash and remove debris.
I gamely reported for duty at 8:30am, and by 9:00am was waist deep in the Grand. I worked around the Elm Street bridge where we pulled out approximately 8 bikes, various poles, a shopping cart and matress, tires and junk. This was a typical residential dumping ground, easy to toss things over the bridge rail on a quiet street. I waded along against a firm current until I tripped on something. I usually tried to lift the item out of the water with one foot, while balancing on the other. This went pretty well, with more volunteers in a canoe helping pull things to shore, and more volunteers yet, dragging the junk up the steep riverbank to be stacked near the trail or road to be picked up later.
Further along the river, past the Elm Point Park foot bridge, we found a concentrated area of what appeared to be older commercial garbage. Some full, 5 gallon paint buckets that had long since been dumped, a cash register, something that may have once been a fridge or ice box, and several deteriorating barrels. Most of this trash was lodged in the mud of the bank, and took lots of effort to dig out, pry and the roll up the bank. The smell of petroleum was fierce, and thin oil slicks drifted away from where we worked.
The chore was exhausting, dirty, smelly, and hot! Being there with other volunteers was great and seeing a major and immediate difference was rewarding for all of us. It was great.
I gamely reported for duty at 8:30am, and by 9:00am was waist deep in the Grand. I worked around the Elm Street bridge where we pulled out approximately 8 bikes, various poles, a shopping cart and matress, tires and junk. This was a typical residential dumping ground, easy to toss things over the bridge rail on a quiet street. I waded along against a firm current until I tripped on something. I usually tried to lift the item out of the water with one foot, while balancing on the other. This went pretty well, with more volunteers in a canoe helping pull things to shore, and more volunteers yet, dragging the junk up the steep riverbank to be stacked near the trail or road to be picked up later.
Further along the river, past the Elm Point Park foot bridge, we found a concentrated area of what appeared to be older commercial garbage. Some full, 5 gallon paint buckets that had long since been dumped, a cash register, something that may have once been a fridge or ice box, and several deteriorating barrels. Most of this trash was lodged in the mud of the bank, and took lots of effort to dig out, pry and the roll up the bank. The smell of petroleum was fierce, and thin oil slicks drifted away from where we worked.
The chore was exhausting, dirty, smelly, and hot! Being there with other volunteers was great and seeing a major and immediate difference was rewarding for all of us. It was great.
Labels: Bill Matt, clean up, Draw down, Grand River, lansing
# posted by Bill Matt @ 12:24 AM 
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