Nashua River Watershed - Kayaking

Nashua River - Earth Day

2012-04-23T14:16:00.002-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted, but I have still been cleaning up the rivers when I get the opportunity. Earth Day was yesterday, but since I had prior obligations, I went out Saturday morning to my favorite spot - The Nashua River at The Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge.
I loaded the boat with 2 laundry baskets, grabbed my work gloves and headed upstream. I decided to go upstream either as far as I could go or until I thought I would have a full boat, whichever came first.
I made it up to the Bolton Flats area and found both the need to portage and the makings of a full cargo load, so I started loading the boat. I found a number of large plastic items like a sled, some milk crates, and some sort of ride-on toy. After wrapping a bungee, around them I started on the usual bottles and cans.
As I worked my way downstream, I found 2 car tires and rims. While I wouldn't normally overload the boat with 2 tires, 2 full baskets, and some other plastic items, I knew the low water level wouldn't last and some of these things might soon be out of reach.
It made quite a delicate balancing act out of the ride back, but in one trip I filled the rack on the truck and made a nice dent in the amount of debris.
Happy Earth Day!

Nashua River and Hazardous Waste

2011-07-26T17:26:00.000-07:00

I've been collecting trash and whatever else I find on the rivers for about 6 years now. Each week I put trash by the curb, recycling every other week, and I am able to take the tires and propane tanks to my local recycling center, and they know what I'm doing so they let me get rid of those for free. But over time, I accumulate a lot of hazardous household materials.

In the past I would participate in the occasional town-wide hazardous waste days, which amounted to waiting in a long line of cars for hours then paying to dispose of whatever it was you had.

Recently, the Devens HHW (www.DevensHHW.com) opened, and having a shed full of used motor oil, anti-freeze, brake fluid, and a host of other unidentified gifts from the Nashua River, I went down there.

I had some correspondence with the director there, and fully expected an inconvenient experience. But when I arrived, I was greeted by the friendly staff, they inquired about what I had, and did all the work. I of course, asked whether they could cut me a break because a good deal of what I has was obviously from the river, but they're independently funded and had no such provisions.

I gladly paid to be rid of the materials (and have some space in my shed back) and I was off. But basically I paid someone else's disposal fee. It wasn't a fortune, my bill was $60, so about $30 would have been for the river stuff. I'd asked the Nashua River Watershed Association if they had any such programs to help volunteers, but sadly, no.

So here's a question for the readers. Would any corporations be willing to create a small fund for the disposal of waste pulled from rivers. I'm not quite sure how the whole thing would work, but perhaps the funds could be used at the discretion of the DevensHHW and other facilities. I might think a company like @CleanHarbors would be interested. Any takers?

Kayak Season Opener

2011-04-12T03:36:00.000-07:00

Well it was a long winter with everything freezing solid just after Thanksgiving and so much snow, the boat ramps were in accessible, but the season is finally here. Sure, I'd been out once in March, but I consider this past weekend the true beginning of the season.

I made 2 trips. On Saturday, I went to the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge in Harvard, MA. I chose to go upstream from the landing to see the state of things. Overall, not too bad. There are a couple of good sized piles about a mile up, and I worked on those, but I think in general, it's less than most years.

On Sunday, I did a combination bike/kayak trip leaving my bicycle at Rte. 117 and putting in at the site of the old bridge on Rt. 70. There's a new sign saying that it will be the future site of a canoe launch. That will be great, as that's a tough spot to drag your boat through. There was plenty of materials on this stretch, but the current was really strong so a few areas would have been dangerous to try to clean up, and a lot of debris was pushed up over the banks. There was one portage, so there is one large blow-down to cut through at some point.

All in all, great start to what I hope will be a long season of paddling.

Habitat for Humanity Day with The Pedowitz Group

2011-01-26T02:42:00.000-08:00

Hi folks, Many of you know I switched jobs at the beginning of the year, I moved from Brainshark to The Pedowitz Group. I don't really use this blog to write about work, but this is a little bit of an exception.

Today, I'm joining the Pedowitz team in Atlanta, GA to work with Habitat for Humanity. It's great to work with an organization that is committed to giving back.

I'll take some pictures and hope to share those with you later.

Trash Paddler

2010-11-18T06:26:00.000-08:00

Nice to see my Assabet River counterpart, the Trash Paddler is still at it, as am I. I realized I hadn't posted anything since spring. I'll post some more photos soon, but if you have time, check out what the Trash Paddler is doing.

Earth Day

2010-04-26T17:32:00.000-07:00

I’d like to see Earth Day moved to a fixed day like the 3rd Saturday of April, for instance. I think when it falls on a weekday that leaves people to think that they missed it. Well Earth Day is pretty much every day for me so I don’t really pay it much attention.
Saturday I did one of my regular semi-annual projects. I take my wheelbarrow and walk up my street to the town forest and collect trash along the way. It’s probably only about a mile or so of road, but it’s a common littering spot.
The wheelbarrow was full and I headed back to the house by 8:30, then I took my daughter to her Earth Day fundraiser on the town common and went kayaking.
I hadn’t been to the Oxbow at Depot Rd. yet this year and wanted to check up on it. When I go there, an officer from the environmental police showed up. We chatted for a few minutes about the state of the river and what needs to be done. He said there are only about 70 officers state-wide. I was surprised, figuring it would take many more than that.
He went on to explain that they really don’t focus on the illegal dumping sort of stuff – which probably makes up a significant part of what I am dealing with. Rather, they focus on the businesses that violate the laws as there’s money to go after. They also don’t spend any time on the rivers.
Anyway, I paddled downstream toward Rt. 2 to find out what the condition of that stretch of river was. Not bad, on the whole. When I got near Rt. 2 there were 3 tires, but other than those, there were mostly just bottles and cans. I piled a tire on the stern and then tried something I hadn’t – I put another tire on the bow – a tricky maneuver, but it worked. I had to balance the laundry basket on the rear tire, so for the remainder of the trip I had to be cautious about that.
I only made the 1 trip as my shoulder’s been sore and I had a number of other things to do, but next time I know what to expect. All in all, the Oxbow’s not in bad shape – a bit of a surprise considering all the flooding we’ve had.

Nashua River - Flood Stage

2010-03-28T19:03:00.000-07:00

I went out on the Nashua River saturday - technically I guess it is at flood stage. It was very fast - when I went from Pepperell to Rt. 225, the water was doing something I'd not seen before.
Looking at the river from the downstream side of the 225 bridge, there were rapids. Not huge rapids, but waves with white water. Very strange for that part of the river. Just upstream from that the water was unusually fast - virtually impossible to paddle upstream. So, I got to hit the rapids downstream ;-)
All in all, still a good day, some new debris, and I picked up a good bit of it, but always more - especially when there is flooding like there has been.
Well, looks like more rain on the way, we'll see what that brings.

Kayak Season Opener

2010-03-07T17:06:00.001-08:00

I declare kayak season is open! Yesterday I put in on the Nashua River at the Pepperell/Groton line. The water was still pretty high from the previous week's rains, but not too bad.
I wasn't sure what to expect in terms of trash... typically after a flood, there's a ton of trash in the river, but not this time. I paddled from Pepperell up to the Boathouse and back and only collected one basket full of trash. No tires. No hazardous or nasty stuff. Just some bottles and cans and cups.
Nice day, the river's in good shape, and kayak season is here... all is right with the world.

Heavy rain means heavy trash

2009-12-07T05:18:00.000-08:00

Saturday I went out on the Nashua River to do my usual thing - not sure how long til the river's frozen, so every opportunity counts.
The recent heavy rains swelled the river and that always means more trash - or more trash shifting downstream. It was a beautiful day though - a little light mix of snow and sleet. The river's so quiet in the Winter.

New Presentation on myBrainshark

2009-09-21T10:53:00.000-07:00

Check out the new product from Brainshark - it's a free way to share your presentations online. It's kind of like slideshare or youtube, but you can combine whatever media you have and you can add your voice. Check out the one I did for the Nashua River Watershed clean-up stuff I've been doing:

Social Media and the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge

2009-07-19T15:44:00.000-07:00

I had a very cool experience today. I was doing my usual thing, picking up trash, and a couple of guys passed by and one said "Hey, are you the guy with the website?" I said I did have a blog, and he mentioned how he'd emailed me a little while ago. Very cool!
But the story gets better - as I continued, I filled the boat, emptied the contents at the boat ramp into my truck, and continued downstream.
I saw those 2 guys again, kind of wondering why I had caught up with them, when I noticed they were in a logjam trying to get a tire onto the kayak! They asked for a tip, but figured it out anyway. They had their boats so loaded with trash!
So Steve and Dave - thanks a bunch! I really appreciate the effort, and you really made my day!
-Ed

Updated Merrimack River Scavenger Hunt Date

2009-07-10T06:06:00.001-07:00

The Scavenger Hunt has been changed to July 25th.
http://www.cleanriverproject.com/

Scavenger Hunt Date Changed to July 11

2009-06-29T08:53:00.000-07:00

Help out the Merrimack River Clean River Project on their scavenger hunt! http://www.cleanriverproject.com/

Nashua River Ecoli Count

2009-06-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

Stay in your boat! The Nashua telegraph just reported some results of ecoli testing after this long stretch of rain. Ecoli count is supposed to be below 88 for swimming - Pepperell launch tested at 1000.
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090624/NEWS01/906249886/-1/XML07

And... if you see kids swimming or jumping off the bridge - do them a favor and tell them please!!

Nashua River - getting better

2009-06-09T19:24:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post about this year - the river is looking better than any year recently. I'm very pleased with the condition. I do need to look at where the small island is about a mile above the 2nd rt. 117 crossing and between 117 and the Oxbow, but I worked those late in the season last year so I'm hoping for good things.
Otherwise between 119 and the Oxbow in Harvard looks decent - a couple runs and we're clear.

Kayaking in the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge

2009-05-31T18:31:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a gorgeous day so Nancy and I went for a paddle in the Oxbow in Harvard, MA. We headed downstream toward Rt. 2. It wasn't in bad shape, but I figured I'd get to the end of our paddle before filling my basket.
North of Rt. 2 I started picking up stuff - mostly a piece here or there. As we headed back, I grabbed a tire and some of the stuff that looked most hazardous - paint, motor oil, that kind of stuff.
There wasn't that much stuff overall - maybe 2 more tires and a few baskets of trash - hopefully in another week or two we can get back and clean it all up.
We ran into a group of 4 guys who do a trip down the river each year - it was their 30th year. They were very appreciative of the effort - maybe they remember what the river was like only 5 years ago, this month, when this story began.

Nashua River - 2A to the Ice House Dam

2009-05-27T18:15:00.000-07:00

Saturday I had the chance to go for a paddle so I chose a place that others generally don't prefer to put in since I was by myself. Rt. 2A at the Nashua is covered with Poison Ivy and long grass that's ideal for ticks. Aside from that, it's a good launch point to clean up below the dam in Shirley.
I paddled upstream althought the current was stiff, and made it up to just below the train bridge - then it gets to fast and shallow to keep going upstream. I collected a little less than a basket full of trash, I was a bit surprised how little there was - maybe all this is starting to pay off?
Since I wasn't fully loaded and I don't like to give up unless I collect a tire or 2, I headed downstream and up the Squannacook River. At the joining of the two in a logjam I spotted a tire, but it was a truck tire - as in a tractor-trailer sized tire.
I noticed it was not lodged in so I wiggled it free and wrestled it onto the tree I was stopped at. After draining most of the water out I then rolled it down the tree to my kayak and flopped it on the deck. I thought I was gonna swamp my poor little boat! But I managed to get it situated, balance the rest of the garbage and very gingerly slide myself in.
Wow was that tire heavy! The boat was so unstable that several times I thought I was going to swamp. I did manage to get it back to the launch, unload it and drag it back to the truck - through the poison ivy of course. But it's out of there and fortunately it was not a long distance from the launch point - I'm glad I chose that stretch to work on.

Merrimack River Clean Up

2009-05-26T06:46:00.000-07:00

I do a lot on the Nashua River, but my little kayak can't match up to what these folks are doing on the Merrimack River: http://www.cleanriverproject.com. Keep up the good work!

Kayak Season Opener

2009-03-08T18:22:00.001-07:00

Today I had the opportunity to take my first paddle of the new year. I put in at 119 in Groton and paddled up to the Groton boathouse. There was only maybe a basket of trash along that distance, but I wasn't picking up trash, it was just a survey mission.
If anyone knows folks at the row club, I think one of their orange buoys is downstream just below Fitch's bridge on the western side.

Spring Thaw

2009-02-19T18:54:00.000-08:00

The rivers look more and more open these days, as you can imagine, I'm itching to get out on the river and to get started on a new year of clean-up so I can add some new material to my Brainshark Presentation.

Although I enjoy other winter activities like snowshoeing, skiing (both downhill and nordic), and just hanging out in the snow, kayaking is what keeps me sane.

Any day now...

Trees in the River

2009-02-17T18:39:00.000-08:00

I always wonder about what to take out of the river. I only take the stuff that didn't occur naturally, but I often wonder about whether the trees that seem to be "in the way" are serving a useful purpose.
Recently, Russ Cohen of the Mass Riverways Program gave a talk at the town hall here in Townsend. I wasn't able to attend, but here are a few of the documents he made available which cover some of these important topics as well as preserving the river and the surrounding areas.
There's lots of good material here to consider for home and business owners who have property near the river and for folks who just like to spend time there. Thanks Russ!

Fact Sheet 3
Fact Sheet 4
Woody Debris

Why do I do this?

2009-02-11T17:24:00.001-08:00

I've been telling the story about cleaning up the river for a couple of years now, but I've never attempted to explain why, because primarily I want people to understand the problem, but more importantly, feel as though they can do something about it themselves. My motivations didn't seem to matter, but lately it seems like a question I ask of myself.
The exercise I get from kayaking helps me cope with the stress of work and being a single dad (nothing worthwhile is easy). But I think most importantly paddling is a very serene, almost meditative activity for me - even if I'm covered with trash. Just the sound of the paddle in the water and the sounds of nature makes me remember I'm part of a much larger picture. There are things that existed long before this lifetime and will be here long after my lifetime ends. That somehow makes my daily stress and challenges seem not so great after all. But it's more than just my favorite activity.
I've always had a deep connection to nature, it was clear even as a child. I'm not sure if it's because I'm told I have some Native American heritage or some other cause, but it's always been there. Seeing trash in a river or in a park or even along the roadside is a constant reminder to me that simply by living, especially in a western culture, I'm creating a burden on the planet every day. I feel bad about that.
In daily life, I recycle like crazy, have compact fluorescent bulbs throughout my house, and take the train to work, but I know I'm nowhere near carbon-neutral. If I could afford to switch my home over to geo and solar, I would, If I could haul the stuff away from the river in an electric car, I would, but I need a small pickup truck for that. If I had the time to grow my own food I'd even consider that. Cleaning up the river is not so much about doing something good, I'm trying to make up for the negative impact I have without even realizing it most of the time.
Don't get me wrong, it does make me feel good, and especially if I can inspire someone else to start thinking about their impact. While it gives an immediate feeling of accomplishment, the river provides a constant reminder that everything is impermanent. The constant change, the constant presence of a new problem brings awareness that what you've done is not important, what you're doing - now that's important.

New Brainshark Presentation

2009-01-25T17:15:00.000-08:00

I updated my Brainshark presentation about the Nashua River Watershed cleanup projects I've been undertaking. Take a look: http://www.brainshark.com/brainsharkinc/vu?pi=436394876

National Day of Service

2009-01-14T06:13:00.000-08:00

While everyday you should be conscious of your impact on the planet, you should also think about how you can help your country. I'm not a democrat, but the President-Elect has a good idea here. Go visit the Sierra Club's page for some eco-friendly ideas for the National Day of Service. http://www.sierraclub.org/NDOS/

As an editorial comment... How much could we shrink the size of the government if we each gave just 1 day a year? Any job in your community is tolerable for 1 day whether it's handing out dog tags at the clerk's office, filling in potholes, or collecting trash. Think about how much your taxes would drop if your town government was volunteer-based. Think how much more pride people would have in where they live...

Nashua River Clean Up - Oxbow

2008-09-22T04:57:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, my girlfriend and I went over to the Oxbow. I knew we had made great strudes toward cleaning it up this year, and really wanted to finish it up.
Until now, she hadn't really carried much in the way or trash - she's new to kayaking this year and I didn't want to have her grossed out right away;-). But Saturday I picked up a new laundry basket and bungied it to her kayak and we were off.
A couple of weeks ago we had the rain from T.S. Hanna, so generally that type of floodwater moves the debris downstream. Some of the debris found it's way back into the Oxbow, so we got to work.
I'm really proud of how she did. Especially since that was her first experience with a basket full of pungent trash. She didn't puke, so that's good!
Well we went from the Oxbow downstream to Hospital Rd. and collected just about everything! There are probably a few bottles here and there, and one large plactic thing - like a Barbie play house or something, but it's all clear of tires, propane tanks, etc. Now with that effort, we're basically all clear to Rte. 111 in Hollis, NH.
I understand there was an effort on Sunday to clean up between 117 and the Oxbow - that's a good thing because the last clean-up effort wasn't very thorough. That should make next year's cleanup a bit easier.