2. Events

National River Clean-Up Day May 21 2011

So much crud gets dumped into, thrown into, blown into, or washed into our creeks and rivers! Every year, volunteers now assemble to haul it all out. This year, after several years of work, this stretch of Canoas Creek in San Jose looked almost pristine. A dozen volunteers hauled out only a few small bags of garbage after two hours of work. Most common: Nasty plastic bags! (San Jose is banning them soon.) Next, snack wrappers. Next, broken glass. And only a few recyclables. But lots of balls! Go figure.
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  • Bright and early on a really beautiful Saturday morning, I head out to do my civic duty.

    Bright and early on a really beautiful Saturday morning, I head out to do my civic duty.

  • Volunteers collecting trash along the creek.

    Volunteers collecting trash along the creek.

  • Mostly I found plastic bags, like these, in the plants along the creek.

    Mostly I found plastic bags, like these, in the plants along the creek.

  • Once you get down the dry-grass-slippery slopes, it's kind of pretty along the creek--

    Once you get down the dry-grass-slippery slopes, it's kind of pretty along the creek--

  • Pretty if you forget how channeled and "tamed" this creek is.

    Pretty if you forget how channeled and "tamed" this creek is.

  • The remnants of someone's lizard dinner.

    The remnants of someone's lizard dinner.

  • The sides of the creek channel are quite steep, and the trimmed grass made them a bit slippery. Still, not too hard to walk alongside the creek most of the way.

    The sides of the creek channel are quite steep, and the trimmed grass made them a bit slippery. Still, not too hard to walk alongside the creek most of the way.

  • There were several larger bits of trash in the creek, which no one came prepared to wade out into.

    There were several larger bits of trash in the creek, which no one came prepared to wade out into.

  • Wildflowers along the creek.

    Wildflowers along the creek.

  • The remains of someone's crawdad dinner.

    The remains of someone's crawdad dinner.

  • I found this pretty little tile.

    I found this pretty little tile.

  • Canoas Creek runs in a straight, concrete-floored channel with dirt service roads along either side and housing behind the fences.

    Canoas Creek runs in a straight, concrete-floored channel with dirt service roads along either side and housing behind the fences.

  • After an hour, I barely had enough trash to mention. Mostly plastic bags.

    After an hour, I barely had enough trash to mention. Mostly plastic bags.

  • The services roads had a lot of broken glass. I picked up some. These areas are fenced off; the neighbors think it's high school kids hopping the fences.

    The services roads had a lot of broken glass. I picked up some. These areas are fenced off; the neighbors think it's high school kids hopping the fences.

  • As another volunteer picks up more debris, I find a large rubber ball.

    As another volunteer picks up more debris, I find a large rubber ball.

  • The creek teemed with very large tadpoles. Don't know for what kind of reptile or amphibian.

    The creek teemed with very large tadpoles. Don't know for what kind of reptile or amphibian.

  • Another ball, a baseball this time. Found another one shortly thereafter. The guy following behind me found a couple more. (There is a school athletic field alongside the creek.)

    Another ball, a baseball this time. Found another one shortly thereafter. The guy following behind me found a couple more. (There is a school athletic field alongside the creek.)

  • A small, lightweight, green plastic ball.

    A small, lightweight, green plastic ball.

  • A large, lightweight, purple plastic ball. It's just a ball kind of day!

    A large, lightweight, purple plastic ball. It's just a ball kind of day!

  • After an hour and a half, I neared this bridge, and actually my trash bag was nearing fullness and feeling heavy.

    After an hour and a half, I neared this bridge, and actually my trash bag was nearing fullness and feeling heavy.

  • Found this foam-rubber die.

    Found this foam-rubber die.

  • And a spatula!

    And a spatula!

  • Saw a few mallards along the creek.

    Saw a few mallards along the creek.

  • One of the neighbors adjoining the creek had this cool World War 1 Fokker Dr1 Red Baron triplane wind vane! How cool is that? I used to build WW1 plane models.

    One of the neighbors adjoining the creek had this cool World War 1 Fokker Dr1 Red Baron triplane wind vane! How cool is that? I used to build WW1 plane models.

  • And also what's probably supposed to be Snoopy in a Sopwith Camel!

    And also what's probably supposed to be Snoopy in a Sopwith Camel!

  • Here's my ball (and die) collection for the day.

    Here's my ball (and die) collection for the day.

  • Got a bit of exercise, cleaned up a bit of trash. A good day.

    Got a bit of exercise, cleaned up a bit of trash. A good day.

  • Oh--and in three various places while leaning down to pick up bottle caps or broken glass, I also found these--so I'm 3 cents richer than before!

    Oh--and in three various places while leaning down to pick up bottle caps or broken glass, I also found these--so I'm 3 cents richer than before!

  • Plus they gave me this lovely pin.

    Plus they gave me this lovely pin.

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    Another ball, a baseball this time. Found another one shortly thereafter. The guy following behind me found a couple more. (There is a school athletic field alongside the creek.)
    A small, lightweight, green plastic ball.
    A large, lightweight, purple plastic ball. It's just a ball kind of day!