Perkiomen Creek (30-May-2016)

Headed down to Montgomery County for a clean-up with Jeffrey Greco and Tyler Sacks. We decided on paddling the Perkiomen Creek. This was not just to remove trash off of the creek, but to help plan out the best route for the Perkiomen Creek Sojourn, which will be held this coming weekend by the Perkiomen Watershed Association. Both Tyler and I will be helping to guide the Sojourn. The route for any trip like this needs to be run prior to make sure there will not be any surprises along the way when the group is on the water.   

Starting out there were only a few small items along the bank. I know there were clean-ups done not that long ago, so I wasn't sure how much we would actually find. 

Jeff and Tyler stopped to pick up a couple of items at the head of a small rocky flood plain area. I paddled down a little further and got out to check some debris piles.

Clearing this out was much easier with help. I climbed up and started throwing things down. Jeff sorted the recyclables from non and Tyler helped me with trash around the pile. 

Tyler found a lost med kit completely full and completely ruined. I hope those who lost it weren't in need of it when they did. The trash can in the canoe was picked up on the first dam that we had to go over. With there being a lot of private property along the Perkiomen you need to be careful when picking up an item like that. It may be someones property. Since it was on the dam, had a cracked bottom and looked like it had been in the creek for at least a little while I made the call to take it. Also, Tyler added the trash bag, it was not in it when found. 

Some of the houses built along the creek are just awesome. This is one of my favorites built on top of a large rock. 

Jeff spotted this Bald Eagle at one of our stops. It was on the opposite side of the creek in a tree. At the time none of us noticed that it had a fish nor that it was banded. After a little bit of research last night I believe that because of the green band on this eagle that it was originally banded in New Jersey. Did anyone else see a Bald Eagle on Memorial Day? 

For a holiday I was shocked that there weren't more people out enjoying the creek. We passed several fishermen and a family inner tubing, but that was about it. 

Not only was the extra help appreciated, but having a canoe along is the best. I was able to unload some of the larger items I picked up with the kayak and go back to collecting more.

What my kayak looked like nearing the end of the trip. 

The last item I picked up for the day. This piece of plastic was around 60 ft long. I think it may have come from a bridge construction site just up stream. There were other pieces, but no way of removing them on this trip. The pile of plastic on the top of the kayak made it a bit unstable for the rest of the paddle.

The haul for the day. The non-recyclables were left next to a trash can in the park we exited at. In this case Tyler took the recyclables home to be disposed of locally. The area that we were in has had a problem with a non-native species called the Lanternfly. Potentially trash items could have Lanternfly eggs on them and is not something I want to be responsible for spreading around PA. 

To Mr. Greco and Mr. Sacks, Thank you very much for helping with this clean-up! We removed much more than I expected and it was an great time!

A mother Merganser with young. Mergansers are a fish eating duck very common on our streams and rivers.

This is a Painted Turtle, a common species on the Perkiomen Creek. It was missing one of its from feet, but that really is not an issue for this turtle. Life in the wild is hard and the loss of a limb for a turtle is not that uncommon. If you ever come across a turtle like this it does not need to go to a rehab. It will be much happier staying in the wild and there really isn't anything a rehab can do. If the wound is healed and the turtle looks to be healthy there is nothing wrong with it. I have seen many painted turtles like this one and they do well the way they are.

There were a few Northern Watersnakes on this trip. Northern Watersnakes are not venomous, but are often thought to be Water Moccasins. The good news is we do not have Water Moccasins in PA. Even though the Northern Watersnake is non-venomous I would caution that if you try to pick one up it will do two things. It will bite and it will relieve itself on you. Both are in defense, you are large, the snake is small and it probably thinks you are trying to eat it. This animal should be left alone and respected.

The coolest insect find of the day! A Water Scorpion. This aquatic predator will sit as it is in this photo and wait for a prey item to swim by. It possesses raptorial forelimbs like a preying mantis, which it uses to snatch up its prey. Then it will suck out the insides of whatever unlucky invertebrate, small fish or tadpole it catches. It is not the only aquatic insect predator like this around and it is on the smaller side compared to some.

You too can help with taking out the trash! If you get out hiking take a grocery bag with you, give it a second use and fill it with trash while you are out! Every bit helps. You can also help contributing to this project here: Help Fund Taking Out the Trash

Like this project? Like it on Facebook: Taking Out the Trash in Eastern PA

Lehigh River (28-May-2016)

Another hot day and I wanted to get out on the water. Limited to sections of the Lehigh that still have intact canal, so I can paddle back up to my car. I decided to run the section below Walnutport again. On the last trip down this section I removed a considerable amount of trash and I knew if I didn't find enough to fill the boat on the Lehigh there would be more to pick up the way back on the canal. 

I did not find much at all on the riverside. Somehow I did manage to see this flipper on the bottom. I have found children's flippers before, but this was the first adult size.

Nearing the point where I had to go up to the canal I found this base to an old tv. It still contained some electronic components and was not small or light. Since there was not much further to paddle down river I walked this right up to the canal path and to a trash can along its side. 

For a weekend I couldn't believe how few people were using the canal path in this section. I only passed one person all the way back to my car. It could be because the D&L Trail is on the other side of the river here and this canal path just dead ends. 

The TV base was left along side the can and the flipper was thrown in. I prefer not paddling with larger items and being able to drop these off helped a lot for the paddle up the canal. 

The canal was just packed full of items I don't see that often in other areas. This is the first large dog food bag I have ever come across floating in any waterway. 

A mystery liquid and a not so mystery liquid. I tried very hard not to get either on my boat. The uncapped Little Stinker catfish bait I was especially careful with.

Upside down in the water I thought I was just reaching for a piece of styrofoam not a headstone. 

Nearing the end of my trip up the canal. 

Along with the two larger items I think it was a decent haul. The non-recyclables were thrown out at the local parks dumpster and the recyclables were loaded in the car. The first time I paddled this section this year I did ask someone who was working on the grounds if it would be alright to use the dumpster in the parking lot. It is always best to ask and generally there are no problems if you are helping to clean-up the surrounding area. 

Do you know what species these two frogs are? If you guessed Green Frog on the left and Bullfrog on the right you are correct. These frogs can be confused, there color can be variable and smaller ones often look similar to one another. There is an easy way to tell the difference between these two species though. The Green Frog has what's called a lateral lines which are raised lines that runs from the back of the eye to its back end, a Bullfrog does not have these.

This Whitetail deer did not seem to sure about what she was looking at when I paddled by her on the river. 

At this time of year it seems every twenty feet there is a Common Grackle on the riverbank. They do not often stick around for photos. 
You too can help with taking out the trash! If you get out hiking take a grocery bag with you, give it a second use and fill it with trash while you are out! Every bit helps. You can also help contributing to this project here: Help Fund Taking Out the Trash

Like this project? Like it on Facebook: Taking Out the Trash in Eastern PA

State Gamelands (25-May-2016)

Worked on the last section of stream I had yet to walk on the Gamelands by Tuscarora State Park. It was extremely hot an being by the water helped cool things down. 

There really wasn't much trash. Mostly a can here a bottle there. Only one spot that had multiple items where it looked like someone had been fishing and eating lunch and just left all their trash behind.

This was it. Probably towards the end of summer I will work my way through this area again. 
You too can help with taking out the trash! If you get out hiking take a grocery bag with you, give it a second use and fill it with trash while you are out! Every bit helps. You can also help contributing to this project here: Help Fund Taking Out the Trash

Like this project? Like it on Facebook: Taking Out the Trash in Eastern PA

Tuscarora State Park (24-May-2016)

To those who read this blog often, sorry for the delay in getting new posts up. This was the second clean-up of the day after a bank clean-up on the Lehigh. I wanted to go for a paddle and Tuscarora State Park is close to home so I decided to go around the lake there. 

After cleaning up the entire lake shore once already this year, I didn't expect there to be much trash. There really wasn't a whole lot, but did find new wash ups of the same old trash items.

This was a first. I have found working waterproof headlamps before, but not a waterproof flashlight. Didn't even need new batteries, worked just fine. 

I may have missed this my last time around. Some items aren't that easy to spot. You night not be able to tell, this is a balloon. 

Perfect skies and calm water. A great way to paddle. 

On the far shore I did get out and walk around to stretch my legs. Away from the water I found a few cans and then I saw something that ended up not being that easy to remove...

In a couple years I don't think I would have been able to remove this bottle. It had to have been placed there some time ago. The tree had grown into it a little and it took some doing to wiggle it out.

Back on the water I took a minute to say hello to this Common Snapping Turtle. I would not suggest ever trying to pick up a Snapping Turtle if it is not absolutely necessary. Not only do they bite, they musk and can take a gouge out of your skin with their claws. For these attributes they should not be feared, they should be respected.

The paddle back didn't yield much trash at all. I wish it would stay this way through the summer! I can dream I guess. 

This was the last trash item of the day. Possibly off of a boat it was just a really thick piece of plastic. 

It was a long day with two clean-ups, the sun was setting and it was time to get home. 

Not a lot, I did hope to find less than this though. 

A Spotted Sandpiper on the lakes edge. 

New posts will be up tomorrow and hopefully I will be able to catch up to date.
You too can help with taking out the trash! If you get out hiking take a grocery bag with you, give it a second use and fill it with trash while you are out! Every bit helps. You can also help contributing to this project here: Help Fund Taking Out the Trash

Like this project? Like it on Facebook: Taking Out the Trash in Eastern PA