Lehigh River: Bowmanstown (25-Aug-2016)

Shoved off in Bowmanstown to take some more trash off of the Lehigh River. I didn't have anyone to pick me up so I came up with the plan to paddle down river, loop around one of the islands and come back up to the slack water. I have never tried this before at this site,I knew it wasn't going to be difficult to do, but I also knew there would be walking involved. 

Shoes were the first items of the trip. One after another just below the boat launch. If you are planning on spending a day on or by the river, I urge you to wear proper footwear. Something that surrounds your entire foot and has laces. I am finding syringes more often now and there are other hazards that may be in the water. Do it for your own safety and also so I or someone else doesn't have to pick up your lost shoes. 

Stopped at the end of the island where it looked like someone had a campsite. Pulled a small pile out of the undergrowth around the area. 

For some reason paddling back up river made me think of both the Native Americans and settlers that traversed these waters. Using the river as a transportation method down stream is easy. Going up even a small drop isn't. Kayaks and canoes can only be paddled so far until you have to portage or walk them up threw the moving water. Just imagine having a large hardwood canoe, portaging might not have even been an option. It would take a great deal of work even to get through a section like that above. 

One of the first items I picked up along the bank when I was back on the flat water. You really can find anything in the river if you look long enough. 

Damselflies mating and I believe depositing eggs onto vegetation that was caught on overhanging tree branches. 

If you take a good look at this photo, you can see all of the tiny little plastic pieces that are impossible to remove from our banks and waterways. 

I picked up the shell to an old TV and underneath it was a syringe. This year I have found many more than last on the Lehigh. Syringes that is, not TVs. 

This juvenile Pickerel Frog hopped out of my way as I was removing trash off the bank.

Eventually I ended up at a point that if I wanted to go further up river I would have to do some more walking. With the amount of trash I had I didn't consider that to be a good option and I crossed the river and worked the bank back to the launch. 

On this section of river the Katydids calls now out number the Cicadas. This tells me that fall will soon be here. This Katydid landed on a branch next to me and stayed relatively still for some photos. 

For the area that I covered, this is a lot of trash. Even with all of my posts I don't think I am showing the scope of just how much refuse is in our rivers. It is like this everywhere I go. We have the ability to make change, we just need to do it!

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 (1-Apr-2016)

Today was another day of stream study site searching. I think Kelly has close to enough options to choose form for her study now. Out of several stops on this trip only one site was suitable. Above is a Two-Lined Salamander on the left and two Northern Dusky Salamanders on the right. This is how they were positioned under a rock. I would like to point out that there is a proper procedure for what to do when a salamander is found under a rock or log. The first thing to do is to wet your free hand, the other may be holding the cover object. With your now wet hand encourage the salamander to move from the area the rock covered. If the salamander does not move on its own then it can be picked up and moved. It is best to keep the in hand time as short as possible. Once all salamanders are removed from under the cover object, place the cover object back right where it was. The salamanders will find their way back under and with them moved there is no chance of crushing them. It can take a long time for suitable habitat to form underneath a rock or log. If you go through a stream or forested area flipping objects and not putting them back you are destroying the habitat for salamanders and the smaller critters they feed on. Respect the wildlife and respect their homes. 

A juvenile Spring Salamander. As I stated yesterday these are not that common of a salamander to find.

This is another type of Caddisfly Larvae case. This one is made out of pebbles and specifically flat sided pebbles. It is very unique and a very impressive home. 

The other days searching for sites we hadn't run into many frogs. On this one we found many Pickerel Frogs like the one above and one Green Frog. 

A very old bottle. It is labeled Joe Lieberman Allentown PA. After doing some searching I think it is a beer bottle and is possibly from the very end of the 18th century. I could not find any other bottles exactly like it through online searches so this may be rare. 

An American Toad that was hopping through a forested area. The frogs and this toad were not what we were looking for, but it is always nice to see any species of amphibian. 

From the first location. Not that much trash, but really there shouldn't have been any where we were. Well there should never be any trash, but there always is. 

From the second location. The flask on the left standing upright was another old one. It was labeled Warranted Flask. Not sure what it is warranted for. 

From the last location. No old bottles in this pile, but there was a glass. 

Today we also came across the first turtle I have seen on a road this year. Here Kelly is holding it proudly. It was a male Painted Turtle and we gave him a little help. If you ever find a turtle on the road the best thing to do is to move it off of the road and take it about thirty feet off of the side. Always take them in the direction they are heading. It is never good to take a turtle home as a pet and you are not saving it when you drive off with it. Several species that commonly cross roads in PA are protected species and taking them home is unlawful. It really is best just to help them across and let them go on their way. 

Tomorrow I will be back to my regular trash collecting. I may get out on the water to get to some locations that haven't been easy on foot. 

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