Connecticut Water Trails Association
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Connecticut Water Trails Association |
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Connecticut Water Trails Program Organizing A Water Trails Cleanup Organizing A Cleanup
Water trail
cleanups improve the water trail, but they do much more than that.
Cleanups do
this most effectively when they involve and inspire the entire
community, reaching out beyond existing river enthusiasts to create new
“river allies” in the community. This newfound water trail awareness can translate into increased support for your organization’s future river protection projects.
Why?
Why participate in a water trail cleanup? Many of us do it because we
need to help keep our water trails clean and too few people are willing
to do this dirty job. When you lead or participate in a cleanup it’s
very satisfying to know that you have helped make this world a better
place to live. Some believe that having had the pleasure of paddling a
water trail, they owe that trail that environment - for giving them that
pleasure. They are paying off that debt. Some call this water trail
stewardship - taking care of the environment that they enjoy.
Leading water trail cleanup can be a very rewarding and satisfying job,
but it can also be a very tough, demanding and frustrating job. As an
example, several years ago a Boy Scout, whom we knew, was working on his
Eagle Badge and saw an opportunity to cleanup a section of a river that
flowed near his hometown. Someone pointed out to him that if he did
this, he would be trespassing on property adjacent to the river and he
needed permission of the property owners. He proceeded to survey the
property owners to get their permission for the cleanup. Instead, he
received a storm of protest. The property owners reasoned that by giving
permission for a bunch of people to cleanup on their property, they
would be open to damage suits if, in the process, one of these persons
was injured. This cleanup was canceled before it got started.
To help avoid this kind of trouble in Connecticut, your water trail
cleanup can be done as a component of a larger, umbrella program. Our
website partner - Kings Mark USDA, through its Earth Team Program,
offers such an umbrella program. The National Park Service also has a Rivers and Trails Program that supports water trail cleanups. If the water trail runs through a state park, forest, wildlife refuge or other facility, these facilities may have a support program and will help.
Leading a water trail cleanup carries the additional
responsibilities of:
Increased need for detailed planning
Usually requires the leader to make multiple contacts
and negotiate with:
Recruiting a cleaning crew
Supervising the crew doing work that may be dangerous
and unfamiliar
Before you decide on a water trail to cleanup, it's a good idea to
contact the local communities along the candidate water trail. The
attitude of these water trail communities is a major factor in
everything about a cleanup. If the communities aren't willing to assist,
you may want to look for another water trail with communities that will
welcome you and appreciate the effort. Join with these communities, and
your job will be much easier.
Frequently, the water trail will flow through several different local
communities and it will be necessary to contact each one where you would
cleanup. When the water trail is the boundary between two governing
bodies, the communities on both banks should be contacted. The local community environmental awareness person(s) can tell you about their community. Each town is different. Usually the town clerk (phone number can be found in a phone book) can direct you to the proper person. This person will know what resources are available in their community, what has been done in the past, what specific things need to be done. They will also know what their community may be planning and can help your planning.
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