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A Good Day On The Water

More than 1,000 pounds of mixed metals was pulled from the Chadakoin River at the third annual Chautauqua Lake Cleanup held on May 20. Photo by Susan M. Songster-Weaver

A good day on the water doesn’t have to revolve around calm winds and sunshine. My good day revolved around picking up trash and rubbing elbows with some hard working volunteers. I was fortunate to be able to participate in the 3rd annual Chautauqua Lake Cleanup, spearheaded by the Conewango Creek Watershed Association on May 20th of this year.

The Conewango Creek Watershed Association is an amazing group of people. Formed in 1999, this grassroots organization mission statement centers around promoting the health of the Conewango Creek Watershed. They have three main goals — identify problems, develop practical solutions to solve them and educate citizens about the wise use of our valuable resources.

They come to Chautauqua Lake in the spring to clean up the Chadakoin River because this water flows into the Conewango Creek Watershed. The trash in our river is an identified problem. The practical solution is to clean it up, and educating our citizens about the wise use of valuable resources is done by example. According to the Board of Directors Chairwoman, Elizabeth Dropp, one thing they do really well is “clean up river banks.”

This year, the May 20 cleanup was held from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Forty-three volunteers helped to collect 61 tires, 20 cubic yards of trash and 1,040 pounds of mixed metals. Much of the cleanup was centered on the Chadakoin around McCrea Point Park and the canals in the area. Sue Nielsen, cleanup expert extraordinaire and CCWA board member, said she worked with some very productive volunteers. A lot was accomplished, but “we needed more hands to help. We got a lot of tires and trash, but there’s still a lot out there.”

Last year, 36 volunteers collected 69 tires, 20 cubic yards of trash and 980 pounds of metal. In 2015, 14 volunteers collected 91 tires, 10 cubic yards of trash and 300 pounds of metal in a half day event. The cumulative pile of 221 tires, 50 cubic yards of waste and 2,320 pounds of mixed metals pulled from our river in the last three years is both mind boggling and dismaying. And, if you listen to Sue Nielsen, “there’s still a lot out there.”

These numbers are more impressive if you put them in context. Imagine filling two 9 foot by 10 foot rooms, with 7.5 foot high ceilings to the brim with trash. That would be about 50 cubic yards of debris. Imagine stacking 221 tires on top of each other in one pile. Using an average of about 7 inches per tire, this pile would extend upward close to 130 feet about the height of a 10 story building. Finally, imagine 2,320 pounds of mixed metal as a pile consisting of 93 bicycles weighing about 25 pounds apiece. It’s mind-boggling and dismaying.

My question is, “Where does all this garbage come from?” Unfortunately, the only viable answer is people, irresponsible people. Irresponsible people who intentionally dump mattresses, hot water tanks, old carpeting and tires along the river rather than make the trip to the landfill. Granted, some of the debris ends up in the outlet unintentionally. High water and winds can sweep away dock sections and lawn chairs, but I think you would be hard pressed to justify a queen sized mattress floating away unintentionally.

So, what do we do from here? I suggest we embody the CCWA’s three main goals: identify problems, use a practical approach to solving those problems and educate our neighbors about how important and valuable Chautauqua Lake is. I would also add supporting the groups and organizations which help sponsor these cleanups like the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy, the Chautauqua Lake Association, the Rock of WNY, the Main Landing, Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Chautauqua Lake Fishing Association, the Chautauqua Lake and Watershed Management Alliance and others whose names are listed on the CCWA’s website. A special thank you should also be extended to Chautauqua County for registering this cleanup as an Earth Day Event so that there was no cost for disposal of the tires and trash.

We need to remember we’ve only got one earth. Let’s do all we can to preserve and protect her. See you on the trails and the water

Source: conewangocreek.org

Susan M. Songster Weaver is retired teacher, nature lover and longtime CWC volunteer and supporter. The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy is a local not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to preserving and enhancing the water quality, scenic beauty and ecological health of the lakes, streams, wetlands and watersheds of the Chautauqua region. For more information, call 664-2166 or visit chautauquawatershed.org or facebook.com/chautauquawatershed.

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