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by Sonja Kulstad-Hurst
AmeriCorps
And down came the rain and washed the spider out, into the river, floating on a pile of swirling garbage.
As the winter rainy season approaches in Northern California, it becomes ever more critical to remove trash and other debris that lines the banks of the Eel River. Sonja Kulstad-Hurst of the AmeriCorps Watershed Stewards Project (WSP), and over 38 community volunteers assisted in these efforts on Saturday, September 22nd, by cleaning up an illegal dumpsite off Blue Slide Road between Fortuna and Rio Dell.
Illegal History
The site, a portion of the riverbank bordered by the Eel River on one side and a very steep slope leading to Blue Slide Road on the other, was first noticed by Dave Heaton, a staff geologist of the Department of Fish and Game in Fortuna during the summer of 2003. Heaton has led kayak/canoe trips since 2002 on the Eel River from Scotia to Fortuna in order to study the local geology and observe fossils. Noting that this particular spot is one of the better ones to view fossils, and also a good lunch spot on the 12-mile boat ride he leads, Heaton stated that in April of 2006 he found it to be more littered than ever.
As Heaton and Will Kelly, an AmeriCorps WSP member stationed with the California Conservation Corps in Fortuna, were canoeing to work early one day in 2007 from Rio Dell to Fortuna, they thought it would make a great Individual Service Project (ISP). Each WSP member is required to organize one ISP during their term and recruit at least 13 volunteers to assist in a restoration based project within their local watershed.
Sonja Kulstad-Hurst took over the planning for the project and, as Heaton states, At the end, Sonjas ISP had successfully cleaned up this site so that not even a single piece of newspaper remained. May we never have to pick through a garbage heap to uncover the beauty of a fossil again.
Community support makes it all work
The organization of the event was a lesson in negotiating government policies and procedures, as well as obtaining access to the site by a private landowner, as the dumpsite was located on a slope leading up to Blue Slide Road that was too steep to access by the road itself. According to Kulstad-Hurst, There was only one way to do it. That day I decided I wanted to tackle this project and I drove straight out to Metropolitan Rd. in search of the landowner who lived directly across from the dumpsite. When I approached a converted barn with a Buddha on the front lawn I felt optimistic about securing access to this land. It turns out, Roland Potter was very eager to help fulfill our efforts, and he even taught me a little bit about professionalism and communication. Volunteers used canoes and kayaks donated by Pro Sports Center of Eureka and Center Activities of Humboldt State University to reach the site via a small trail on the private landowners pasture.
Volunteers received a complimentary breakfast donated by Los Bagels, Safeway, Rays Foods, and Signature Coffee, as well as a full lunch provided by CC Market of Rio Dell to fuel their cleanup efforts. Other community support came from Jimmy Smith, Humboldt County Board of Supervisors District 1 Representative, who donated a dumpster purchased at a reduced cost from Eel River Disposal. I think one of the most important components of this project was forging all of the strong alliances with members of our community. There was so much support and encouragement from everyone that I really felt honored to be bringing them all together for such a meaningful cause, says Kulstad-Hurst.
Dump Debris Discovered
As volunteers canoed up to the riverbank, it was plain that the amount of trash would be more than was previously suspected. A microwave, motor parts, plastic debris, small electronic appliances, and marijuana growing equipment were all in position to be swept into the river during the first heavy rain.
Kulstad-Hurst estimated that 70% of the trash found was newspapers; 15-20% was marijuana growing supplies and equipment; and the other ten percent was miscellaneous litter, including sheet metal, plastics, and drywall. Also on the riverbank was an old car that was towed away at no cost by Clydes Towing of Fortuna.
Impacts to the Eel
As Heaton states, The impact of this dumpsite if left untreated may have been a significant detriment to the health of the lower Eel River. Many components of the garbage may have been contributing several toxins into the river, especially the electronic appliances, refrigerators, and the car, impairing the aquatic life. The Watershed Stewards as well as the many volunteers certainly lived up to their namesake during this project.
Volunteers who attended the event, including, Steve Spain from the Eureka Reporter, WSP volunteers, HSU students, local community members, the family of Kulstad-Hurst, and Friends of the Eel River members, noted the Eel River would be healthier due to the work done that day. Says Noelle Melchizedek, Volunteer/Media Team Leader, Everyone worked together really well to pull a huge volume of trash off that slope. The amount and types of dumped trash that would have washed into the Eel once the rains begin would have been dangerous for wildlife that depend on that river.
A Success!
By one oclock in the afternoon of a sunny Saturday, volunteers filled a 20 yard dumpster with trash from the illegal dumpsite and it was hard to believe that only hours before, garbage had been climbing down that steep wall and creeping into the waters of the Eel. With continued, collaborative efforts such as these bringing together private landowners, government agencies, and community members - the Eel Rivers health can only be made better.
The mission of the AmeriCorps Watershed Stewards Project is to conserve, restore and enhance anadromous watersheds for future generations by linking education with high quality scientific practices. A special project of the California Conservation Corps, WSP is sponsored by the California Volunteers and administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service.