Hurricane Creek Cleanup, 2015

 

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Hurricane Creek Cleanup, 2015

                       Great weather, good food, and even better friends and volunteers made. 

the Hurricane Creek cleanup for 2015 a surprising success. 

Todd gives basic paddling instructions

With all of the other activities around town and the state and a sub-freezing start to the day, I wasn’t expecting the number of folks to turn that we got. Not only was there a good turnout but also it was full of young new faces coming for the first time. At the end of the day all said that we could expect to see them back.

Volunteers arrive.

We gathered several truck loads of trash, 1 couch, bags of glass from around the area where our new outdoor classroom is being developed.

22 people floated the creek portion of the cleanup filling all of the boats with everything from kids riding toy cars to garbage bins. This year we went downstream from Watson's Bend to a new takeout located close to the mouth of the creek now thanks to Dr’s Doug and Angela Woodward. Both are fine doctors who love the creek. We will be working with Doug in the near future to create a campground and takeout on his property for Friends of Hurricane Creek. Stay tuned there will be many volunteer projects coming up.

I want to take time to recognize the youth of today that are pouring themselves into the environmental field. I recently attended the annual Alabama Rivers Alliance “Water Rally” where I was pleasantly surprised to see so many young new faces. College clubs are sending whole committees to the conferences and bringing new ideas and energy to the movement. Something us old gray beards are grateful for!

University of Montevallo students at Water Rally

Our cleanup this year was the same. Many new young faces with new ideas for preserving and protecting Hurricane Creek. We had teachers who want to come use the classroom when it’s finished. Scientists who want to do fish surveys for free. Boy Scouts wanting to do projects as well.

2015 is going to be a banner year for Friends of Hurricane Creek and Hurricane Creekkeeper I can feel it! Many thanks to all of the great folks who came out and worked so hard 

 At the end of it we all ate well and had some fun and fellowship.