jun715
Registered: December 2007
City/Town/Province: Old Tappan
Posts: 1
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A few days ago, when the snow had melted and the weather was crisp and sunny, my dad and I thought it would be fun to spend time cleaning up along the Hackensack River. The southern half of this river had long been one of the most polluted bodies of water in the nation, at least until stricter laws were put into place prohibiting industrial dumping and suburban sewage running directly into the river. Even though the river has become cleaner and United Water spends half a million dollars annually on its cleanup, massive amounts of garbage and litter still pollute the river and shore.
My dad and I went to the shore of the Hackensack River where it passes through Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. The area we cleaned up was a stretch of land about a mile long. We also went to pick up trash near the part of the river passing through Hackensack, New Jersey. On the day we went, the river looked beautiful because there was no visible garbage in the water, and at first it seemed like there were only a few cans and bottles strewn on the rocky shore.
Expecting to fill up one large garbage bag, I took one bag and started filling it up with what I found, including some garbage washed up close to the shore and some buried in the soil ten to twenty meters from the water. I actually ended up filling six large garbage bags. Most of the garbage I collected was cans, glass bottles, and plastic bottles, but I also found newspapers, wires, toys, wallets, popped balloons, a basketball, and a large rubber tube, which I separated from the recyclable materials. Some of the bottles I found contained liquids like motor oil or tail paint that would have been hazardous to the water and animals living in the river.
Because my dad and I cleaned up mostly along the rocky shore of the river, we did not see any plants growing there. Moreover, because we were out in the middle of December, we did not spot any birds. However, some known inhabitants of the habitat include cormorants, egrets, herons, dragonflies, turtles, peregrine falcons, cliff swallows, and bald eagles. The river is also home to many different species of fish, including striped bass and perch.
At the end of the day, it was so refreshing to look down the river shore where we had cleaned and see that there were no cans or bottles disturbing the beautiful landscape. It felt good knowing that my dad and I had enjoyed the perfect weather over the weekend by helping to keep our community clean. Even though picking up trash does not seem like a major project, every act to protect the river and its living creatures makes a difference and brings us one step closer to making our planet a better place for everyone. Being out in this breathtaking landscape in the perfect weather reminded me how much I appreciate nature and want to protect it.
The main reason garbage washes up on shore is because people throw their empty bottles and cans in the river, too lazy to find a garbage can or recycling bin. Even if they throw garbage on the ground, when it rains the trash washes into the storm sewer and then into the river. Many people do not think twice about tossing one can of soda into the river, but together they quickly add up to a lot. My dad and I picked up six bags of trash along just one mile of the river. It is easy to imagine how much trash there must be along the remaining 53 miles of the river stretching through New Jersey. One of the ways to resolve this issue is to place trash cans every mile or so along the river so that people will have a place to throw things out. Another solution is for me to encourage all of my friends and peers to not litter so we can protect the river habitat’s plants and animals. If my friends encourage their friends and family as well, and so on, it is possible for us to keep our river and community clean.
The Hackensack River is home to so many different animals and plants. We humans do not like living in polluted, dirty areas—and neither do the fish. When the river becomes too polluted, only a few different species of fish can survive, and this means that the limited food source affects the number of bird species that can live in the area as well. By doing something we think is trivial, like tossing a can, we can disrupt the entire ecosystem and affect the food web. Polluted water can also affect us because residents in the state not only drink the water in the Hackensack River but also eat the fish, which are dangerous to consume if they are contaminated. Thousands of people a year tour the river on canoes, kayaks, and by foot—if we want to preserve the scenic landscape that runs through New Jersey, it is important that we keep the river clean and safe.
The Apprentice Ecologist Initiative made me realize how much I appreciate nature and how simple it is to enjoy a beautiful day while helping the community at the same time. Everybody can make a difference, and when the school year begins, I will encourage my peers to come out and help make the Hackensack River a more beautiful place.
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