FODC Targets Litter in Streams
Morgantown Dominion Post
16 May 2010
Submitted to The Dominion Post
This past month, Friends of Deckers Creek (FODC) actively targeted
areas within the Deckers Creek watershed which are significant sources
of litter in local streams.
Areas such as the Deckers Creek Trail through Sabraton, Summers School
Road just outside Morgantown, and Lower Aarons Creek Road collect large
amounts of litter in short periods of time. All are near Deckers Creek
or a major tributary to Deckers Creek.
Litter continues to be an issue in our community causing environmental
harm, destroying habitats, creating an eyesore and polluting streams
within the Deckers Creek watershed, already dealing with problems such
as acid mine drainage, bacteria from untreated sewage and storm water
pollution.
FODC staff teamed with the West Virginia Department of Environmental
Protection, members of Generation Morgantown and the WVU Center for
Civic Engagement to hold three litter clean-ups throughout the
watershed during April.
Plastic wrappers and containers from fast food restaurants and
convenience stores, as well as cigarette butts, make up most of the
litter within the watershed.
However, FODC staff also discovered a few large dump sites along Lower
Aaron’s Creek Road. These illegal dump zones contained more than 15
tires, furniture, more than 10 television sets, computer monitors,
appliances and more.
With community support and increased education, FODC hopes to eliminate
the litter and illegal dumping problems in the area, thereby making the
natural environment and community a better place to live.
If you know of a street or stretch of stream in need of a litter
cleanup or an area of an illegal dump site, contact Brian Carlson,
brian@deckerscreek.org or 304-292-3970.
FODC is staffed by a full-time Americorps VISTA worker. The recent 4th
annual Spring Meltdown at Morgantown Brewing Company raised nearly
$5,000 to support the Office of Surface Mining/Americorps VISTA for
2010-2011.
Info: deckerscreek.org