26 May 07 - 20:45Welcome!!
Welcome to the Grand River Environmental Action Team (GREAT) Blog!
Please feel free to post your comments and responses in regard to environmental issues and GREAT activities.
Environmental issues are often complex and there are many viewpoints, even among environtalist. GREAT is dedicated to the promotion of the discussion and education of these issues. GREAT's focus is the Grand River of Jackson County, Michigan. However, local environmental issues have world wide implications and world wide environmental issues have local implications.
Let the discussion begin!
Jim Seitz, GREAT President
Good idea Jim. Would this be the right place to report pollution violaters?
Bruce Clevenger - 27 05 07 - 07:33
Cruised the Grand from Sharps Lake to Elm Street. The trash through the area from South Street to the Highway was ridiculous. It is a shame that the trailer park especially, seems to think the river is their own private waste recepticle. I picked up a few bottles along the way, as if it could make a dent!
Kathy Kulchinski - 29 05 07 - 20:31
first, kudos to you Jim. You’re always working on making the G.R.E.A.T. site greater!
speaking of protecting the environment – the big picture – we as kayakers could be asking ourselves:
1. am I driving the most most fuel efficient, least polluting vehicle I can, for my purposes? Contrast this with huge SUVs at the put in, toting a couple of boats and two paddlers…12 mpg instead of 28 mpg….
2. am I living in a modest, well insulated home, which uses less electricity and gas/oil for heating & cooling? Have I invested in energy saving insulation, wellplaced landscaping and Energy Star appliances? Am I switching to
low output longlife compact fluorescents?
Contrast this w. the multi roofed trophy McMansions which have sprung up in the last 10 years, (which incidentally are now the biggest glut on the stultified MI real estate market). These homes are built on farmlands ever further and further away from the cities, resulting in destruction of farmland and local food supply and everlonger commutes which consume more gas. Add the loss of runoff areas and overloads on retention ponds and storm drains as well. These also destroy fragile areas where wildlife attempts to live their lives as well.
3. Plastic boats – manufactured of oil-dependent components – do we just run down to Dick’s or Cabela’s for the cheapest model on sale, or do we ask ourselves which companies use recycled materials, all or in part… do we buy a boat for a couple of seasons before it is scrapped after a couple hot summers at the cottage, or do we invest in a boat that will give us many years of paddling pleasure and stay out of the trash stream?
4. Fiberglass boats – heavy toxic resins and glues… do we patronize companies who use proper ventilation for the protection and safety of their workers, or do we just hope they do? Would we take a stand and make a purchase predicated on safe practices? How can we identify which companies employ safe practices?
5. Golf courses – if I golf, do I know that the club uses low impact, organic fertilization? As the algae blooms and ponds and lakes begin eutrophication, do we choose golf courses based on environmental stewardship? Come to think of it, do we choose environmentally responsible ways to maintain our own lawns? Or do we just buy the featured products at Home Depot or Lowe’s or Kmart, and let someone else worry about runoff?
I would respectfully suggest that the sum impact of all these things is greater than trash on the water. (And I do despise trash on the water).
My point is kayakers criticize others for the uses and misuses of the environment when there are factors innate to our sport, or simply to our lifestyles as American citizens, that can be harmful or environmentally wasteful.
We can make choices about how we use what nature has given us, on or off the water. This begins at an individual level and requires no law, no regulation, no letter writing campaign, etc. It merely requires a thoughtful conscience and the will to implement it in our actions.
friendlyfire () - 30 05 07 - 14:19
In response to Kathy Kulchinski’s comment regarding the trasj and litter between the highway and Elm street along the river. I recall past board members mentioning the amount of trash and lamenting that we could not include this area in an official clean-up. The problem at the time was that all our clean-ups took place in the city of Jackson because they provided the liability converage for the day, but it only extended to the city limits. Now that we have our own coverage, we could consider doing this. Maybe we could start with a letter to the owner of the mobile home park informing him/her of the problem.
I will get out there and take pictures to include in our Winter 07 newsletter which wull focus on “River Residents.”
bryon ennis - 03 06 07 - 11:30
I like the idea that GREAT would once again act as a watchdog and do things like notify polluters and the DNR when violations are spotted as in the trailer park scene. I hope that is part of what GREAT will really be in the future. Nothing wrong with being a little grain of sand in the sock so to speak.
herbed - 05 06 07 - 21:35
It is amazing what a difference a couple weeks can make! Jim Seitz and I paddled behind Indian Village Trailer Park today and I almost looked like a liar! The foliage has grown up so much in the last two weeks that the trash that was highly evident then was almost completely hidden now! If we hadn’t been looking for it, we would never have seen it.
We took some photos and hauled out a little bit of trash. Hopefully this link will connect you to the pics:
http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/..
If the link doesn’t work, email me and I will email them to you.
Kathy Kulchinski () - 09 06 07 - 21:40
