Michael
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8/18/07 Clean up reports - 2007/08/28 08:55
Donn Voss
Results of 18 August 2007 Sebastian Inlet dive and Kayak shore clean-up<p>
Kayak and pontoon boaters hit the water early this morning and went right to the spoil island off sebastian Yacht Club and Riverside Park. Bedding, foam pads, lawn chair, rotten wood, rope, and misc. articles were removed and brought back to the dumpster. The kayaks deployed numerous times bring in a staggering 1100 pounds of materials littered around our islands and shoreline. This was a fantastic job done by marvelously hard workers...This is sloppy work from a sheer balance vessel. The physical energy expended is Priceless. Th pontoon boats were fast to off-load the kayaks and send them back. These boats made numerous trips to shore and the dumpster...with the occasional screams when nasty bugs were sighted.<p>
The Rotary Club of Orchid Island was setting up their cook-out at 11am in the shelter in Riverside Park. The burgers, dogs, chips, drinks, cookies, relishes, buns and such were all donated by this group, now for the second time. It is heart-warming to receive a person's otherwise busy weekend schedule to find them volunteering and donating to this project. Much love out to all of the Rotarians for their time, money and energies. I also add, they clean-up after themselves as well.<p>
The City of Sebastian's Margaret Reynolds arranged the use of the park and countless boxes of garbage bags. Vero Access TV 10 was on-site along with Cliff Partlow of the Hometown News. The City had positioned dumpsters at several locations to assist in the wrap-up at days end.<p>
The Sebastian Yacht Club was the site of the Diver and Captains briefing conducted by your writer. Boat owners were instructed in the art of deploying divers and retrieving then. Deck hands were prepared for what to expect from tired and frustrated divers at dives end. Divers were pounded with safety advice, shown maps and photos of the inlet to familiar them with the area. Instructions for what and how to collect were outlined. entry and reentry of the vessel were laid out. Safety instructions took up most of the briefing and centered around every diver coming home at dive's end.<p>
Connor Roth was introduced as Super Sea Doo driver and the safety net for them in the event any ill-event
occurred. His big smile seemed t make everyone feel safe from the dock to dive's end.<p>
Captain's seemed please when the last comments were about keeping the boats clean and respecting the investment these Captains were volunteering to us. It was our jobs to treat these vessels like a baby, not just an old barge. Positive results were the highlight of the day.<p>
Boats deployed around 2:15pm with the Sebastian Marine Patrol cruising in around 2:30pm. As usual, the inlet was very busy and the boat traffic was intense. As 3pm neared, 17 divers deployed from 7 vessels. The current was still slightly incoming and the visibility was fair. There was no small amount of debris to be collected. The two areas we focused on this dive produced the following:
- 12 anchors and chair weighing around 500 pounds
- 3 large steel bars around 4 feet long and abut 20 pounds[li][li]200 feet of rope in different bundles
- 200 feet of rope in different bundles
- 2 - 12 volt batteries
- 3 collection bags of lures, hooks, weights, tools, and misc materials[li]1 trolling motor...battery operated
- Ben took 6 bags with him to sort out and will report what is there soon.
We estimate there is another 300 pounds with Ben and 1080 pounds accounted for above.<p>
WE also identified several 300 to 500 pounds of anchor...in the form of a chain and anchor "ball" and their location. There were three piles of debris divers could not lift as well. <b>So we report we have identified the location of another 1000 pounds of debris.</b><p>
Although fishing line is a large part of the diving operation, every large object that snags fishing line is 500 to 1000 feet saved from the inlet. Large objects provide the weight to the project and remove obstacle. Bushels of fishing line reduced to feet to finally near none is our goal.<p>
It is our hope to dive the jetties next year and closer to the causeways and bridge, but there is no shortage of items to pick-up. I will report the lobsters were everywhere and the fish life is strong. The inlet looked very healthy except for the debris.<p>
I wish I could thank all the recreational boaters for their support and slow driving around our clean-up, but they did not slow down or give way and our one marine patrol vessel was dedicated to our divers. In later dives, adherence to the speed and wake signs would be appreciated.<p>
All divers were retrieved without incident and the vessels returned to the ramps where debris was cataloged and disposed of, boats were trailed and gear was collected. By 5pm most boaters and divers were home and cleaning their equipment.<p>
Channel 10 is running our clean-up in segments all weekend and next week on the Marcia Littlejohn show and the evening news. The Hometown News will run a story on Friday.<P>
<b>On the Downside</b><p>
however, our sponsors and planners need to acquire the following:<
we had 17 divers, but we did not have 17 cords for our flags. As a result, many divers were down without flags. That part of our existing inventory is depleated along with connectiong hooks. We were without knives and sissors lkept after the last dive in July. We have maybe 26 flags in our inventory. We seemed to have a good neumebr or exactly the right number of tank bangers. Gloves were not an issue.<p>
MORE flags...More rope... more connector clip ...for cutting tools..... more collection bags. We cannot expect Ben to set that up for everyone. He may be willing to store it, but we need someone to make rigs b4 nest dive.<p>
not too bad... but we were very lucky this dive.<p>
don
<H6 class=header>Kristen Beck, Owner, Kayaks Etc</H6>
Hey Michael,<p>
Just wanted to say today was a big success. We removed a lot, many be 30 - 40 bags of trash from the spoil islands right off of Sebastian and there is more out there.<p>
The pontoon boats where a huge help in shuttling the bags of trash to the dumpsters.<p>
Rhonda and I both had empty kayak on our trailers because of people not showing up, I would like to suggest that next year we make it a first come first served deal.<p>
I ended up having 10 paddlers with me, 2 who brought their own boats. We had great weather and a good time, even though some of the garbage was very ripe. I almost vomited on one of our helpers but he managed to move out of the way quickly.<p>
Lunch was ready quickly and there was plenty to eat and drink. The group from the city had great trash bags for us and were very helpful.<p>
Thanks again for being the instigator-
We need more people like you out there.<p>
Your Servant in River Clean-Up,
Kristen Beck<p>
<H6 class=header>Kerrie Lynn Reece</H6>
I just got home and wanted to drop you a few quick lines about today's mission. IT WAS AMAZING. I think it was destiny that we did not do it last month... today was perfect. I have a lot of feedback from everyone and will write more tomorrow. Personally, I think it went better than to be expected. My captain (Wayne) snorkeled and brought up a 50 or 60 pound wad of nets, lures, line, sinkers, etc... it was just incredible. GOOD JOB MICHAEL. Wish you were there.<p>
I will give you a full report later.<p>
Be sure to keep in touch with Don who is an incredible leader... he deserves much praise.<p>
Later gator.<p>
<H6 class=header>Marian Jacklich
MSA, CPA (CA-FL)</H6>
Hello, Michael.<p>
First, I thoroughly enjoyed the day. It was bright, sunny, and the conditions could not have been better, so our favorite higher being was smiling upon all of us.<p>
Your approach to this event has been quite good, and you appear headed in the right direction with this event / future events.<p>
<b>Some thoughts:</B>
<b>1. This event. </b>
<ul>
<li>a. Ask for boaters with (functioning) GPS navigation systems to go out on a preliminary scouting trip the day / week before the event. </li><li>b. Ask for a leader for the boat captains, and let them call each other first for preliminary handshakes. It would be nice for them to have a preliminary meeting with the Rotary club outing in their own group. </li><li>c. Post a clear sign at the Yacht club with a little map drawn so newly located Captains who have recently (it takes 3 years to find your way around the locals) moved in the area know where to go. </li><li>d. When the boats go ou, the Captains can drop the divers directly down on top of debri already located to make best use of their training and air.
</li>
</ul>
Side notes: <p>
Kerri was actually the locator of the debri we brought in. Wayne found an anchor we did not have enough dive time to bring up and he does not have GPS so relocation is a factor.<p> The debris brought up was actually obtained on the surface with only the boat and surface person required. A lot of the loose current debris can be found with (SKILLED) snorklers / boats and free-divers who are advised of the hazards.<p>
Our preliminary dive information was good, the pre-dive meeting useful. Kudos to Don Voss and divers.<p>
<b>2. Future planning:<p>
Channel News 13 Central Florida is running a series ("On Demand" now, but I've seen segments on their regular channels) called "Expedition: Kissimmee River". Kayaking down the locks of these rivers reveals some VERY poor sanitation in various areas (documented in their series). <p>
http://www.cfnews13.com/OnDemand/CentralFlorida/Default.aspx
If you have not seen this documentary, perhaps you can coordinate with them to see the footage. <p>
Side notes:<p>
I've proposed to the local Parks & Recreation groups to sponsor local youth group training for young kayakers. These young, local kayakers could, under the watchful eye of local P.D. and F.&G. hand out warnings, then actual tickets to boaters who litter the (Toho) lake and it's creeks. There may already be F.&G. fines established under present regulation, but not enforced due to budget difficulties according to local boat captains. <p>
Local counties should likely pass ordinances making home owners responsible for the easements in the rear of their properties to clean up that adjoin the creeks, and these homeowners should be charged when professional crews have to be hired, rather than F. & G. having to patrol / enforce regulations inside city or county population areas.<p>
"Clean up is a community responsibility, and therefore everyone's responsibility. Yes, that does mean you."...Proposed statement for the bottom of the ticket(s)<p>
<b>3.Summary:</b><p>
You have good support behind you, I realize this can take time. <p>
Please feel free to let me know if you wish to send my email to parties that may be of assistance.<p>
Please feel free to use the photos below with the respective party's consent(s).<P>
Cordially,<p>
Marian Jacklich
MSA, CPA (CA-FL)
<p>
<H6 class=header>Shell Greenier</H6>
Michael,
My husband and I were positioned as bubble watchers...but on the North walkway even though everyone was on the South West portion of the inlet. Even from the south walkway however, I feel we would have been too far away to be much help, there is no way the ski-doo operator would have even begun to hear our whistles or picked us out amongst the crowd of fishermen there. Next time it might be more beneficial to have the shore bubble watchers line up on the shore next to the diver site or from the security boats if you get them secured.<p>
Also there was a group of kids who had busted their butts on the north side beach and cleaned up two garbage bags full of trash JUST by the time we arrived. Very cool! It would be neat to contact schools (they have service learning requirements for graduation now), scout troops, church youth organizations, etc. to get more bubble watchers and beach clean-up people. Anyway, great job with the clean-up. Glad you guys pulled that much stuff between the two clean-ups. Its amazing and I love the kayaker citation idea. It shouldn't get to that point to begin with.<p>
<H6 class=header>John Yust</H6>
If you want to consider all the costs of the operation, you ought to consider the cost of operating the boats. My boat was under way at least 3 hours today, and while I don't expect compensation for gas & oil, others might.<p>
John[li] |
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