Monocacy River Tire Clean Up – Organized by Farmers
So, last Saturday I participated in a tire clean up on the Monocacy River. I have the honor to currently serve on the Monocacy Scenic River Citizen Advisory Board. We, as a board, advise the Frederick and Carroll County Commissioners on things concerning the Monocacy. Last winter a few board members suggested a tire clean up on a section of the river normally inaccessible except by crossing private property.
Our group of farmers, River board members, and locals gather to begin a morning of removing tires from the Monocacy River
These board members made all the arrangements, selecting the date, supplying tractors to load the heavy tires, and even providing a large truck to haul the tires to the landfill. The clean up finished with a cookout provided by one of the landowners.
Farmer’s donated equipment, fuel and time toward cleaning the Monocacy.
The day started with one member arriving with a truck load of sweet corn and proceeded to give it away to everyone who wanted an arm full of corn. One team removed around 50 to 60 tires from around the old Links Bridge. The second team, the team I was on, began up river collecting tires in canoes at a known dumping grounds. We gathered 30 or so tires filling the canoes and loader bucket several times. We then took four canoes down river collecting tires in route. With tire loaded canoes, we joined the second group and finished loading the tires in the dump truck.
All in less than 1/4 mile of river.
As we stood together for the group photo and as I talked with those involved in our clean up, I realized an important fact about our day and felt compelled to share. You see, we continually hear about how the farmers are at fault for the pollution in the Chesapeake Bay and our local rivers. Much of our environmental (pollution) problems are quickly blamed on the farmers. But you know what, there are 90 plus less tires polluting the Monocacy River because of the efforts of farmers. The Monocacy is a scenic river lined with mature trees the entire length mainly because of the land stewardship of farmers. As I watched the grain truck loaded with tires pull onto the road, I wondered how much actual dirty hands and wet feet work some others with very active voices have done. Farmers donated their equipment, fuel, time, and land in an effort to better the environment. And to the young boys involved in the clean up effort, I think they learned something about land stewardship from those participating farmers.
More tires and debris taken from the Monocacy
So I guess what I’m longwindedly trying to say is that while the media and some environmental groups are quick to point the finger at farmers as the problem, What I have and continue to witness around here in Carroll and Frederick county is quite opposite, it’s the farmers I see as actually volunteering time and money and physically doing things to better their surrounding environment.
If you want to spend some time kayaking or canoeing the Monocacy, there is a new map highlighting the put-ins and take-outs – Monocacy River Map
