Earth Day 2001 - North Jersey's Internet Magazine


	Earth Day 2001 Pequannock River Cleanup


Trout Lillies (Erythronium americium), also known as Addlers Tongue, on the banks of the Pequannock River, April 2001

Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970.

Two thousand colleges and universities, ten thousand high schools and grade schools, and several thousand communities, in all, more than twenty million Americans participated in one of the most exciting and significant grassroots efforts in the history of this country*. This event, along with several environmental disasters in the 1960's, brought heightened awareness of our planet's fragility to all Americans.

In 2001, over thirty years after the first Earth Day, we celebrate this event by cleaning up our local communities and recommitting ourselves to preserving the environment.

Pequannock River Coalition members commemorated the day by cleaning the riverbanks in West Milford, New Jersey. Coalition President Ross Kushner targeted several sites near Route 23 for members to clean. The Pequannock River Coalition members split into groups and, with trash bags and gloves, proceeded to get to work.


Above is an area before cleanup by members of the Pequannock River Coalition and below is the restored natural beauty after members efforts.

Although most of the garbage found along the banks of the Pequannock River was non-hazardous cans, bottles and paper, some was not.

A half full can of paint, empty oil containers and an area of oily, rust colored seepage was found near the river. Much of the litter could have been avoided if people would simply use trash receptacles in the area or saved it in their cars until the litter can be disposed of properly.


Unknown seepage found along the Pequannock River bank upstream from the Charlottesburg Reservoir

Poor waste management at a Newfoundland donut shop may be attracting bears and is a source of litter along the Pequannock River.

Black Bear Picnic: apparently a black bear became concerned about elevated cholesterol levels and did not finish its donuts.

A particularly disturbing site was found behind a donut shop on Route 23 near Newfoundland.

A fence protecting food waste from black bears was found damaged and ineffective. Adding to the problem was the fact the dumpster had no doors. In this area of the riverbank, there seemed to be mostly trash associated with donut production. There were far more boxes and pails from food preparation than coffee cups and paper waste from customers. West Milford residents generally have a great respect for their town's environment and do not litter.

There appears to be two problems at this site. First, the damaged fence and open dumpster contribute to pollution along the river by allowing debris to be scattered by the wind. The second problem, and perhaps more troubling, is that black bears are possibly using the dumpster as a food trough. Feeding a bear is both dangerous and foolish. If bears associate food with people, they may loose their fear of humans and become more aggressive.

Preparing to cleanup the riverbank area in Newfoundland, New Jersey.

Packing out trash for pick up, Bernie Vroom and Jim Cohoon help keep the Pequannock River area pristine.

Open trash receptacles attract bears and other animals contributing to litter alongside the Pequannock River (in rear of photo)

Although it is commendable to recycle paper and cardboard, care must be taken to make sure that receptacles are emptied regularly and that litter not be allowed to escape into the environment.

Bloomingdale Town Councilman Bernie Vroom, shown here volunteering with his son Bernie Jr., commented that more enforcement is needed of existing environmental laws to keep our townships clean and litter free.

Members of the Pequannock River Coalition Earth Day Cleanup Team (l to r) Jim Cohoon, Barbara Kushner, Coalition President Ross Kushner, Bernie Vroom Jr., Bloomingdale Councilman Bernie Vroom Sr. - (not pictured, John Ardan and John Capozucca). The truck bed is loaded with bags of litter collected along the Pequannock River.

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Keep informed about North Jersey happenings!

• Pequannock River Coalition Information

• Pequannock River Trout

• United States Enviromental Protection Agency Earth Day Homepage - describes education, partnerships, history and EPA events concerning Earth Day.

• The National Arbor Day Foundation - Find out more about trees, programs and how to support Arbor Day in your area. National Arbor Day is celebrated each year on the last Friday in April.

sources:

* Earth Day '70: What It Meant, Gaylord Nelson, EPA Journal, April 1980
- A Field Guide to Wildflowers, The Peterson Field Guide Series, Roger Tory Peterson and Margaret Mckenny, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1968

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