I think this may be the first time I have photographed fish in a creek.  To be honest, I was surprised to see these catfish–and so many! This is a section of Rowlett Creek in Plano, TX, and is the location of a creek cleanup scheduled for Friday, September 11, 2009. This is the first in a series of inland and coastal waterway cleanups that I will be attending in conjunction with the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup Day.

The City of Plano is co-sponsoring this creek cleanup, which also represents an opportunity to participate in our National Day of Service and Remembrance. The Plano Parks and Recreation Department is donating staff, trash pickers, internet listings, and waste removal services to pick up the bags of debris. (Thanks to Vickie, Andy, and the Plano Parks & Rec!) The Ocean Conservancy has supplied gloves, data cards, and pencils. Birder’s Lounge will supply trash bags, clipboards, bottled water, snacks and photography services.

To all volunteers that help comb the creek and its banks to rid the ecosystem of debris that has accumulated: our community owes you a debt of gratitude. These catfish may escape entanglement in a plastic bag or the bleak outcome of ingesting pieces of glass or plastic, thanks to your efforts. The styrofoam and aluminum cans you find will never make the journey through our creeks and rivers and into the Gulf of Mexico. Perhaps most important, the results of your work will be quantified and added to the results of volunteers all over the state, the country, and the world! These results form the basis of the information needed to raise awareness of the state of pollution in our life-sustaining waters, and help us to find ways to make changes for the better.

meet at the covered pavilion

This is the covered pavilion where we will meet. I will have a table set up where you can check in, get supplies, and get further instructions. We will pair up in teams of 2, and I recommend that you carry your cell phone, if possible, to keep the lines of communication open.

Rowlett Creek & Trail

We will be working along the well-marked Rowlett Creek Trail, picking up debris from along its banks. If conditions permit us to safely walk the creek bed, we will clean debris from the waterway itself.

The game-plan

This is a portion of the map for Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve. I have marked where we will meet, park, and pick up debris. As you can see from this map, we plan to have teams start at 2 different spots in the creek, and work toward each other. The schedule will be something like this:

• 4:00 – 4:30 pm – volunteer check-in at the pavilion, sign release forms, get supplies, pair up
  4:30 – 7:00 pm – Rowlett Creek cleanup
  7:00 – 7:30 pm – teams turn in data cards, return supplies as applicable
  7:30 – 8:00 pm – bottled water, snacks, pictures, feedback, socializing
• We’ll be there rain or shine!

See you tomorrow! If you are not in the area, please see the Coastal Cleanup 2009 page for other inland ICC events in Texas, or visit the Ocean Conservancy for information about other cleanup events.

Rowlett Creek