by Ryan Reed
This coming Wednesday morning you will find me along my local trout stream, the Quittapahilla Creek (affectionately known as “the Quittie”), but I won’t be fishing. A few volunteers and I will be searching for (and unfortunately finding) trash that gathers along its banks. We’ll collect and dispose of it properly, improving the appearance and ecology of the riparian area.
When I think of the trash problem along the banks of the stream, I am immediately aware that the Quittie is downstream of the city of Lebanon. When the area receives heavy rain, the rushing water washes litter into the stream channel, which then is deposited along the banks as the flood waters rise and recede. A certain amount of litter that appears along the stream was also obviously left by those who were fishing, too.
What if there were no trash to be picked up by the heavy runoff in the city, and what if the people who were fishing practiced “leave no trace”? The small, cumulative acts of many could prevent the litter from getting there in the first place. It’s the classic tale of a problem created by many and addressed by too few. Put simply, the numbers should be switched. The numbers of people causing the litter should be dwarfed by the numbers who feel a responsibility to keep our earth clean (and act on it).
For those who work in conservation, Earth Day is one of our times to really shine. While it does feel good to make an immediate impact, some people might not realize the greater story within each Earth Day event. Earth Day events are about making an impact, but they are even more about the example we set. We aim to show others what it looks like to practice conservation. We network with others and connect with the communities we serve. By doing so, we multiply the effect of simple actions now and into the future.
DCNR staff will be participating in hundreds of Earth Day events across the Commonwealth, and we hope you will too. Remember, every movement starts small. Let your example speak for itself, and let’s make every day Earth Day!
