Cootes Paradise Cleanup

I mentioned a cleanup around Cootes Paradise I participated in a while back. Went and helped again a few weeks ago.

On Princess Point, looking west towards Dundas peak.

 On Princess Point, looking east towards the Iroquois bar.

Some of the volunteers hard at work.

A section of the cleaned up shoreline.

The work was like a combination archeological dig/forensic crime scene investigation. Because of the flow pattern, all the plastic lands on that side. Over time, rocks, logs, UV light and wave action serve to grind it all up into tiny little pieces. The aim is to try and get as much of that as possible out. Which pretty much requires kneeling and painstakingly picking out every little piece. 

An idea of what we were cleaning up. Tampon applicators, cigarello ends, sucker sticks, straws, coffee cup lids, etc. Essentially anything that would float - ie plastic.

Another aspect of the cleanup was removing the logs and branches from the shoreline. Combined with wave action, they roll back and forth, smash into one another, and consequently grind the plastic into little pieces. They were placed by the side of the path so the city can come by with a tree chipper and spray the wood back onto the shoreline.

Princess Point.

Good work team!

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead