Trash in the Cahaba

[theprocon]

I am into kayaking and whatnot, and last year just to be that guy...I counted the tires we saw while floating down the Cahaba from Grants Mill Rd to 280. Just tires........I counted 84. This is only about a 12 mile trip. 84 tires.

I want to do something about this, but after thinking it through, I just don't know how. The tires are heavy and would weight down a kayak or a canoe, so it would be hard to do it that way. The banks are too high to just throw them up and come get them later.....many aren't reachable without a long hike. So I'm stumped.

I want this problem to get taken care of and I am normally the one to do it, but I just don't know how. Any suggestions would be great.


On the other side of that.....who is dumping these tires in the river? It has to be someone north of Grants Mill Rd because that is where I see them beginning to show up. Maybe someone is dumping them at an access point to the river or maybe a tire place has property along the bank of the Cahaba.....maybe in Trussville?

Thoughts?

[Joshua Szulecki]

Theprocon,

My guess is that they are being dumped from the many parking turnouts along Old Overton Road. That is where I see the most garbage. But seeing as they stick around for many years, they could be accumulated road debris from I-459 or upstream areas.

Do empty tires float? I've never seen one floating, but if they do, you could tie them to the canoe and pole your way down the Cahaba as a tiny tugboat. Another option would be to organize a massive flotilla of 20-30 canoes, and have each carry as many tires as they could. With the amount of attention the Cahaba generates, you might be able to get up a group that large if you spread the word well.

Would be a great job for inmates.

[Lostsheep]

I have a flat bottomed jon boat (15') with a decent powered trolling motor on the back. If you came up with a weekend to get some help, I'd be glad to offer.

I want to float it one day from Grants Mill to Liberty Park fishing, but if I'm dealing w/ tires, I'll help clean that out first. Wanna spend a day?

[theprocon]

Thanks for your input. Great idea on the milk jug tire floating as well!! I agree with the June-July timing, mainly because the water levels are very low and sunken tires are easy to spot.

I don't think they float by themselves.....t hey're mainly at the bottom of the river.

Taking a john boat on this stretch isn't the best idea unless there is a lot of water. There's a ton of chutes and rapids...and trees blocking the way. That's your call.

I think we have enough manpower on this board alone to make a valiant effort. We would need a way to float the tires, and figure out drop points along the way. A truck to carry them from the drop point to a landfill or whatever....boat s, and people.

I have 3 sit on top kayaks that seat one I can bring.

[Nalgene Ninja]

Not to try and excuse the idiocy of putting tires in a river, but this practice is sometimes done to provide nesting areas for fish. Infact, my own parents have some in their private lake. Whatever government body that has jurisdiction should probably be consulted prior to any action.

[Nalgene Ninja]

Yeah they use those now. At least they didn't burn the tires.

[Magic City Matt]

There was a project where they tried to create an artificial barrier reef of the coast somewhere with tires. From what I understand it never worked because the tires moved too much with the tides. now the coast guard is using it as a victim recovery training facility.

[Nalgene Ninja]

HUH?     Save a tire, use a Christmas tree.     Yeah, I know.  A whole nuther discussion.

Reminds of a comedy bit from the late 80s where they said that the tires were endangered because so many were dead on the shoulder of the highways. 

I guess they just died of thirst.

[SteveO]

Like mentioned above, I would contact the EPA, Forestry, and Jefferson & Shelby County before anything is done.

I dont visit the cahaba much, but I know exactly what you are talking about. There are a few other rivers around that are that way.

Id be happy to lend my aluminum flat bottom and time to this.

[Lostsheep]

So Procon, you heading this up? Put it in the calendar and we'll keep our eye's on it.

I'm not sure w/ the tires/milk jug thing though. If we tow them along floating them, what keeps them from getting snagged on something underwater? Maybe a floating convoy could ease it some. It'll be a learning experience while we go.

Oh, and yes, we used to carry an old tire on the boat trailer to put against the bank and the boat to help out w/ scratches, but we didn't leave it in the water. At a certain state park, they actually rebar'ed them into the ground to help boaters. Shortly thereafter, EPA told them to have them removed for environmental purposes....now their gone.

Christmas trees are much better....

[PastorLarryT]

Few things as sickening as seeing trash in the wilderness  :'(... I have a kayak that can be added to the flotilla.  Keep us posted on plans Theprocon...

[Nalgene Ninja]

Few things as sickening as seeing trash in the wilderness  :'(...

Shouldn't that be an Indian?

[lawnmowwer]

 I have a large canoe I will add to the effort. I can probably get one or two more to add in tow. I will be glade to participate. I might be able two get a couple of other people also.

[theprocon]

I have been in contact with the Environmental Protection Agency in our area. They say the tires should not be there, nor should they be anywhere around the water. When they come into contact with water, they release some chemical that is known to effect the wildlife around it. I reported the issues formally and they are planning an investigation into why the tires are there. If you have information, contact Nancy Marsh of the EPA. www.epa.gov

So I'm looking at a calendar, and I'm thinking that the effort would be much more fruitful in times of low water. Most of the tires are on the bottom. The less water that is in there, the more tires we can see. So...sometime in late July? Again in August and September?

If we have 10 or more people actually on the water, and at least one truck picking the tires up at a specific place and hauling them off, I think we can make an impact at least in the area I am talking about. I'm in and I have 3 kayaks.

[toph]

I'm not really keen on taking them out in "that" low of water level but have a canoe and a kayak and could possibly help depending on when.

[lawnmowwer]

I have a friend in the sanitation business I will contact him about a rolloff tire cage.

[theprocon]

I like where this is going. I am going on a planned fun trip on the same route in question next Saturday. I'll scope it out and go from there.

[lawnmowwer]

 I have not been on the forum much the last few weeks but I have been doing a little reseach on this one. We have a few poblems.
 
 First  We can't transport scrap tires with out an ADEM licence. I have a friend with the licence that will help. So that one is good.

 Second  We can be suid be ADEN for improper disposal. This one is not as easy. Only a few people (companys) can  give as reciet for proper diposal and so far My friend can't get any of them to respond regarding this matter

 That brings use to Three. The disposal fee is 1 to 4 dollars per tire. So that could get to be a lot of money.

 I am going to PM Matter about an idea on this. So stay tuned.

[Lostsheep]

Lawnmower, you do have a point. Good observations. Do let us know what you find b/c it would be a shame if we couldn't get this off the ground b/c of a license.

[TheMadGIO]

Count me in if I'm in town.