407 tires in the last clean up !!

[AndyS]

So far that is 508 tires in a 10 mile stretch from 3 Bridges to Raritan.

Will be posting LOTS MORE on this.http://i1333.photobucket.com/albums/w626/AStill/1150684_3439246077000_174231514_o_zps2062f957.jpg (http://s1333.photobucket.com/user/AStill/media/1150684_3439246077000_174231514_o_zps2062f957.jpg. html)

[GetANet]

Great job !!! Excellent seeing people caring about restoring the Mighty Raritan!!!!

[EJS]

Thank you Andy for bringing boats and pulling tires with us! Thank you Sean for your donation, it helped to keep the volunteers hydrated and fed. Thank you NJFishing.com for assisting us in making these clean-ups so successful. The clean up results have left everyone is shock, including myself and the other organizers. We set a goal of another 100 tires and 30 cubic yards of trash.

Yesterdays clean-up resulted in 407 tires and over 50+ cubic yards of trash (total for all zones on 8/18). The photo of the tires under the bridge was taken at Opie Road. That picture has 94 tires, two bicycles, 1 office chair, and various debris. Over the next two days we are looking for volunteers to help move those tires from under that bridge to behind the guard rail at the road. I will be loading and shuttling tires from there to the Sellers Maintenance Facility in Raritan.

If you are interested in helping, please message me for further details.

[AndyS]

May be one more in September, I'll keep you posted.

[lunkertaker]

Thank You Andy and All other volunteers that helped pick up the crap other folks have dumped into our waterways:) :) :)

Whoever thought it was a good idea to toss > 400 tires in a river? Don't know, but thank GOD we have folks willing to make the effort to clean up F..kup mess created in the past.

If a clean up is near me in Sept...IN

[Duffman]

Whoever thought it was a good idea to toss > 400 tires in a river? Don't know

Been reading this thread for a while to see how many tires were coming out of the river. Interesting to say the least, but not surprising.

I don't want to say I "know" why the dumping is being done, but being in the business of cars kinda gives me an understanding.

No one wants to pay the tire disposal fee associated with buying new tires. The $2 to $10 (yes$10) per tire disposal fee just begs for some people to say I'll throw them out on my own. Once they realize they cant throw them out with their regular garbage and ...well, they end up wherever.

[JerryC]

well done

[AndyS]

Some of the tires had 5" white walls, some had metal snow studs, some were truck tires and others were tractor tires from farmers who use the river to water their crops.

[EJS]

I have come to the conclusion based on the 2 clean-ups (zone-1 & zone-2) that root of the problem is ignorance. Whether someone willingly throws these tires into the river or places the tires at the edge of their property that borders the river, we need to be more mindful of the damage being caused!

I am by no means a liberal hippie. I simply want a clean river to fish! This mess has been ignored for far too long. I would like nothing more than to pass on to the next generation a healthy river and the mindfulness to keep it that way!

I hope I am not violating any rules of this forum by posting a link to a photo site containing images of the undertaking to remove the mess. The photo album link is to Picasa where we host images. I truly want everyone to see these photo's in their entirety and appreciate donations and effort by every single volunteer! If I am violating any forum rules I am sorry.

https://picasaweb.google.com/108118264311825954341/DoubleDownRaritanRiverCleanup?noredirect=1

https://picasaweb.google.com/108118264311825954341/Zone2TireRemoval

PS.... Andy is right, there is a follow up clean up in the works. We will be meeting this weekend to hammer out the details. As soon as I have them, you will to!

Thanks Everyone!
Eric

[AndyS]

Glad to see you got the heavy equipment that you needed !!!!!!

You post on here ANYTIME you want !!

[nutleysigns]

Could make a nice artificial reef with all those tires

[AndyS]

People need fish, fish don't need people. Just went over this with some one else. Fish did fine BEFORE any artificial reefs were made. Fish have been around for thousands of years and NEVER needed man to do anything.
To me artificial reefs are just an excuse to dump garbage in the ocean.

[EJS]

Well said Andy! Anyone going to river festival in Raritan Boro on 9/29? If so, please stop by our booth, would like to meet everyone and get a chance to talk.

[EJS]

Ok everyone, the next clean up is schedule for September 7th. We are concentrating a lot of volunteers on a small section of river. We will be cleaning from Roberts Street going down stream 1.2 miles. We have several large items to remove, including a sunken boat and 1/2 of a car and.... more tires. Meet up is at 8am at the Roberts street access in Raritan Boro. Launch time is at 8:30. If you would like more information, just message me.