Urban Stream Management Using Spatial Approaches for Stream Clean-Up Data

Abstract

In recent decades many local communities, supported by state, federal and/or international programs, have engaged in efforts to remove human debris from urban stream systems. Typically these clean-up events have involved volunteers who collect garbage and other waste from stream banks or from the water. The aims of these programs are to improve overall stream conditions – especially aesthetics – and remove harmful materials from stream environments including tires, plastics, metals and other potential items of concern such as paint cans, and rubber products. Although many of these efforts report basic data on items collected, with the reports and information often submitted to agencies or the focus of media reports, beyond basic types and numbers of information collected, the data and report do not typically contain any geospatial aspects such as locations, areas cleaned, collection of specific items tied to locations, or addressing possible sources for the debris. Since 1997, local groups within the Maumee Area of Concern in northwest Ohio, USA have been organizing an annual stream cleanup event in their communities that has evolved to over 1000 participants working at more than 60 sites covering 4 streams. This chapter examines the results for the Ten mile Creek/Ottawa River clean-up sites using detailed site specific data from 1995 to 2006 that includes items collected and recorded on data forms and then compiled by location and types of items and examined in reference to spatial aspects of management actions including considering potential sources and addressing local land use and human activities contributing the specific items collected at locations along the stream. Results include identifying the top ten items collected and examples of locations where items can be tied to adjacent land uses for purposes of identifying actions to address continued and persistent sources of debris and needed responses. The recommendations and proposals based on this study are intended to inform decision-makers not only at the local scale but to influence how stream clean-up data can be utilized and to improve reporting of this information. And with the aim of encouraging the collection of geospatial and location aspects as a means of furthering utilization of urban stream clean-up data to support and assist management actions to address aesthetic aspects of urban stream environmental improvements and rehabilitation efforts.