Every year, the Clark Fork Coalition, a local non-profit dedicated to protecting the Clark Fork watershed, hosts a community cleanup event. The event, usually on a Saturday in mid-spring, aims to attract volunteers from all corners of the Missoula community to come together to do their part in preserving the health of our local river ecosystem. While we're lucky to have such a beautiful river running right through the heart of our community, it requires an extra level of responsibility to maintain it so that future generations of Missoulians (and visitors!) can continue to enjoy this valuable resource. For recreationalists of all kinds, from fishermen to floaters, the Clark Fork is a staple of Missoula's active community. While most river users do their best to prevent littering in the first place, it does happen, and a considerable amount of trash accumulates along the riverbank during the low water season. Come springtime, as the temperature rises and runoff increases, the river level rises, sweeping along all of that trash. However, with the help of hundreds of local volunteers, we have the chance to do our best to clean up all of that trash before it has the chance to pollute the river and contaminate the ecosystem.
My coworker Molly and I arrived at Caras Park, right along the Clark Fork and next to the Higgins St. Bridge in downtown Missoula, around 10 am the morning of the cleanup. We signed in, gathered our trash bags and protective gloves, and joined a group that was headed to the Jacob's Island area. After a 10 or 15-minute walk along the river, we arrived at our cleanup spot and spread out, combing the area within about a hundred feet from the water's edge. I was shocked at the huge amount of trash we collected, so much that the bags were almost too heavy to carry. After an hour and half or so of slow-and-steady trash collecting, we returned to Caras Park and distributed our recyclables and garbage to the appropriate receptacles, provided by the CF Coalition. To reward all the volunteers, the Coalition also hosted a free BBQ meal to wrap up the event, as well as a raffle with items donated from various local businesses. While I didn't personally win anything in the raffle, I walked away with a great sense of pride in the Missoula community. I was inspired by the number of volunteers who showed up and who clearly care as much as I do about keeping our rivers clean, beautiful, and healthy for many years to come.
According to the Clark Fork Coalition's website, nearly 900 volunteers collected over 4 tons of trash and recyclables from 15 miles of river during 2017's cleanup event. I can't wait to see the numbers for 2018! Get involved or find out more by visiting the Coalition's website: https://clarkfork.org
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.