Results for today, Wednesday, 6_29_2016 at Cordova Creek spillway on the American River

CCM spillway Ph 8.6, AR Ph 8.8 (AR measurements always taken upstream from outlet), 173 pieces collected, details available through our "Kobo Toolbox"link on the hammerdirt.ch website.Time spent, 2 hours.

Well, someone thinks its a good idea to "camp" in the spillway, I hope they pick up their trash when they leave. Lots of toads still (fifty one), all getting bigger, and finding makeshift burrows for now. Noticed two dead crawdads/crayfish in the water, also observed live aquatic snails as well, approximately nine, and the mosquito fish still appear to be ok, however, there were some dead ones near the "waterfall", whether thats from the ditch upstream or not is unknown, pictures of all are included below....

Reminder for this Wednesday, (6_29_2016) at Cordova Creek spillway on the American River

We will be conducting our routine litter survey this Wednesday at the CCM spillway where the "creek" discharges "urban run off" to the American River. We also perform some water Ph. measurements in the spillway, and visually inspect the present state of the animals that are found there, as this is an important indicator of the general health of this ecosystem. In previous posts, I have included examples of these observations, and I will continue to do so, as objectively as possible. See you there.

Results for June 22, 2016,

6_22_2016. Collected 86 pieces, spillway Ph. 8.8. No dead animals were observed in the spillway water, however there were 80+ mosquito fish seen, alive, active and consisting of juveniles and adults. No other aquatic animals were observed.  Still much toad activity going on,(one must watch every step), approximate estimate based on mobile visual count, 48+ ,evenly distributed along all the creek edges, (extended strand line), also, one katydid, (grasshopper) seen alive. On a side note, we saw a hawk on the way through the park, enjoying a juvenile squirrel, it allowed us to photo....

Reminder for Wednesday,6_22_2016

This Wednesday we will be conducting our weekly litter survey at the Cordova Creek spillway on the American River, at the usual time, 11:30 a.m. until approx. 1:30 p. m.
In this reminder, I am including a few images of the many faces of this location, like some of the animal species that are there, while I collect litter and data (usually my only visitors), these pics are from as far back as early 2015 when I was assessing locations that would be suitable for a trash survey, enjoy.

 toads,

 little rattlesnake friend...

 spillway crayfish, last year

 angler caught this one at RBP

 salmon in the spillway...

 returned to the river

 "river cat"

 2015 monarch at RBP

 "crawdad island"

 "litter island"

 squirrel nest...plastic bag..

 turtle

Results for Wed.,6_15_2016,atCC and AR

Creek flow rate increased, 95 pieces, spillway water Ph 8.8, noted zero animals,(dead or living) actually in the water. The terrestrial toads however, are numerous, observed 26 individual toads, male and female, all alive and active, spread out evenly around the spillway. Pics...

Remember,this Wednesday, 6_15_2016 at Cordova Creek spillway on the American River...

Dont forget, every Wednesday we perform our routine pollution survey at the confluence of Cordova Creek and the American River. The results of these surveys are available to view through the "Kobo toolbox" link on the hammerdirt website, just click on the "Cordova Creek" image, then the Kobo data link. These are stats and pics for the corresponding survey dates, a regular summary report is also available for viewing, either through our website links, or Facebook and Twitter, also if anyone wants more info, just ask me, and I am happy to provide data regarding any surveys we performed on the American River Parkway,(two locations, River Bend Park, and Cordova Creek since 2015), with more planned for the future. Why do we do this? Because water is life. Because this must be done. It is action in the present that shapes the future, and these actions produce data for use now, and into the future.

Results for today, June 8, 2016

At the spillway....98 pieces, water Ph 8.9, 12 dead crayfish,2.3 of them pictured on tarp, 1 living crayfish, and on the bank, many 1cm toads, hopping around under foot,(nostalgic!)unfortunately, the one crayfish being the only living observable aquatic life...now pics.......

Coming up,this Wednesday, June 8th, 2016 at the Cordova Creek spillway on the American River...

..hammerdirt will be performing our scheduled survey, at the usual time of 11:30 a.m., until around 1:30 p.m. Here we; photograph the spillway, and any marine litter present, collect and separate, count, and then properly dispose of the items. This we do because, well, it must be done! And done correctly. See you there...

Results for 6_1_16,CCM at American River

179 pieces, spillway Ph 9.2, no life in the water, 18 dead crayfish, sewage smell is back, flow is exactly the usual rate. Water is our greatest resource.