San Marcos River
March 3, 2018
by Christy Long

33th Annual River Clean up
San Marcos River Retreat to Sculls
3 miles
The trip route is outlined in Rivers and Rapids book.

180 cfs on the USGS 08171400 San Marcos Rv nr Martindale, TX.

70 degrees during the day, lows of 50 degrees in the early morning.

Frank Ohrt coordinated the HCC members for the Great Texas River Clean Up. The day started with a great breakfast, provided by Tom and Paula Goynes, at the San Marcos River Retreat Cowboy Chapel. Tom Goynes gave the safety talk and provided information about the different sections of river we could clean.

Approximately fifty people attended the morning meeting. Five of us represented the Houston Canoe Club. Ten other paddlers started paddling from San Marcos River Retreat (SMRR), about thirty minutes before us.

Once we got started, we realized we would have to go higher on the banks to get to trash. The other group did a pretty good job of gathering the floating trash and trash that was reachable from the boats. We found some very interesting items, such as inflated balloons, bones, and sun hats, at the upper levels.

Although Frank coordinated the trip, he was not able to paddle with us because of an injury. Robert Langley and Elizabeth (Liz) Dennis paddled tandem; and Katelyn Sessions and I, Christy Long, paddled tandem. This was Katelyn’s first moving water clean-up. She was a go-getter. Reaching for trash from the bow of the boat and jumping onto the banks to get trash from the higher banks.

Our small group deposited four big black bags of trash at Don’s Fish Camp. I have not checked it out, but this is the first time I have seen Don’s Fish Camp participate in this event. Glad he is giving back to the river and trying to keep it clean.

We deposited two more bags of trash just before Cotton Seed Rapid. We appreciate the landowners that have allowed TRPA to place a trailer very close to the bank. They have participated in the majority of the clean-ups.

We got off the river about 3 pm, cleaned up at SMRR, and went to Shady Grove Campground for a wonderful BBQ dinner; which was provided by TRPA and prepared by wonderful folks from the San Marcos area.

After dinner the HCC group went back to SMRR and had a lovey evening around a camp fire.

Liz Dennis, top left; Robert Langley, Christy Long, Katelyn Sessions.
Frank Ohrt sitting. Just before launching.

Carl Gilson (shuttle driver), Liz Dennis, Robert Langley, Christy Long, Katelyn Sessions (sitting)

Robert Langely and Liz Dennis. Fearlessly looking for debris.

Basketball size bee’s nest at one of the lunch sites. We quietly and quickly picked up trash.

We left the turtle shell but carried out the tin siding.

Balloons were a nice surprise and we decorated our boat with them.

Katelyn and I agreed this hat was for decoration only. Nature had a great plan for it.

The spoils of clean ups. Not sure where my pedestal is.

Liz and Robert each had a bag of trash before we paddled a mile.

At S-turn Liz and Katelyn found this bird’s nest about four feet off the ground.
The bird has woven plastic grocery bags into the nest.

Christy Long with her granddaughter, Katelyn Sessions, upstream of S-turn Rapid.

We stopped to snack at S-turn.

Katelyn and Liz found many skeletons. Can you guess this creature?

Katelyn waiting to start moving gear to the loading area at Sculls.

Christy Long