San Marcos River
San Marcos River Retreat to Scull Road
Trip Report by Christy Long—March 6, 7, and 8
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Put-in
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San Marcos River Retreat
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Take-out
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Scull Road
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Fees or Permits
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Free Launch for Clean UP
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Gage
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100 cfs on USGS 08171400, near Martindale
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Temperature
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60 to 70 deg F
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Sky
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Cloudy, cool, gray
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Precipitation
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Scattered rain
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Wind
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Windy at takeout and in the evening
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Coordinator
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Christy Long
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HCC Participants at Clean UP
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Christy Long, William Becker, Tracy Becker, Michael Grove, Liz Dennis, Frank Ohrt, Ellen Shipman, Natalie Wiest, John Ainsworth, Tom Douglas. Susan Eda, Tom Loesch
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Shuttle
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Self-Shuttle. Parked the shuttle cars in the TRPA parking lot at the top of the hill
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Craft
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4 canoe, 6 kayaks
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River Miles
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See below
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HCC Club Miles
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35.16
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Road Miles
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170 From Pearland, Tx to San Marcos.
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Guide Book
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Rivers and Rapids by Bob Narramore and Ben Nolen
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Photos
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HCC website site
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Food
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Free dinner for clean up
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Event Details
The Great Texas River Cleanup is supported by the Texas Rivers Protection Association, and details can be found at their website: The Great Texas River Cleanup - Texas Rivers Protection Association (txrivers.org)
As with other river cleanups, volunteers were offered incentives to encourage participation, including two free nights of camping provided by San Marcos River Retreat and Shady Groove campground. Additionally, a free dinner featuring a variety of delicious desserts was served to participants.
Friday, March 6, 2022
Several members gathered at San Marcos River Retreat at Site 1 to set up tents and RVs. Marilyn Kircus welcomed everyone at the campsite with bean soup, which she served to several attendees. After dinner, the group enjoyed a pleasant small campfire.
Photo by Christy Long
Site 1 was shared by several HCC Members
Saturday, March 7
Photo by Christy Long, Saturday Morning Breakfast
From Left Standing John Ainsworth, Dutch Becker, Mike Grove, Tracy Becker.
From Left Sitting Christy Long, Tom Caldwell, Ellen Shipman, Natalie Wiest
Starting the day off with coffee and breakfast.
Early in the day, trash bags were picked up for the group. Members of Houston Canoe Club join with other groups along three sections of the river. Most participants launched around 10:00 AM and finished by 2:00 PM. While much of the trash could be collected from the boats, there were occasions where participants needed to exit their boats to reach debris.
San Marcos River Retreat to Scull Road: 3.5 miles
Grace Arianoutsos was the coordinator of this portion of the cleanup. She did an excellent job of getting waivers signed and all the information to the many participants. Arranging the drop off with landowners, just before Cotton Seed rapid, is much appreciated.
The HCC Members on this section were
- William Becker
- Tracy Becker
- Michael Grove
- Christy Long (HCC-Event Coordinator)
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Photo by Christy Long
Mike Grove, Tom Caldwell, and Tracy Becker off-loading trash before running Cottonseed Rapid.
Photo By Christy Long
Off-loading River Trash Just before Cottonseed Rapid.
San Marcos River Retreat to Cummings Dam and Back to SMRR: 2 miles
By Frank Ohrt
The HCC Members on this section were
- Liz Dennis
- Frank Ohrt (HCC-Section Coordinator)
- Ellen Shipman
- Natalie Wiest
HCC members Frank, Liz, Natalie and Ellen were joined by Jeremy Magee, to clean this section from Tom’s. It was only about a mile up to Cummings Dam, but it was upstream, so we got extra credit. The water was pretty low, but there were still several places where the current was strong enough that boats were walked or towed. There was enough trash to make it worthwhile, but the section would be a lot easier if paddlers arranged to be dropped off where Old Bastrop Road crossed the river. At least one of the participants is getting too old for this upstream business.
Photo by Natalie Wiest
Frank Ohrt and Liz Dennis going up stream.
Photo By Natalie Wiest
Jeremy Magee in the orange kayak is safety, while Frank Ohrt and Liz Dennis picks up trash from bank.
Notes By Natalie
The low water levels meant we couldn't quite get a paddle in the water to go upstream at some places. One place featured an exposed limestone bottom, smooth and slick as can be, so I got to practice lining my boat upstream as thankfully the dry ground next to the drop allowed an easy walk upstream. It's been quite a while since I've practiced that skill. It was great fun being on the water and feasting with our friends.
Fentress to Prairie Lea 1: 3.29 miles
Several groups came together to clean up this section.
HCC members included
- John Ainsworth
- Tom Douglas
- Susan Eda (Section Leader)
- Tom Loesch.
Photo provided by Crew
Evening Meal
Cleanup activities concluded at the Chapel by 5:00 PM. Volunteers enjoyed hot dogs with all imageable toppings for dinner, with too many sides to put on one plate, along with drinks. The dessert table was loaded with cobbler, cakes, brownies, and cookies. Most of the items were from someone’s kitchen, all were good.
The organizers encouraged participants to bring our own reusable plate and utensils. Seems like a good way to keep single use items out of the landfill.
Seeing all the paddlers together is a wonderful sight.
Photo by Christy Long
Bryan Williams, Don Brotherton, John Ainsworth, Mike Grove
Photo by Christy Long
Ellen Shipman, Natalie Wiest, Christy Long, Debbie Snow, Bryan Don Brotherton, John Ainsworth, and Mike Grove
Photo by Christy Long
Frank enjoying the wonderful meal and Liz making sure he eats all his dinner.
Photo by Christy Long
From left, John Ainsworth and Tom Douglas are in the Chapel eating dinner.
Photo by Christy Long
Small Campfire
Some members departed for home after the meal, while others stayed and gathered around a small campfire. We added small pieces of wood as the fire burned down.
Sunday, March 8
On Sunday morning, John, Natalie, Ellen, Frank, Liz, and Christy packed up and left the campground before noon.
Photo by Christy Long
Natalie and Ellen enjoying the outside from the inside.
The weather remained gray throughout the weekend, with rain and wind, but overall conditions were comfortable.