Return to the Hughes River Next Week

We have a great crew this summer. After spending a very long week learning all the science (social and physical) behind the StreamSweepers program, caring for each in other in mock first aid scenarios during Wilderness First Aid training, and learning how to identify macro invertebrates, invasive plant species and dangerous river hazards they began work on the Hughes River. The first time river health assessment and cleaning of this beautiful river has been completed from Route 231 to Reva Road.

We opted to float as much of the river as possible before the mid-summer low water level set in so we began mid-river. We spent a few days dragging boats and walking with some intermittent floating and were encouraged by the support of riverside landowners and the beauty and solitude of the Hughes. We found about a dozen tires, tents, tarps, a cattle feed trough, a table top, some bottles and cans, metal signs, buckets, shopping basket, barbecue grate, floats, tarps, tent, chair, large plastic tub, a hose and other small items. Boaters should be alerted to the car embedded in the bank as it protrudes into the stream channel.

We will begin next Monday to assess and clean the upper stretch beginning just outside the park boundary. We will be alongside the road at several locations and invite you to stop by and say hello. When we’ve completed the assessment and cleanup on the Hughes we will move to the Robinson headwaters to provide a first time assessment down to Route 231.

For the past few weeks after finishing the lower portion of the Hughes we’ve been working on maintenance cleaning of the Rapidan and Robinson Rivers. We’re basically removing anything we may have previously missed and anything new that has appeared.

Enjoy some photos from the Hughes (any ideas whose paw print that is)?