Sandy River Benefits from Cleaner Waters
by: Neil Smith ‘12
On September 12th, Michael Little, members from organizations such as Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, the International Club, the Anglers Club, and students from Dr. Rachel Goodman’s Evolutionary Biology course participated in the “Cleanup of Sandy River Reservoir” project. The project united the efforts of college students, professors, and community members reduce the amount of pollution that currently plagues the reservoir, a 740-acre water supply impoundment. According to a blog on the HSC website, a total of 30 volunteers came out to help. A number of companies and organizations sponsored the event, including Clean Virginia Waterways, Longwood University, and the Virginia Department of Conservation. Glad Trash Bags donated bags for the group to use.
According to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the river is home to largemouth bass, Panfish, Channel catfish, and Chain Pickerel. Unfortunately, these fish and other animals were surrounded a tremendous amount of trash. Trash has been accumulating directly on the shoreline for some time. The diversity of this litter was surprisingly extensive: trash removed from the water and shore included beer-cans, plastic bottles, glass bottles, cigarette butts, fishing lures, Styrofoam cups, food wrappers, and even diapers. According to the blog, volunteers filled 29 trash bags with the refuse; tires and a full recliner were even removed from the river.
Throughout the course of the day, Michael Little ’10, who along with other Hampden-Sydney students saw that this pollution was “detrimental to the aquatic life living there.” These observations led the students and Dr. Goodman to discuss the dangers of pollution on the natural environment—especially since the students were witnessing it firsthand. Tyler Napier ’10 found that “there [was] a great need for more trash cans in specific areas.” Some found that there was a larger scope to the problem—people’s very attitudes concerning the nature of littering. Alex King ‘11 was troubled by “the complete and utter laziness of the people who hadn’t bothered to throw their garbage away.”
The trip benefited both the environment and the students as well. The Anglers’Club was involved in cleaning up a prime fishing location, which they can use for future trips. The members of the International House found the trip to be a rewarding experience. All present got to engage in volunteer work, and representative of H-SC bonded with the community.
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