Hundreds of people arrived at Creekside Park early last Saturday morning, bags and shovels in hand, for the Marsh Creek Cleanup. Some came out of a sense of gratitude for the quality of life the creek provides; others out of concern for the well being of the creek's critters.
Young and old alike dredged countless aluminum cans and glass bottles from the creek's banks and stuffed them into garbage bags. Some of the strangest objects plucked from the creek were bike spokes, a chunk of a toilet, a plastic chair and an old television. Around 11 a.m., the volunteers gathered before an enormous pyramid of garbage for a group photo, proudly displaying the fruits of their labor.
Participants in the cleanup heard from a biologist about the unique and diverse wildlife that inhabits Marsh Creek, and viewed various displays illustrating the creek's creatures, from otters to salmon, and their role in the environment.
Once ecosystems are destroyed, once-flourishing species begin to die out and can become vulnerable to extinction. The smallest change in an environment can upset the balance of an entire ecosystem. Events such as the Marsh Creek Cleanup provide the community an opportunity to make the creek a source of life and beauty for generations to come.
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