Urban Exploration: San Mateo

I thought he was just pointing out Quarry Lakes in the picture. 

Try bouncing a big magnet next to the bridge, might land a S&W.

Some adventure. Your next one should be Lake Tahoe to balance things out.

Best fishing report I have seen to date.  You should be a travel writer.

How the hell did you manage to get under that bridge?  .. Thanks for the report...Andy

ewww!   send that pic to the local news.....I'm sure it will be addressed and cleaned soon.
You're pissed still?!  I'm done with those EBLakes too!(maybe just a DelValleCamp out), but after that NO MORE!!
I would says thanks, but that garbage is BAD!!
did you pick up at least one piece?

I'm pretty sure that yellow floating dam thing is a collection point for garbage...  but I'd sure be curious to know for sure.

I was not prepared to collect trash that day, but I'm buying some tongs soon...  and lots of HEAVY DUTY bags...

I've made a commitment to doing some creek cleanups this year.  We all USE the waterways, so it will be nice to give something back.

Updates soon...

And I'll get over having my feelings hurt by EBRPD, but meanwhile there are a lot of places I haven't been yet.

Urban jungle tour for sure, Eric. 

And I'll get over having my feelings hurt by EBRPD, but meanwhile there are a lot of places I haven't been yet.

Seriously, that's the spirit.  Whenever we get po'd about a certain waterway, just think about all the other places that have yet to PO us and hit those instead.  No point in getting cheesed about some things

BTW, is everyone aware there's a place in the Pacific that looks like that, supposedly?  Only miles and miles of it, some say as big as Texas.

They say it's where all the currents merge and everything collects there, somewhere between here and Hawaii... 

I believe it... but...

But it's funny there are no pictures of it.  And I didn't see anything on the flight over, (and I was looking).

send all the prisoners there for a RealityT.V.Show called GlobalCleanup.....recycle$$$+cleans the ocean+they can earn their free ride= win/win/win situation

I'm pretty sure that yellow floating dam thing is a collection point for garbage...  but I'd sure be curious to know for sure.

I was not prepared to collect trash that day, but I'm buying some tongs soon...  and lots of HEAVY DUTY bags...

I've made a commitment to doing some creek cleanups this year.  We all USE the waterways, so it will be nice to give something back.

Updates soon...

And I'll get over having my feelings hurt by EBRPD, but meanwhile there are a lot of places I haven't been yet.

Let me know when you want to, I'm in.

BTW, is everyone aware there's a place in the Pacific that looks like that, supposedly?  Only miles and miles of it, some say as big as Texas.

They say it's where all the currents merge and everything collects there, somewhere between here and Hawaii... 

I believe it... but...

But it's funny there are no pictures of it.  And I didn't see anything on the flight over, (and I was looking).

It's very real. Some say it's as big as a continent. I think I saw a PBS (KQED) program about it but here are some sites & articles:

Capt. Charles Moore the Algalita Marine Research Foundation is credited with discovering the garbage patch. Click the photos page for pics, although there isn't one showing one giant mass; probably a lot of it is partially submerged.  http://www.algalita.org/index.html

Be sure to watch this video of Capt. Moore's presentation: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/capt_charles_moore_on_the_seas_of_plastic.html
and, of course, here we are floating around in plastic boats...!

Here are some more fun links - most reference back to Algalita:
http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Ocean/Pacific-Garbage-Patch27oct02.htm
http://www.plasticdebris.org/
http://www.cdnn.info/news/article/a071104.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15590510/
http://science.howstuffworks.com/great-pacific-garbage-patch.htm

OK, I'm not done with this thread!

First, props to Eric for going on this urban adventure and finding some of unpleasant things we don't want to think about, and pointing it out, because, however unpleasant, it's reality.

Also, big kudos to Eric for sticking to his word about picking up trash (I think you said it was one of your New Yr resolutions?). The one time I fished with him (Jan OAP big gathering) he was there with garbage bag in hand picking up crap near the launch.

Next, yes, some creek cleanups are in order. I'm in.

Regarding that crap he found in San Mateo, that floating boom is there to hold most of the floating crap from flowing all the way out. Obviously, some gets by and when there's heavy rains, who knows. The thing is that the same thing happens in every run-off waterway, whether it's urban, suburban or rural. Anywhere trash can blow into a creek or wash in from the street, there's going to be garbage in the water. Of course, it's more concentrated in urban areas, and I'm sure this boom to catch the junk is more of an exception than the norm. The solution is to keep trash, esp plastic, from ever getting any place where it can find its way into the water. I'm preaching to the choir here, but the point is that litter has bigger consequences than most people imagine. Next time you see someone throw trash on the ground, knock em on the head! 

Try bouncing a big magnet next to the bridge, might land a S&W.

Funny  and yet so true 

send all the prisoners there for a RealityT.V.Show called GlobalCleanup.....recycle$$$+cleans the ocean+they can earn their free ride= win/win/win situation

Doesn't sound cruel . . . or unusual! Sounds like a good plan to me. 

Random thoughts:

I will be organizing some cleanup get togethers soon, good to see a couple guys already in, thanks!  From what I've seen a good portion of us already clean up our favorite launch spots from time to time...  just trying to kick that up a notch is my personal goal.

But regarding this nation-sized garbage patch?  Still no pics?  I saw a bleach bottle and a bottle cap.

Not doubting it's there, but if it's all spread out like that it seems the time would be better spent cleaning up areas where you can get a LOT of crap instead of just a few items.

Thanks for the links...  the LA river is insane.

Cool report, E.  Exploration is way under-rated.  WTG also on getting us talking and thinking about trash issues.