Merry Oaks Neighborhood Association

Creek Walk Results

The Creeks Condition

The creekwalk started out about 9:00 AM at the Central Avenue bridge with 6 participants; Carolynn Richardson, Carol Herrington and Jasper Parham in the creek and Nancy Krewson, Andria Krewson and Sarah Acuff along the creek bank.

As usual the start of the creekwalk had the most litter because of the adjacent parking lot and 2 adjacent streets. The creek water was very clear and free flowing. There was very little organic matter giving off the proverbial scent of decay. We saw several schools of minnows and small sunfish. Along the creek bank there was a large black snake which we respected for its benefit provided to our biodiversity and its appetite for copperheads which were not seen.

As we proceeded upstream, our collection of litter yielded some memorable souvenirs. Among the collection was: a tennis shoe, a steel shank boot, an inline skate, an infant carseat, a suitcase, a rug, a pleated tuxedo shirt, a sweatshirt, an aquarium air filter, a plastic pistol, and about 3 dozen golfballs. The majority of the litter was plastic shopping bags, snack food wrappers, beer and soda bottles and cans. One of the creekwalk participants observed that we could have spent the entire time picking up litter from the creek bank to Masonic drive. But that would be another project for another time.

We ended the creekwalk around noontime, tired but grateful that our creek looked more natural than cluttered with human refuse. We thank all the participants for their hard work and dedication to our creek. And we thank the Charlotte Country Club for adopting the creek upstream which cuts down on the litter in our section of the creek and for the use of their dumpster to dispose of some of our litter bags. Thanks also to G. Mullis for the use of her garbage can and allowing us to walk through her back yard.
Jasper Parham

Sightings in the Greenway

Some of the plants seen on the walk while picking up trash: :
Honeysuckle, blackberry thickets, violets including birdsfoot violets, moneyplant near the creek at the Arnold access point. Dogwood, a very active woodpecker nesting tree which should not be cut down. Holly bushes, a few daffodils and hosta—probably left over from when houses were there. Raccoon tracks near the stream. Thistles, ligustrum and plenty of poison ivy and oak. Bamboo near the Central Ave. access point.
The area off Masonic and at the Masonic bridge has had partial clearing of some trees already and is suitable for dog walking as is the Arnold access point where there is a trail which goes all the way to the creek.