Abstract
As part of the implementation of their EPA Gulf of Mexico Program grant to develop a Comprehensive Trash Abatement Program for the Dog River Watershed, Dog River Clearwater Revival (DRCR), a grassroots, place-based nonprofit began developing a protocol to determine trash transport routes throughout the 95 square mile urban watershed. Using satellite imaging transponders, the group began gathering test data late in 2019. In an effort to generate comparable data to support the newly forming theories related to marine trash transportation, Osprey Initiative, a partner in the grant, initiated their own method using brightly painted, single-use water bottles. Both vastly different methods for tracking the movement of litter from its land-based inception throughout the water system are being documented with additional datasets being added as needed i.e., weather conditions as such events influence trash movement. Combining the knowledge of the composition of waterborne trash, marine debris, and/or litter using EPA’s Escaped Trash Assessment Protocol (ETAP) with the behavior of the items once they enter the waste stream will influence the future efforts to reduce litter commonly found in area waters. During this session, we will discuss the pros and cons of each protocol, different phases of development, and the results of the project thus far.
