News

Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop joined North Carolina State University Extension Assistant Professor Dr. Barbara Doll and The Great Raleigh Cleanup’s Preston Ross III to nail down the next home of a Sound Rivers’ trash trap.

While they had earlier decided that Marsh Creek, located to the northeast of Raleigh, would be a good location, Tuesday’s field foray was to identify two sites: one on a tributary of Marsh Creek; the other on Marsh Creek itself.

“We want to install a trash trap on small tributary of Marsh creek so that we can get a sense of how much the little inputs contribute to the larger trash situation on the creek,” Samantha said. “Our other Raleigh trap will be on the main stem of Marsh Creek, further downstream.”

Other aspects to consider when finding ideal locations for the traps are drainage area, flow rate, depth, trash inputs and accessibility for those cleaning out the traps.

The passive litter-collection devices corral trash drifting downstream, which can then be removed and disposed of properly. Sound Rivers is partnering on the new Raleigh trash traps with NCSU, The Great Raleigh Cleanup and the City of Raleigh.

The two Marsh Creek traps be the sixth and seventh trash traps Sound Rivers has installed as part of its Litter-Free Rivers program. Trash traps are also located on Jack’s Creek in Washington, Duffyfield Canal in New Bern, Little Rock Creek in Raleigh, Adkin Branch in Kinston and Greens Mill Run in Greenville. The City of Tarboro recently approved installation of a trash trap on East Tarboro Creek, which will bring the total to eight by the end of the year.

Want to be a trash trap volunteer? We’d love your help! Email Volunteer Coordinator Emily Fritz at emily@soundrivers.org to volunteer today!