community as a whole. A class of fifth- 

 graders got into the act, with a portrait of 

 the area and its occupants, including four- 

 footed ones. 



"We got a big group of volunteers to 

 help us survey the watershed. We recorded 

 the characteristics of the watershed that 

 can help us to identify potential sources of 

 pollution and transport mechanisms, such 

 as the number of dogs, and where the 

 ditches are located," Perrin says. 



Once the data is analyzed, residents 

 again will be called to action. "We'll ask the 

 community to come out and help us 

 determine how we can reduce the amount 

 of pollution reaching the creek," Perrin says. 



TAKING CARE OF THE RIVER 



The WECO projects coincide with the 

 litter cleanup and other efforts by groups, 

 government agencies and individuals on 

 behalf of the White Oak. Croatan National 

 Forest's latest management plan promises 

 to protect the "remarkable values" of the 

 White Oak. Recreational users are trying to 

 remove storm debris blocking streams. 



"There's a lot of people doing a lot of 

 different things," Perrin says. "So it works 

 well together." 



Sally Steele, who lives on Pettiford 

 Creek and is the development director for 

 the Coastal Federation, describes a kayak 

 outing that brought unforgettable 

 encounters. 



"We went out into the river, and we 

 had these giant green shrimp hitting up 

 against our kayaks. And, a little while later, 

 we were surrounded by dolphins," Steele 

 says. "When you have an experience like 

 that you think: We have to take 

 care of this river." □ 



FOR MORE INFORMATION 



• Crystal Coast Canoe and Kayak Club: 

 www.ccckc.org 



• N.C. Cooperative Extension's Watershed 

 Education for Communities and Local Officials: 

 www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/agecon/WECO 



• White Oak River Basinwide Water 

 Quality Plan, N.C. Division of Water Quality: 

 http://dem.ehnr.state.nc.us/basinwide/ 

 whiteoak/2001 /whiteoak2001 .htm 



• NC Coastal Federation: 

 www.nccoast.org 



• Croatan National Forest: 

 www.cs.unca.edu/nfsnc 



ONE 

 MAN'S 

 TRASH 



Nothing seems to stop 

 Elmer Eddy in a canoe. He 

 climbs over beaver dams. 

 He breaks ice with his ElmerEddy, 83, isknownas "The White Oak RiverTrash Man." 



bow. He smiles at snakes, 



admires alligators and just keeps going, no matter what he encounters. Except litter. Even 

 the littlest bit of litter. 



A compulsive cleaner of waterways, not so much as a gum wrapper is left behind when 

 'The White Oak RiverTrash Man" paddles past. 



He and the Stewards of the White Oak River Basin declared the White Oak litter-free 

 last fall, an unprecedented claim. Eddy was the force behind the two-year effort that earned 

 him his 'Trash Man" nickname, and Keep Onslow Beautiful Committee's highest honor, the 

 Robert L. Franck award. He, though, modestly deflects credit to the hundreds who helped 

 take out the trash on the White Oak and its tributaries. 



For him, reaching for rubbish comes easy. "It's more fun to me to pick up the trash 

 than to leave it, really," says Eddy. "I would worry about that piece of trash all day if I left it." 



He cleans as he goes, but his real quest is adventure. A lifelong canoeist, he still paddles 

 weekly year-round at 83. "I go right to the end of everywhere, as far I can go," he says, "And 

 I get surprises everywhere." 



He e-mails fellow paddlers photos of his finds — wild azaleas, forgotten bridges — 

 with invitations to join the next outing. Eddy's vintage red pickup stays armed with canoes, 

 kayaks, trash bags and signs imploring "Please Don't Litter," his constant plea. He wants to 

 make a no-litter pledge a driver's license requirement. 



Retired from the insurance business, Eddy and his wife, Florence, moved to Swansboro 

 three years ago from Raleigh, where he had spent many discouraging days picking debris 

 from the lengthy, littered Neuse. The smaller White Oak presented an achievable challenge. 



"It begins and ends right here," he says. "So we've got pretty good control over it." 



Eddy was proud to pronounce the river clean. Then, disappointment followed. 



"I thought that if we got the White Oak River cleaned up, it would be a shining example 

 that it can be done, and it would be transferred to other rivers," he says. "But everybody 

 ignores trash." 



Nobody who meets Eddy can ever again ignore trash, some contend. 



"He changes attitudes," says Sally Steele, who lives on a White Oak creek, and helps 

 coordinate the annual Big Sweep locally. "He makes you stop and pay attention." Thanks 

 to Eddy and his volunteers, the river returned little litter during the latest Big Sweep. 



Eddy's energy leaves many half his age in awe. "He runs me into the dirt most days 

 when we paddle together," says Pam Bader of Emerald Isle. Eddy's commitment and 

 personable manner motivated her — and many others — to join the crusade. 



"He inspires and leads by example, and that is a wonderful gift. He makes me want to 

 be a better person and gives me hope that all is not lost. People do still care, and people are 

 trying to make a difference," she says. "We need a couple of million with that zeal." 



Jamie Cameron of Swansboro paddled many miles with Eddy, following the cleanup 

 campaign for the Tideland News. "This was a great effort born from an idea that Elmer had 

 when he first floated the river," Cameron says. "He's so passionate about what he does. 

 Now that he's finished this river, he's branched out. He can't stop." 



Eddy is now leading the charge to clean the New River. When people warn him the 

 New is much messier than the White Oak was, Eddy grins. "We can do it," he says. "We're 

 going to do it." 



Interested in cleaning up a waterway near you? Contact North Carolina Big Sweep at 800/ 

 27-SWEEP or go online to www.ncbigsweep.org. — J.A.P. 



COASTWATCH 15 



