SACRAMENTO, Calif. - At first, it looked like every other one. Dark. Slimy. It was surrounded by hundreds of little brothers and sisters under the cool, clear water. But then, unlike its siblings, it did something totally unexpected - it brightly reflected the sun.
"Can!" someone yelled. It was a can - a beer can to be more specific - in the water. Surrounded by rocks and covered in algae, it resembled every other rock in the American River that day. But that day, several dozens of people were out on the American with one thing in mind: river clean-up.
Joining the dozens of people were senior district park ranger Jonathan Friedman and geologist Coralie Wilhite, both with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District.
Friedman and Wilhite, along with local residents and other local agencies, participated in cleaning up the South Fork of the American River July 22. Hosted by El Dorado County River Recreation, the river clean-up event focused on a 14-mile stretch of the river from Henningsen Lotus Park to Salmon Falls in Folsom Lake.
Friedman, Wilhite and the volunteers loaded up into rafts and worked their way down the river, stopping to collect any and all trash along the way.
"It was great to get out," said Friedman, "help some partners, clean-up the river, have a good day - introduce people to the Corps."
"It seemed like a nice day to spend outdoors and clean up the environment," Wilhite said.
Cans, bottles, hats, lawn chairs and even a half-buried boat were discovered and picked up by the volunteers during the seven-hour event. Even temperatures in the 90s couldn't keep the volunteers' motivation from evaporating. All desired to do their share in helping the environment - as well as have bragging rights at the end of the day.
"I enjoyed a little bit of the competition aspect," Friedman said. "Who was going to come out of there with the most trash; the biggest piece of trash or the weirdest piece of trash'"
"We did pretty good," Wilhite said of the amount of trash she and Friedman collected.
The voyage down the river had its added plus for both Friedman and Wilhite.
"The rapids of course," both of them said smiling.
"Being able to go through some of those class-III rapids," Friedman said, was one of the best parts of the day for him.
"It's always a pleasure doing that," said Wilhite. "There's always a slight fear of falling out of the boat...but I've done it (rapids) before. It definitely adds to the thrill of it."
It's an experience she's already shared with co-workers, and hopes to repeat again soon.
At the end of the day, both of them not only enjoyed the time on the river, but the added value of helping the environment and representing the Sacramento District.
"It strengthens our relationships with our partners and stakeholders," Friedman said of the experience. "It seemed like a perfect opportunity to combine several [job types] from the Sacramento District and get them out there...and make that personal relationship with the general public."
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