Indiana Dunes beaches have been closed for four days in a row because of high E. coli levels. See http://www.post-trib.com/cgi-bin/pto-story/news/z1/07-02-02_z1_news_4.html. What do you think about paddling in it? You have to get a little wet putting in and you always get a few splashes in the mouth and eyes from waves and the paddle. It is so hot I would be really disappointed by not being able to take a dunk in the lake to cool off so I am staying away for now. -Bob Matter Hammond, Indiana *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
From: "Robert J. Matter" <rjmatter_at_prodigy.net> > Indiana Dunes beaches have been closed for four days in a row because of high > E. coli levels. [...] What do you think about paddling in it? E. coli levels are high in lots of urban paddling areas on a regular basis in the summer (and nowadays in the spring and fall occasionally). In some crowded cottage areas, e.coli levels can get high as well. The problem is run-off in urban areas and poor or non-existant septic systems in cottage areas compounded by high water temperatures that promote E.coli growth. I take a few precautions but don't let it stop me from paddling. Don't worry about getting most of your body wet - as long as you don't ingest the water you'll be ok. I make sure that my water bottle is kept clean and won't use a Camelback-type mouthpiece. If I stop for lunch or a snack and I can't wash my hands (often) I keep the wrapping between my hands and the food. For example, I might eat a sandwich by leaving it inside a (reusable) zip closure bag and just peeling back enough of the bag to get to the food. Dunking for cooling is not an issue if you don't go all the way over. A sculling brace suffices. You can tolerate the occasional splash on the face, since your body is able to fend off infections if the exposure is small enough. Don't forget, the difference between open and closed for many beaches these days is a small percentage in E.coli levels! Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> Indiana Dunes beaches have been closed for four days in a row because of high > E. coli levels. > > What do you think about paddling in it? > Sea Kayaking Iowa may appear an oxymoron much akin to Utah Jazz & Vacation Bible School. Still, the state does support a fledgling number of non-wreck boat paddlers. And we also have a serious problem with surface water contamination...mostly due to agricultural run-off. Our lakes and reservoirs collect the pesticide, herbicide, and chemical input fertilizers/soil conditioners. They also act as trap basins for Factory Farm spills & seeps, which means e coli from hog manure slurry (or cattle, or chickens, or turkeys). The uglier truth is that most states cannot afford, or do not choose to conduct adequate testing of 'public' waters and that changes in large-scale agriculture alter the patterns in which dangerous levels of these sort of pollutants become known. Recreational boating is experiencing a strong growth curve, and our little niche is one of the most rapidly expanding areas of outdoor recreation. In line with inculcating the values of Leave No Trace practices by kayakers, we may have the opportunity to convey a larger sense of personal/public investment in the condition of our waters...and perhaps help each other make significant connections to the causes of their damage and decline. Either that or we don EPA Moon Suits to practice our rolls and take decontamination showers at every take-out.... -Will *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Mike, Excellent advice, but I don't understand the comment about the Camelback-type mouthpiece. How does it get dirtier than a water bottle? I usually keep mine clipped to my PFD, but if the water was contaminated, it could easily be tucked inside the PFD or in a pocket. Am I missing something? Steve Holtzman ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Daly" <michaeldaly_at_rogers.com> > I make sure that my water bottle is kept clean > and won't use a Camelback-type mouthpiece. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
From: "Steve Holtzman" <sh_at_actglobal.net> > I don't understand the comment about the Camelback-type mouthpiece. > How does it get dirtier than a water bottle? The water bottle can be kept in the cockpit or a hatch, but a lot of folks I know keep the Camelback-type mouthpiece in the open where it can be easily contaminated by splashes of water. I prefer to avoid that. If I take mine (actually a Platypus brand) I keep it in a hatch and don't use it the way others do. I've taken to using Nalgene bottles instead. Having the valve in the open is too much risk to me. I suppose you could use a cover for the bite-valve to avoid that - the now have those, but I've no experience with them. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Driving out the Apostles this last week, NPR had an interesting piece on the closing of Wisconsin Beaches due to e-coli. One of the questions was: "Why are there so many more beach closings now than 30 years ago before we had spent so much money cleaning up the water?" The answer - "30 years ago we didn't test for it." He also reported that a significant portion of the e-coli was from birds. They have had several e-coli beach closings this summer when there had been no known sewage releases. In many cases public health warnings are to protect the most frail, and ward off law suits. It is worthwhile to dig a little deeper into why the beach closings. Was there an actual sewage release in the immediate area? If not the risk probably is not that much higher than everyday paddling for people with normal immune systems. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert J. Matter" <rjmatter_at_prodigy.net> To: "Paddlewise" <paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net> Sent: Tuesday, July 02, 2002 9:20 PM Subject: [Paddlewise] E. coli: do you paddle in it? > Indiana Dunes beaches have been closed for four days in a row because of high E. coli levels. See > http://www.post-trib.com/cgi-bin/pto-story/news/z1/07-02-02_z1_news_4.html. What do you think about paddling in it? *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
(Moderator's Note: Content unaltered. Excessive quoting (i.e. headers/footers/sig lines/comments from previous posts, etc.) have been removed. Please edit quoted material and list footers when replying to posts.) In the Chicago area, I believe that after a very heavy rain, the storm sewers overflow and go into the Chicago River....at that point, the locks may be opened to "relieve the pressure". You know what relieving the pressure does to you. QED don't swim around he windy city after a BIG DOWNPOUR. tONY *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I believe for the past 100 + years the Chicago River has flowed out of Lake Michigan sending the city's sewage downstate. Writing from downstate, please keep it. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tony Reynes" <tony_at_tesar-reynes.com> To: "WhiteRabbit" <whiterabbit_at_empowering.com>; "Paddlewise" <paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net> Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2002 9:15 PM Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] E. coli: do you paddle in it? > In the Chicago area, I believe that after a very heavy rain, the storm > sewers overflow and go into the Chicago River....at that point, the locks > may be opened to "relieve the pressure". *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Key West recently had beach closings. Bird waste is part of the problem. Mostly from all the wild chickens running around. The other part may be from dirty Gulf water contaminated from human waste. Professional fishermen are getting very nasty infections in any open cuts on their hands/feet and cellulites (spelling?) elsewhere. Jim et al ----- Original Message ----- From: "WhiteRabbit" <whiterabbit_at_empowering.com> He also reported that a significant portion of the > e-coli was from birds. They have had several e-coli beach closings this > summer when there had been no known sewage releases. > > In many cases public health warnings are to protect the most frail, and ward > off law suits. It is worthwhile to dig a little deeper into why the beach > closings. Was there an actual sewage release in the immediate area? If > not the risk probably is not that much higher than everyday paddling for > people with normal immune systems. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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