[Paddlewise] Pollution

Peter O wrote;

>One of the reasons I prefer sea kayaking to river kayaking is that rivers
>here are just too degraded. In Australia as in much of the rest of the 
>world
>our ground water is becoming brackish and many of our rivers are
>contaminated. For example, not that its that important, but the Hawkebury
>Classic 114km kayak race was nearly cancelled this year because of blue
>green algae blooms. Interesting to note you can use brackish water and blue
>green algae to make biodiesel very effectively. Wouldn't want to practice
>rolling in or drinking from a stream containing such algae though,
>apparently it can be quite toxic.

Reminds me of my youth. I used to do a lot of sailboat racing. Each December 
I sailed in a "frostbite regatta" on the Potomac River iat Washingtom DC. As 
we sailed raw sewage would float past us. A strong incentive not to capsize. 
Once a competitor capsized in it. When they got ashore his wifewent home and 
never sailed again.  This was in the late 1950's. I have heard that clean-up 
efforts have helped and that people can actually swim in parts of the river.

Cheers

John Winters 
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