Day 8 - The Sewerage Debacle

We took Sacramento by storm yesterday, putting in at the Virgin Sturgeon bar and continuing south to Clarksburg.  As we wove our way from riverbank to riverbank, assessing the shoreline and myriad intake and outfall pipes, piers and waterfront scenery, we stumbled upon a massive concrete slab starting at the top of the levee and running into the water.  Two parallel pipes nearly 40 feet in length with several small outfall ports run across the top.  Below these pipes, the entire concrete face of the levee - nearly 40 feet to the water - is covered in a thick crusted brown and rust colored substance.  There were no signes indicating the content of the pipes and their effluent, they are just there without warning other than "Caution - Stay Off".  Whatever is coming out of those pipes isn't good for the marine life up and downstream or as a supplement to our drinking water supply, given the amount of corrosion on the concrete face of the levee wall (the river water is so turbid and filled with algae that one cannot see more than a few inches below the surface).

Continuing downstream under the Freeport Bridge, we couldn't help but notice the overwhelming smell of sewerage and detergents lingering on the river like a fog over a lake in the early morning hours.  As we continued to paddle and wonder at the source, we heard a rush of water about 3/4 of a mile downstream and came upon a large - perhaps 36 inch diameter - outfall pipe that stank of sewerage.  The end of the pipe has a cast iron hood over the end of it, which was pulsating riverward from the pressure of water behind it.  The water spewing forth into our riverine highway and major drinking water source is full of thick, robust chunks of algae and other growth - a sure sign of the high "nutrient" content often associated with sewerage.  Such practice of dumping sewerage into our rivers, lakes and oceans has been the standard for "wastewater disposal" throughout much of human history (save for some more forward thinking groups and societies).  The Environmental Protection Agency regulates sewerage discharge as such.  Perhaps time for a more proactive use of this water - not as waste but as a source (a practice utilized by many of the more progressive wastewater agencies throughout the world - we'll continue that conversation over a relaxing and tasty pint of Alaskan Brewing Company's Smoked Porter).

The paddle was slow and boring.  As we found out from Harbormaster James in Clarksburg, we are technically in the Delta now, and as such the river (and our humble vessel and aching backs) are subject to the changing tides of the ocean - nearly 200 nautical miles from the ocean!  The incoming tide travels approxmiately 1 1/2 knots upstream, fast enough to counteract the downstream flow.  This amounts to paddling across a still body of water - no more current to carry us south.

We have about 40 miles to go until we hit the Delta - nearly 260 miles behind us.  Today is our press conference, so we're off to Discovery Park.  Tilt back a fresh cup of coffee (not too fast, lest your lips scald like a canoe-paddlin' man's after a week and a half in the sun), and email your local Assembly Member and demand they hold water polluters accountable so your coffee can continue to taste like coffee.

A toute suite,

Jared