Community Creek Cleaning Project

8/10/2019 Community Creek Cleaning Project

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RoundoutCreekCleaning and Restoration Project -An Attempt toremove the waste deposited here from years past and to help rebuild thebanks where needed. Filter water while ultimately providing a friendlier

environment for fish and other wildlife.

This will be a Community Based Project. Local people pitching in to help

solve Local Problems. This project will help restore our Local Waterways.


2/29

Where we are at Now!

We have a raft and many

other smaller crafts.

We know how to use the raft. A few tow behinds used

in marking objects.

Clean up day. A leftover traveler from clean

up day.

This is me.

Original crew. Weve navigated

About 10 miles of Creek.

Using Google Earth weve

given locations Names.

And this is why I am doing

it. My favorite Crew!


3/29

Why are we looking to clean and

reconstruct our waterways ?

During a recent creek cleaning event held by the Town of Rochester ECC weremoved so many tires and other debris in such a short stretch that we filled up

all our boats then had to float over hundreds of tires and other debris to get to

an exit point on creek. The reality is our waterways could use some help. Not

to mention all the banks that have been eroded away and in some places

undercut so severely leaving trees dangling in the air. I alone lost 24 of land

and the tree I used for the measurement. Bank reconstruction will help trees

stay on the banks and other areas from eroding any farther.

Where do we start?First we need to find someone who has land bordering a stream or other

waterway and is open to new Ideas. I have land on the Rondout Creek and Im

all about new ideas. I just dug path down to creek after 10 years of living here.

Boy we sure missed out, it is beautiful down at the water. Since my banks at

the creek are almost 14 higher then the current water level I will then use as

much of my land as is needed to start rebuilding the banks. Until the

mechanisms, that still need to be built, can remove the sediment from the

creeks floor, that will then be reused to rebuild the banks, we can use these

filtration mats. The water on downstream side of filter was clear all summer.


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How will this benefit the Community?A year or so ago our Town representatives stated that there was a need to look

for assistance from both the federal and state levels to help clean up our

waterways after they had been affected by recent hurricanes & floods. Whenpeople within a community take care of issues like this it is one less taxing

burden that our government doesnt have to worry about. Plus the cleaner

streams will offer more recreational opportunities and a healthier fish

population that local people can eat. With a detailed approach when the

stream is done we will have areas that can be flooded all along the length of

the waterway which will help prevent major flooding downstream and keep

more roads open during storms.

New York State has over 6,000 linear miles of waterways

and they are all said to be impaired due to human

action. What if communities managed their waterways?


5/29

General Overview of what needs to be done before the

actual cleaning starts.

1) First I need to dig a access down to the stream. As I have mentioned Icurrently have a walkway down to the creek. Now I need to make it bigger

and shore it up so erosion is kept to a minimum.

1) Trees located in creek by access need to be removed and placed off to

the side.

2) With trees out of the way I will widen current path to one that is

sufficient to drive a truck and trailer down to water.

3) Once at waters edge I will make a landing area for our boats. I have

2+ acres down by creek that has completely been overgrown. Instead

of mowing it I will dig up the top 6 of soil along with the roots and

plant as well. This mixture of grass, pricker bushes and small shrubs

plus the soil around its roots will hold up well when used as fill to help

rebuild the banks. Once mechanisms are built we will bury the fill

with sand and rock from waterway.

4) Purchasing 6 - 12 of the galvanized mesh baskets (4 wide x 4 wide x

3 tall, used in building retaining walls that will be set in the water

and on the creeks floor and then filled will the mix from above.

Another option would be to use Driveway fabric to line the inside andfill with sand.

5) When the road is done I will then have access to trailer boats down

and then a dock to tie off boats.

6) Next step will be building mechanisms needed to power equipment

down at waters edge.


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Current Site Conditions:

- There is approximately 270 ft of property bordering creek.

- The difference in elevation between water and property is 10 -14.- The are at least a dozen large trees that have fallen near property.


7/29

What it will look like after excavation.

- The ground needed to be removed to make an adequate ramp leading to boat

landing/launch will be used to build docking area for boats and be thebeginning to the Reclamation Ponds.


8/29

What my property might look like a year from now.

- Using the land reclaimed to rebuild the banks and a retention pond that will

stay in use and be maintained by my family.

- The material taken from Creek will also be used to rebuild banks and create a

useable walkway along waters edge.


9/29

While working on Creek where will the power come from?

- In the picture I repurposed an old farm tractor. Just using the frame,

transmission and drive train. Using the moving water to spin the wheels we

can create a mobile generating plant. Water in the stream can be diverted

into path of water wheels providing power to spin a metal cylinder that sits

buoyant in the water. Using the transmission to get a cylinder spinning at XX

rpm we will then be able to draw power off cylinder to power water vacuum.

- Transmission and power train can be taken from a car, truck or anything that

has a standard transmission.

- Farmers might have a few tractors laying around and family members with

both talent and drive to participate. When done farmers will have a pumping

system/generator to provide the farm & fields with both water and power.


10/29

What creek erosion looks like.

- Year after year we are experiencing flooding. And after each event you see

the town trucks out fixing and repairing the roadways. How much time,

energy and natural resources have been spent on maintaining the local

roadways and infrastructure?

- Now think about this. How much time and effort has been spent on

maintaining our waterways which will ultimately prevent flooding in future.

What I mean by rebuilding the banks of the creek.

- There will be many methods of rebuilding and each community will have their

own designs that will work with the Geographic Specific Conditions they have.


11/29

Creek Restoration Project in motion.

- Areas in brown are existing lands, the ares in yellow will be the banks that

have been rebuilt.

- Portable Power Generating system is in the middle of stream. Notice howstones, tires and sand can be used to build temporary water deflecting walls.

These will put faster moving water in the path of the spinning water wheels.

- Retention ponds and fish hatcheries will also be built along shore and water

filtration for generations to come.


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Retention Ponds

- Tube facing upstream can be opened or closed.

- Catch Basin #1- CB1 will be where discharge hose from the water vacuum

goes. This water will be very cloudy and saturated with heavy sediment thatwill settle in basket that can be raised and dumped into waiting wheel barrel

where a community member will walk it to where it is needed.

- CB2 - With water being added in CB 1 the water that is forced out will have to

go up and over divider. The lighter sediment still in water will get a second

chance to settle out in this area.

- CB3 - This area the water will start looking a little clearer and now will have

to go thru a removable filter to catch the finest particles.

- CB4 - Attempting to put Oxygen into water place removable plants in this last

bay. Smaller fish might find refuse in this area by using downstream pipe.

*Power obtained from generators at knight will either be stored in some form

of potential energy that can be used the next day or converted into electricity.

* Building tents over catch basins to capture Methane Gas that is released.

* Constantly pumping water from CB4 into a fish tank with a dozen small fish in

it. If toxic chemicals are disturbed and these fish die cleaning will stop.


13/29

Looking at smaller stream projects.

- Many of our smaller streams have become impaired from past storms. Starting

with these will help reduce flooding downstream.

- From these smaller streams we can find areas that we can intensionally flood.

These can just be low lying fields that can be allow the water to slowly be

absorbed into the water table.

- These smaller streams may become cleaner sooner than the lager streams

depending on wether or not it had a good source of drinkable water. Here will

be a great place to start Ice Production. Making wooden boxes made from

recycled wood or wood milled within your community. Box dimensions will beslightly larger than the finished block of ice. 4 wide x 4 high by 8 long. After

clean water is frozen disassemble wooden box and ship to saw mill for cutting

into uniform dimension for storage within community for summer months.

These blocks could be covered with bales of hay for insulation keeping them

frozen until they are needed in the summer months.


14/29

Mechanical Sedimentary Separator

- Call it what you want and I am sure each person will add their own touch to it

& this is one design to help capture and filter water in areas being disturbed/

cleaned.Once you have a section cleared by hand you can now build a device

to separate heavier stones from the lighter muddy water. Now you need a

Sifting Table for throwing silted stones up on to clean using a simple brush. You

can also set it up in front of the muddy banks you are excavating while

reshaping the waterway. After the rocks have been cleaned they will be

brought down stream where they will be used in the construction of the new

river bed. The actual unit that will be placed in the water should be solid steel

construction. In front or up stream from the Opening the will be a hinged doorthat in the up position it could be used as a filter or laying down you will

collect the small aggregate to hold it down and prevent it from going down

stream. At the other end just before the discharge pipe the may be a

Corkscrew Pump to propel the slurry out. After the settling ponds have done

there job the clear water can be put back into the stream and the sediment

can be reused to rebuild banks.


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16/29

A Self Sustaining Structure in a Dream Location

- After all the Hard Workthat has gone into cleaning the waterways the need to

maintain what has been reclaimed will be essential. Having a structure to live

down by the water will make this task easier to accomplish.First you hand dug

a new river bed and then lined it with cleaned stones and boulders. During thisprocess you have also managed to put to the side stones of certain sizes and

shapes to help use in building a Self Sustaining Structure on the waterway. The

structures exterior could be Straw bales with stucco and laid stone all the way

up to roof on the outside and a Thermal Mass construction inside. On the

interior and up against the straw bales you will lay a stone wall, with radiant

tubing inside, and use a natural clay found in the area as a mortar. When it

dries, the stucco on the bales of hay and the stone wall on the interior, you will

end up with a well insulated structure directly connected with the stone wall

that gives it its strength. On top of the fire there will be a heat exchanger to

heat water that will be circulated throughout the structure. A layer of sand

under the Oven to avoid spikes in temperature.


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Project #1 - Just downstream from the deer crossing.In this picture all the yellow will represent reclaimed land. Portable wood

mills can be set up along shores where wood is piled up.

- On the inside corner there is a brownish area with two white rectangles. This

area is one of many Methane Fields. The two structure are white tents that

are either permanent or designed to move to other fields. The methane would

be collected from the tops of the tents and used in the round Earth Barrier

Structure just below it. This structure has 7 living quarters that are buried in

clean, not reclaimed soil. Those living here will maintain this stretch of

waterway.

- The one round circle out in the water could be a repurposed steel cylinder/

tank. Cut out openings and install plexi glass windows so the underwater fish

life can be observed.- Off to one side is a gate that can be used in controlling water level and be

used in providing a shipping channel allowing transportation in waterway.

- The 2 round structures in new area are fish feeders/hatcheries.

- The leading edge is described in more detail in next drawing.


18/29

Land Reconstruction doubles as water filtration.

- Each project will have many different variables. How high the water was

and how high it might be maintained at in the future.

- This area of the creek is just over 200 wide and 75% is only 8 deep. This is atype of condition in which you see all up and don the creek. This has an

impact on water temperature and lower fish population.

- Future depth would be two feet or greater. As in the previous drawing the

center of this structure is a channel that will be maintained by those living

there. Some times the channel would be 1 foot deep of fast moving water or

2-3 deep of slower moving water. Just add stones or remove them.

- Under construction bring in clean sand where you can. Using large stones

found in creek or limestone from local quarry stack up in area prepped. On

upstream side of structure fill with clean sand and charcoal from hardwoods.

Add a filtration mat made from straw, hey or other grasses or weeds that can

be removed and composted twice a year.

- Even though 2/3 is damed up there will always keep an open channel for fish

and other wildlife. Each of these structures will filter 1000s of gallons/day.


19/29

How to remove the creek bed one foot at a time.

- I offering one concept and Im sure every community will put there own twist

on this one. Here not in the picture is a platform with a wind mill on it

providing this mechanism with mechanical power.

- This unit has tracks like you would see on a skid steer or excavator.

- A floating spinning object on top acts as its stored energy, kinetic energy.

- A vacuum mechanism designed to lift aggregate thats been disturbed from

hydraulic driven agitators found on the front.

- Material removed from the creek bed will be placed in a barge set up as a

filtration plant. This barge can be floated to where needed.-


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Removing bottom layer in large sections

- The rebuilding of our waterways will be an ongoing task. Once community has

built their version that works for them then they could mass produce a dozen

or two. Each community would have a crew that keeps these units moving.

Cleaning and maintaining all the waterways will be done all year long.

- Initial material removed can be used to rebuild one side of the banks. The

erosion is so bad the majority of the trees along the waters edge have half oftheir roots exposed, broken off or completely missing. Once one side is

complete then do the other.

- Power these excavators could be a combination of wind mills, water wheels,

human energy and creative thinking.


21/29

Creek Architecture

- When rebuilding waterway the sky is the limit. Here these 6 little areas can

offer the stream and the fish in the stream many things.- These could be dug deep and have stones placed in for structures for

fish to hang out in.

- These areas could have wooden doors that can be opened or closed.

- When door is closed the environment on the other side can flourish.

Frogs, insects of all kinds and minnows can be raised for feeding fish in

stream.


22/29

Human/Wind Generators

- Count how many objects are being repurposed in the following drawing.


23/29

Human/Wind Powered Generating System

-Starting with repurposing an old silo that sits alongside an old large barn.

-Structures appears to sound attach 8 steel I beams to the interior of structure

-Starting at the top, Build or but a wind will of this style and how to incorporate thisinto the cap of the silo.

-The wind turbine is then connected to a repurposed cars drive shaft. Experiment byusing differentials with different gear ratios.

-The braking mechanisms is already in place so if high dangerous winds come just setthe parking brake.

-Energy from wind mill will constantly be turned into Potential Energy - energy storedin an object. In this case there could be 4 - 6 hanging masses. Approximate size - 50

gallon barrel. Mass generated from being filled with concrete. Approximate weight840# + tank so around 1,000#s of mass.

-Object - this system works like a grandfather clock. Weights are always lifted and thebyproduct is spinning a heavy mass.

-From here add in a manual transmission and work out what speeds can be reachedspinning the scrapped fuel tank. Fill tank to a level where still buoyant. Connect thistank to load end of transmission.

-Human energy will come from exercises done by the community. The owner has alarge supply of older bicycles that could be used to make an energy transfer device.Human energy will used mechanical device to lift weights. Student could be in split upinto groups. Each group will then have opportunity to attach their device to main setup and see how it works.


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Where can we start? Right here in my backyard.- Its not my best drawing but try and imagine removing the top 5 to 10 off 2

acres of land by the creek. This material will be used in adding a 20+ wide

new shore line that sits 5 higher than summers average.

- As materials is removed structures can be built. This group of Earth Barrier

Structures will be the first of its kind. They will lay the ground work for

showing how community based architecture will help all people live a happier

and sustainable future.

- The structures built are designed to last hundreds of years.


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- Now we have the benefits of garbage relief, food harvesting, wood retrieval,

wood harvesting, wood milling, free bank reinforcement material, a use for

the thousands of tires in the creek, a plan for the scrap metal taken from

creek and the methane gas as well whats next?

- Leaves that end up in reclamation ponds can either be used in the bankrebuilding effort or in a composting plant that can be located next to every

reclamation pond. Compost material can be used along the banks in the

process of replanting vegetation. Trees and shrubs of all kinds can be planted

to provide bank stabilization. Experimenting with many types of plants like

wild berries of all kinds to other fruit that would survive in such a wet

environment. Either way fruits and vegetable of many kinds will be available

and will also help make communities become more self-sustaining by having

food source like these.

- During the reclamation process I will be attempting to retrieve the heavy

metals that might lie in the material that makes up the floor of the creek. If

you collect enough mercury you end up with a very heavy liquid that I can use

as a form of potential energy and/or kinetic energy in Energy Retention

designs that will be shared with A&E everywhere.

- Rock and other aggregate removed to make a channel or during cleaning and

restoration projects can be made available for other local structural building

projects and for the building and maintenance of local infrastructure.

Something to think about! How many waterways do we have right here in the

town of Rochester? How many linear miles are there? Think about how many

opportunities there would be for all the Towns People. Instead of people sitting

around complaining about whats going on in the world here is a chance for

individuals to find a purpose where they can fit in and help build a community

where they can call Home! Is this crazy? What could hurt if we just tried?


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What type of equipment am I looking for?- Boats of all sizes and shapes. Flat bottom boats to pontoon boats.

- Farm equipment - old tractors, trucks, old farm equipment that can be

scraped for parts.

- Portable Wood Mills that can one day be powered from the water generating

plants thru a direct drive train.

- Tanks made out of metal and other material that will hold up in water.

- Culvert pipes and galvanized mesh baskets, driveway fabric...

What talent do I hope to find living locally?- Individuals with landscape nursery experience to help replant along new

shores and to find which plant life works best to put oxygen back into water.

For every tree taken down if possible clone 2-3 dozen of its branches and

make into new saplings that can be replanted along shore.

- Those with a chemistry background to help set up testing protocol. Testing for

heavy metals, toxins or anything else that could cause harm if disturbed.

- Those willing to express their mechanical ingenuity using the principles of

Energy Retention to convert power from creek into both mechanical power

and possibly electrical power.

- Fisherman and those with a background and understanding of our waterways

to help design and rebuild areas where needed. Fisherman can than share thedeep spots, areas where you made a cave out of rocks and other underwater

formations made from material found in creek with their children who can

pass the knowledge down to the next generations as well.

- Individuals with the knowledge of how a fish hatchery works.

- Local towns people looking for a free form of exercise. Having a place where

they can go and first stretch to help prevent pulling a muscle. Once they have

warmed up they will then grab a shovel and wheel barrel and go to work.

Using my land to start, remove one wheel barrel at a time and then dump

along stream bed to create a walkway and rebuild shore at same time. If a

couple moves 5 wheel barrels every other day this exercise program will

produce positive results and their community will benefit as well.


28/29

Does this look familiar?

Waterways littered with

debris.

White wall tires went out of

style in the 70s.

A really old motorcycle tire.

Slightly used tire. Anyone missing a car seat? The remains of a old Clorox

Bottle.

Leftover debris clogging stream If you cant read it this one says

GoodYear

Erosion from Flooding


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The Only way for our waterways to get better will be whenCommunities come together and form a cleaning and restoration plan to

address the Local Issues on how their waterways will be incorporated in

the Communities future plans. Taking advantage of what can be

accomplished by using our waterways in a more environmentally friendly

way will benefit future generations in many ways.

If you fit into any of the following categories then contact me and Ill see

how I can help you or your group.

- If you have land bordering any of our local waterways and think these

ideas sound interesting.

- If you are sitting around unemployed, never made it into the work

force, in high school and wonder what opportunities are out there,

retired or for any other reason and want to get involved in Local/

Community Based Projects that will contribute to bringing your

community to living a more sustainable future.

- If you have any of the talents we are looking for both full time and part

time help would be welcomed. Those who have a talent or are

knowledgable in certain areas and are employed can help train locals to

perform certain tasks at night or on the weekends.- If you are a farmer with land that borders our waterways and a area

with old tractors and farming equipment that can be used for parts in

building some of these mechanisms.

Contact Info: [email protected], cell 845-453-2161.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

Community Creek Cleaning Project

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