I was not sure if people were going to show up on a cool, windy morning that day after Halloween to pick up trash, and yet they still came! On Saturday, November 1st, 23 community members came together to help clean up Decker Lake in West Valley City, a town a short drive from downtown Salt Lake City, Utah.
The idea to do a clean up at Decker Lake came after I attended a clean up at a public library here in Salt Lake City coordinated by the Jordan River Commission. After that, I pitched to them to have a clean up at Decker Lake and they were all on board with no questions asked. The Jordan River flows from Utah Lake to the Great Salt Lake and is connected to Decker Lake just to the west. It is truly amazing to have such supportive and engaged organizations that make making a difference that much easier.
This is a special place to me as it is one of my favorite birding spots in the area as popular freshwater habitat for many resident and migratory species throughout the year. Did I mention it is also free to visit? I say that as it is not true of all birding spots in the area. One of the most prominent freshwater birding spots in Salt Lake County is the Lee Kay Ponds, a hotspot that has see 230 species recorded there, according to eBird! Due to a law passed earlier this year (H.B. 309 Wildlife Amendments), requires anyone 18 years old or older to have a valid Utah hunting, fishing or combination license to access wildlife and waterfowl management areas, which includes Lee Kay Wildlife Management Area. I find it infuriating for birders and photographers to have to pay the $40 for a license to do nothing but WATCH birds.
This was the first time that the Jordan River Commission had ever done a clean up at Decker Lake, and it was clear that no one else had done a clean up here either in a very long time. Trash littered the bank and large items could be seen stuck in the mud far out into the lake like bicycles, shopping carts, and more. We had our work cut out for us, but we persevered!
Some major highlights from the day included the number of people who had never been to Decker Lake before. I first found out about through eBird, and I hope that some of the attendees add this park to their rotation of green spaces to visit. It is also clear that people fish at this lake due to the chairs, loose fishing line, and other equipment that was found strewn across the shore. I hope soon they install monofillament recycling tubes nearby so that it does not end up in the enviroment.
I saw a clear example of this several months ago when I noticed a duck struggling to walk and swim near the shore. What I witnessed next still remains such a clear memory in my mind. That duck had fishing line wrapped around it’s leg, and that fishing line was still connected to a kid’s size fishing rod. I could not capture the bird myself, but I contact my local wildlife rescue organization and they worked to send a volunteer to investigate. I never found out the resultion to that situation, but I hope that it was a happy ending.
Following the clean-up, I led a guided bird walk around the lake to see what we could find and admire the work we had done. With it being the middle of day at this point, and towards the end of fall migration, there was not a huge diversity of species. That being said, a small flock of Gadwalls was a nice surprise. You can see the full list on the eBird checklist here.
I look forward to organizing another clean up in the spring because we only scratched the surface of trash there. Being sandwiched between a highway and a railroad, this place will be an uphill fight to keep clean. As a place used for recreation, relaxation, and reprieve, I know the work we did benefitted both the people to visit it and the wildlife that call it home.
See you on the next adventure!
Will Freund 
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