Approximately 40 members of the Victoria Canoe and Kayak Club pulled in a heap of random trash thrown into the Gorge Waterway on April 23.
It was the 19th year the paddling group held its intensive Gorge Waterway cleanup. The group focuses on the shorelines of the Gorge Waterway from the west side of the Gorge Bridge (Tillicum Road) to Portage Inlet and the mouth of the Colquitz River.
“Over the years we have found things like bicycles, barbecues, bottles and also needles and condoms under the Admirals Bridge,” said Wendy Clapp.
“There also were several pieces of foam dock parts that had come off the docks [presumedly due] to the bad weather of the winter,” added the longtime member of the group.
This year’s oddities included a children’s plastic wading pool, an automobile alternator and a lot of metal pipes.
Old automobile tires are a common find, however, they often quickly become “part of the environment,” meaning they host marine life, such as barnacles.
“In that case we don’t take them out,” Clapp added.
Assisting in the cleanup is Sooke Disposal’s loan of a trash bin, which is usually filled up.
The club is approaching its 50th anniversary, and is housed at 355 Gorge Rd. W.