Clean River

I recently had the opportunity to kayak down the Sipsey Fork with three other educators. Two of our party had never been on the river in that way before. In a very short order we left the noise and stress of the present day behind us.

The river was high. The water was COLD. Poplars and sycamores and water oaks hung over the banks soothing us with multiple shades of green. The smell of honeysuckle was strong. One of my friends said, “It’s so clean.” She was so surprised. It was a great day, and I said goodbye to the group feeling completely satisfied with the experience.

That afternoon, I went to a particular spot on the Mulberry Fork a couple of miles upstream from where it joins with the Sipsey. My sister was with me. While I gathered what I needed, she watched the water. “It’s so weird,” she said.

“What?” I asked.

“There’s nothing moving in the water. There’s nothing IN the water.”

I reflected back to a couple of years ago when my daughters, my nephew, and I paddled up the Mulberry Fork. The water was noisy with fish jumping, birds calling, and turtles splashing. A family of wood ducks followed us the entire way. Occasionally something unknown would glide beside the boat. We passed a place where the trees on the opposite banks hung over the river and touched each other. Once we passed there, we were silent.

I want that back.

This past week the State of Alabama announced that it would sue Tyson Foods. It is a positive move in the midst of this great loss. We should never have to be surprised when a river is clean. We should expect it, and if needs be, we should demand it.