Walk a monthly litter count along First Creek's public paths in east Tacoma (2026-07-18)

First Creek drains east Tacoma's neighborhoods into the Puyallup River, and its banks collect a steady load of litter and dumped bags between cleanups. Without a count, nobody knows which stretches load fastest or whether cleanups are gaining ground. A monthly transect walk turns that into data. Standard: Clean Water Act municipal stormwater program (Tacoma) + Puyallup watershed recovery; SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). Proof: segment photo series plus the completed transect count sheet Method (Clean Water Act municipal stormwater program (Tacoma) + Puyallup watershed recovery; SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).): 1. Walk the same fixed 400-meter public-path transect along First Creek each month. 2. Count and categorize visible litter items (bags, bottles, bulky items) by 50-meter segment without entering the water or steep banks. 3. Note any new dumping piles and their locations for the removal crew. 4. Enter counts into one running transect sheet. 5. Photograph each segment and any dump piles, GPS-tagged and dated. Done when: segment photo series plus the completed transect count sheet

Where

First Creek public path near E 44th St, Tacoma, WA 98404

Pay

$80 proposed

This packet is not funded yet, so this figure is a proposed price and not money waiting in escrow. If a buyer funds it, approved proof settles that price onchain. If nobody funds it, approved proof earns provable credit toward the work instead of cash. You see which before you claim, never after.

Proof

segment photo series plus the completed transect count sheet

This is exactly what gets it approved. Nothing settles without it.

Level

entry

Open until

2026-08-17

How this work is done

A documented method, so this packet comes out the same whoever does it. Typically 30–60 minutes. Method of record: EPA dry-weather / AMD field screening

Bring

• GPS phone
• pH meter or strips
• conductivity meter
• ammonia + iron test kit as specified
• surfactant screen if specified
• gloves
• camera

Steps

1. 1. Navigate to the outfall/reach; record GPS; photograph it, capturing any visible flow or staining.
2. 2. Note whether flow is present in dry weather (yes/no).
3. 3. Measure and record pH, conductivity, and each specified analyte per kit instructions.
4. 4. Log any color, odor, floc, or aquatic-life observation.
5. 5. Enter all readings with units, GPS, time, and photos into the proof record; sign.

If it does not match the plan

• Dry-weather flow present with elevated conductivity/ammonia/surfactants -> flag suspected illicit discharge for the responsible agency.
• pH < 6 with visible iron floc -> tag suspected acid mine drainage; recommend metals lab panel.

What counts as done

• pH + conductivity recorded with units
• Each specified analyte recorded with a value
• Dry-weather flow present? recorded yes/no
• GPS waypoint + timestamped photo

Proof is measured against these, not judged by taste.