Clear the litter from Jolly Giant Creek's banks where it crosses Arcata (2026-07-20)

Jolly Giant Creek runs from the Community Forest straight through Arcata's neighborhoods to Humboldt Bay, and every culvert mouth and open bank collects bottles, wrappers, and shopping-cart trash on the way. What the creek carries, the bay receives. A monthly bank sweep along the open reaches keeps the little creek doing its job clean. Standard: EPA trash-free waters + adopt-a-creek stewardship practice; SDG 14 Life Below Water. Proof: Before/after photos with bag tally Method (EPA trash-free waters + adopt-a-creek stewardship practice; SDG 14 Life Below Water.): 1. Walk the assigned open reach and photograph the littered spots from the bank. 2. Collect litter from the dry banks and culvert mouths with a grabber and gloves, staying out of the water. 3. Bag and tally items, separating recyclables. 4. Note and photograph any pipe discharging colored or smelly flow for a report to the city. 5. Photograph the cleared reach and filled bags with the tally. Done when: Before/after photos with bag tally

Where

Open creek reaches near K Street and Samoa Boulevard, Arcata, CA 95521

Pay

$180 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

Before/after photos with bag tally

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

Level

entry

Open until

2026-08-19

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.