A Three Month Assessment of Anthropogenic Litter Levels on the Illinois River, Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

Abstract

Anthropogenic litter is one of the most important factors that influence recreation users and their activities because of its correlation to the river and environmental health. We monitored pollution levels on the Illinois river, near Tahlequah, OK for three months and surveyed the publics opinion on the issue. Our goal was to get this data to local and state management agencies to management practices to keep the scenic Illinois River clean. We found aluminum cans in the most abundant, while survey participants said cigarette butts were of highest observable abundance. A total of 170 people took the survey, and many of them want to see change on the river. Change may have to come from cooperation with commercial float operators.