A big, plastic, inflatable whale, a soccer ball, pieces of Styrofoam coolers, liquor bottles, and many plastic bottles and plastic bags: all items that have been found in and then removed from Salt Creek. Put there by people or the wind, a lot of garbage ends up in the creek.

Gary and Lynn Lesher, of LaGrange, often kayak the waters from Graue Mill to the Rainbow Bridge. From April to October, they take a monthly paddle. As members of the Illinois Audubon Society, they birdwatch, too. They enjoy seeing herons and egrets standing so still waiting for a fish to swim by.

But, at least once a year, their kayak ride involves a clean-up. “Our adult children bought us each a pair of “grabbers”, a tool to reach those items that are juuusstt of reach. They really help”, the Leshers say. They wear gloves and place five-gallon buckets in each kayak. They are quickly filled. Strangers always thank them for helping to keep the creek clean for people and wildlife.