ABSTRACT
A N outdoor excursion to the local stream can be a relaxing and enjoyable un-dertaking. On the other hand, when you arrive at the local stream and look upon the stream's flowing mass to discover a parade of waste and discarded rubble bobbing along the stream's course and cluttering the adjacent shoreline and downstream areas, any feeling of relaxation or enjoyment is quickly extinguished. Further, the sickening sensation the observer feels is made worse as closer scrutiny of the putrid flow is gained. The rainbow-colored shimmer of an oil slick, interrupted here and there by dead fish and floating refuse, and the slimy fungal growth that prevails are recognized. At the same time, the observer's sense of smell is alerted to the noxious conditions. Along with the fouled water and the stench, the observer notices signs warning, "DANGER-NO SWIMMING or FISHING." The observer has discovered what ecologists have known and warned about for years. That is, contrary to popular belief, rivers and streams do not have an infinite capacity for pollution.
