Climate Corner
Recreate Responsibly, Recycle Monofilament Fishing Line
By Isabella Kurtz, Wildfire Restoration and Forest Resiliency Fellow
It was a delightful, sunny, winter afternoon as I walked along the East Fork of the Carson River in Markleeville. A few inches of snow remained on the ground from previous snow showers, and the sun’s rays reflected off the snow and water of the East Fork. There was a vivid, yellow-orange lichen growing on a boulder across the river. It was illuminated by the sun and caught my attention, stopping me in my tracks. I observed the lichen for a few minutes before noticing something else glistening in the sun’s beams. This find was not natural and not nearly as exciting: It was fishing line.
As I began untangling the fishing line that was extensively woven around twigs of willow, I wondered what actions it might take to help reduce the waste left behind from recreational fishing activities. I would like to highlight the importance of retrieving stray fishing line that may get stuck in surrounding flora while casting, and why appropriate disposal methods of this line can have significant impacts on our environment.
