U.S. OLYMPIC FESTIVAL LOS ANGELES 1991 : NOTEBOOK

Trash count: It is not possible to keep track of the number of spectators at the canoe/kayak event at Ballona Creek in Marina del Rey. A popular bike path runs the length of the creek and admission is free. Many of the residents who live in apartments lining the creek watched from their balconies.

What was easy to count were the garbage bags filled with trash pulled from the creek before, during and between competition.

“We filled at least five garbage bags with trash, mostly trash bags, the kind from the grocery store,” said Jan Breitigam, a lane judge. “The bags were everywhere, even on some of the bows of the boats that were racing. When that happens, they slow the boat down.”

Craig Bohnert, communications director for the U.S. Canoe/Kayak team, said the pull of the moon from the Thursday’s eclipse caused the tide of the creek to rise. The result was more debris pulled into the water.