This past month, we learned that the Rio Motagua—one of the most polluted rivers in the world and the location of a new boom system that was installed with some help from our friends @corona—is capable of changing its flow pattern at a truly mind-boggling pace.
On July 30, our Boom Cleanup Team in Guatemala conducted a normal cleanup at the site of the boom, bringing the total amount of trash removed since installation to an amazing 41,500 pounds.
The next day, the crew returned expecting a normal cleanup only to discover that the water level had risen over 10 feet in less than 24 hours!
Ultimately, the rapid change in water level caused some of the boom system’s anchoring lines to break, and the boom floated downriver.
We’re happy to report that no crew members were injured during this event and all sections of the boom were safely and quickly recovered.
The boom team has been diverted to the coastline surrounding the mouth of the Rio Motagua where ocean trash collection has resumed as we prepare the next phase of “A River of Change.”
Read the full Operational Update and what we’re doing next at the link in our bio.