On a recent morning, Kurt Zuelsdorf waded through the knee-deep brackish water that washes through the mangroves of the Clam Bayou Nature Preserve.
He slogged past plastic bottles, shoes, tires and enough inflatable sports balls to supply any gym class.
"Make a left at the TV!" he said, on the way back to his kayak.
Zuelsdorf stumbled on this litter-clogged section of the nature preserve Thursday, while tracking an otter.
Local and state government agencies have pledged millions of dollars for cleaning up parts of the preserve. But Zuelsdorf's discovery shows that areas away from the main waterways are filling up with litter from storm drains.