WESTERNERS BAG PEAKS, DUMP TRASH
Why is Recreation Trashing Public Land in the West?
By Headwaters News, 5-12-06
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Trash stories aren’t part of the staple of regular issues, like elections, legislation and even the weather, but as the summer recreation season approaches, garbage is filling many of the region’s best recreation spots — and the headlines.
In Montana this week, two papers, the Ravalli Republic and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, offer stories on how certain Forest Service recreational sites and fishing accesses are becoming dumping grounds for couches, cars and washing machines. One site along the Gallatin River in the Hyalite area has gotten so bad that the district ranger has closed the site so the agency can continue hauling off 15 truckloads — yes, 15 truckloads — of garbage.
As quotes in the Chronicle, "It literally was every wide spot in the road," said Tom Kalakay, of the Southwest Montana Climbers Coalition. "Piles of burned pallets, deer and elk carcasses, burnt furniture. Every pullout was strewn with shell casing of every caliber."
And the problem extends downstream as well, to the Four Corners Fishing Access Site, where state wildlife officials have reported similarly massive garbage piles.
In Montana’s Bitterroot Valley, officials from the Bitterroot National Forest had to close the turnoff from Skalkaho Highway to Gird Point Road because the stretch was so littered with garbage. Volunteers filled a dumpster with waste before the area was regraded with a back hoe.
In Colorado, the trash story revolves around abundant usage. The Colorado Springs Independent writes about that state’s legendary 14ers, the peaks above 14,000 feet that attract more and more hikers and climbers each year. One estimate shows that about half a million people climbed the peaks in 2004.
Many of the 14ers are easily accessible from the highway and are non-technical climbs, meaning anyone with good boots and some physical fitness can make it up there. But in some cases, the hikes involve walking through private land, which is often an abandoned mining site. Landowners are increasingly worried about hikers wandering off trail and hurting themselves, as well as the growing volume of garbage visitor bring and leave, and the increasing ecological pressure from so many footsteps.
And in Idaho, the Lewiston Tribune reports state and tribal biologists are dumbfounded at the damage caused by off-roaders on Craig Mountain, south of Lewiston. They say they are forced to spend money that could be used elsewhere on fencing projects to keep the riders off the wetlands. Even though there are only limited access points by road to the area, and the roads are often closed, jeep and ATV riders head off road, across boggs and mud holes and ride all over the mountain.
State officials say that unless they catch illegal riders in the act, its hard to enforce the rules, and they say they have to be more restrictive that they otherwise would like to be about where people can ride.
As summer approaches and many people head out to use the public land, it's worth considering theses stories, and asking: What is the cause of all this destruction? More importantly might be actually answering it.
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Comments
I once thought it was a problem with problem youth. But it extends way beyond age. I also thought it was simply an issue with lack of money to buy trash bins and labor to haul it to a proper dump. It really seems to be more a lack of moral fiber than dollars.
The "Leave No Trace" message must be the united cry. One that should be spread through every means possible, beginning with daycares and kindergarten classes on up to senior center visits.
Keeping America Beautiful depends on all of us to tell someone and do something about it -- every time we see a violation. The creed is if you pack it in, you pack it out. And, if you see it and can still bend down, you should always pick it up -- within reason, of course. Mind you, the additional issues today are that one must take special care around potentially hazardous materials. That's when the experts need to be called in.
Work in concert with your local federal officials if you find something suspicious on public lands. With meth labs, copper-wire burning, and a wide assortment of similar illegal activities also being conducted on these out-of-the-way places, it's important to report your discoveries rather than take it upon yourself to tackle it alone.
The media should be applauded for the regular reminders they do to keep the public aware of problem areas and the people who are teaming up to address them. Hopefully the word will continue to get out how necessary it is to do our part. What better time than spring!