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For Immediate Release: 10/19/01 CCal -02-3
Contact: Scott Justham (760) 872-4881
Volunteers Clean Up Public Lands
Like locusts combing the landscape, over sixty volunteers recently devoured all signs of litter, and removed excess foot trails on public lands at the Happy Boulders site near Chalk Bluff. Scheduled for the morning of Saturday, October 13th , the project drew a strong following of interested individuals.
Steve Addington, the local BLM field manager, remarked, "I am continually amazed at the unwavering support local residents and businesses provide when a call for help on the public lands is made. This is the largest number of people we have seen turn out for a natural resources volunteer project."
Sponsored by The Access Fund, Baskin-Robbins of Bishop, Subway of Bishop, the Inyo National Forest, and the local Bureau of Land Management, this event was dubbed "Adopt A Crag Day" to promote resource conservation in climbing and bouldering areas throughout the United States. This project was done in concert with "National Public Lands Day" - designated to promote conservation awareness of America's public lands. In addition to the October 13th activity at Happy Boulders, a second project at the Buttermilk area west of Bishop on Inyo National Forest and City of Los Angeles' land resulted in similar trash removal and related work accomplishments.
A diverse assortment of individuals and local groups participated in the weekend's activities. They included students from the local Sierra Adventures 4H chapter which is funded by Carlos Santana's Milagro Foundation, Science Club students and teachers from Bishop High School, a large contingent of local boulderers as well as tourists who were visiting the area to climb the mountains, bluffs, and rocks that encompass the eastern Sierra. Even "man's best friend" of the canine variety was in attendance.
Scott Justham, a local BLM employee and boulderer, roamed from work group to work group instructing everyone on trail rehabilitation and management techniques. As everyone spread throughout the canyon's numerous boulders, arches, overhangs, and shallow caves, the day's work was completed in short order. At the project's end Justham noted, "It is incredible to see all the work everyone has done. It would have taken BLM staff weeks to finish what the Bishop volunteers completed in several hours. They did a great job."
Bishop Field Office, 785 N. Main, Suite E, Bishop, CA 93514 |
