News.bytes Extra, issue 320

Chidago Canyon Clean up Day

The mouth of Chidago Canyon North of Bishop, served as a rock quarry for years. The long gone quarry equipment had been replaced with a curious collection of trash, furniture, pallets, appliances, tires and shotgun shells and the time had come to restore this eyesore. (text continues below)

Through the collaborative efforts of the BLM Bishop Field Office, Advocates for Access to Public Lands (AAPL), the Eastern Sierra Four Wheel Drive Club, The Sneakers Motorcycle Club, Eastern Sierra Quail Unlimited and many individuals the quarry is clean once again.  Special thanks go out to Rich Williams (BLM) and Kyle Goin (AAPL) for ramrodding this event.
 
On Saturday Feb. 16th, 45 people spread out across the couple acre site and within two hours the roll off  dumpster was  three quarters full and the job was done. The BLM graciously provided the dumpster, tools, gloves, drinks and trucks and the people took it from there. A junk car was towed away earlier. 
 
Efforts such as this are a critical aid in educating the users of our public lands about the importance of good stewardship. Helping agencies manage the land builds trust that is important in this time of rapidly changing public land access policies.
 
Future clean up projects at various locations are in the works, so stay tuned.

Volunteers fanned out across the rocky quarry landscape

The group assembles to plan their attack on the scattered trash

Taking time out for a group photo

Thanks again to all who came out.
 
- Greg Weirick, AAPL (access-advocates.org)

2/08

BLM California News.bytes, issue 320