News.bytes Extra, issue 556

National Public Lands Day -- Fargo Canyon Road Cleanup

 
Girl Scout Troop 262 lent a hand.

On Saturday, October 27, the BLM Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office hosted a volunteer cleanup event along Fargo Canyon Road -- the second of two National Public Lands Day events held by this office.  Volunteers from College of the Desert, Painted Hills Middle School, Girl Scout Troop 262, The Great Outdoors Hiking Club, Great Basin Institute interns, Coachella Valley residents, and even volunteers all the way from Hemet, California came out to lend a hand.

The site had been abused by some who had left behind all kinds of garbage, tires, plastic and wooden targets, and other remnants of target shooting. This canyon is adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park, and as such, is a gateway to the park. Cleaning the area not only benefits the local wildlife by returning the area back to its natural setting, but in addition, residents of the Coachella Valley will be able to enjoy this scenic vista even more.

A total of fifty-five volunteers and eight Riverside County Waste Management employees assisted six BLM staffers with the cleanup, for a total of 207 volunteer hours. As a result, an entire 40-yard dumpster as well as the two Riverside County Waste Management heavy trucks were filled to the top.

As reward for their efforts, a BBQ lunch was served to the hungry volunteers.  In addition, each volunteer received their National Public Lands Day T-shirt and Fee Free pass.

Painted Hills Middle School students pose for a phot in their National Public Lands Day shirts.

College of the Desert students pitched in to help.

- Jennifer Taylor, Wilderness/Volunteer Coordinator, BLM Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office (October 2012)

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