Trespass clean up restores BLM public lands in Nevada County
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EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management Mother Lode Field Office, in partnership with the Nevada County Environmental Health, Code Enforcement Office and Sheriff’s Office, have restored roughly five acres of public and private lands in western Nevada County to a healthy environment.
Contracted crews used heavy equipment to remove three trailers, an RV, 16 vehicles, 105 tires and 134,000 pounds of metal for recycling and other trash. The debris was a result of a long-term trespass issue on public lands, which was encroaching on private property and is equivalent to the amount of trash that a family of four would generate in nearly 20 years.
“America’s public lands provide valuable, tangible goods, and materials we rely on and use every day to heat our homes, build our roads, and feed our families, but they have to be healthy in order to offer those services,” says BLM Mother Lode Field Manager Elizabeth Meyer-Shields. “This is an excellent example of how through partnerships, we can be a good neighbor to ensure public lands continue to benefit current and future generations.”
The clean up also helped stop household dumping, theft of timber and impacts to the environment. According to Nevada County Director of Environmental Health Amy Irani, “This is an excellent example of multiple agency teamwork and communication, creating a future pathway towards restoring our natural environments and our community.”
“This has long been an area of concern in the County,” states Nevada County Code & Cannabis Compliance Program Manager Jeff Merriman. “With fire season now upon us, we’re grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with numerous agencies to accomplish this much needed cleanup effort and mitigate risks to the public and environment.” During the five-day clean-up operation, law enforcement officers were also able to recover two vehicles and other items, which had been reported stolen.
“Through collaborative efforts with our partners at the BLM, we were able to remove unwanted debris and restore the natural habitat,” says Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon. “This was an incredibly successful event and we look forward to additional clean-ups throughout the County.”
The BLM and Nevada County, along with Tahoe National Forest and Waste Management, co-sponsor an annual tire amnesty week allowing residents to drop off up to nine bald tires, flat donut replacements, or worn out snow studs for disposal. The next tire amnesty is being scheduled for fall 2020. The effort helps reduce illegal dumping and keep America’s public landscapes healthy and productive.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.