Thousands volunteer to clean up desert debris By JONATHAN DALE, Staff Writer
Sunday, January 20, 2008 9:41 PM PST
TODD KRAININ PHOTO
FROM LEFT: Andi and Ted Fourlis of Phoenix deposit a propane tank, firewood and aluminum cans into a trash container during the United Desert Gateway dunes cleanup Saturday in eastern Imperial County.
TODD KRAININ PHOTO
“Doc” Middleton deposits trash during the cleanup near Gordons Well.
IMPERIAL SAND DUNES RECREATION AREA —Cathy Kennerson knows how to get her hands dirty, and she showed as much Saturday when she participated in and helped coordinate one of the year’s biggest cleanups in the dunes in eastern Imperial County.
The chief executive officer of the El Centro Chamber of Commerce was one of some 4,000 who participated in the 11th annual Martin Luther King Weekend Cleanup organized by United Desert Gateway, the federal Bureau of Land Management and Take Pride in America.
Armed with trash bags and protective gloves, the groups fanned out across the sand to do their part in keeping clean the well-used dunes.
“This year we had beautiful weather,” Kennerson said. “I anticipated that we had probably 900 to 1,000 people register for the cleanup (in the south dunes).
“We had a good strong group of folks, a lot of enthusiastic volunteers,” she said.
More than 10 years ago, United Desert Gateway recognized a potential pitfall in keeping the Imperial Sand Dunes open year-round.
That pitfall: trash left behind by some off-road enthusiasts that threatened to outweigh the nearly $4 million spent by off-roaders that goes straight to the Imperial County economy.
“It’s very important because the desert is a big economic factor in the Imperial Valley,” United Desert Gateway project manager Charla Teeters said before the cleanup. “Keeping it clean really helps keep it open and helps our economy to continue to grow.”
That’s why thousands showed up to do their part in keeping clean a valuable aspect of the county. Among the throngs of volunteers were Brawley Chamber of Commerce CEO Nicole Gilles, county supervisor Wally Leimgruber, De Anza Search and Rescue, the San Diego Off-Road Coalition and a representative from Congressman Bob Filner’s office.
“The event was fantastic,” Gilles said. “I had one person say they’ve never seen the desert look so clean.
“I’d say we had probably 3,000 just in our side, in the north dunes,” she said.
Representatives from Riverside-based KFRG, a country music radio station, even showed up to support the cleanup from the Riverside, San Bernardino and Temecula areas.
“It just helped because they promoted it in their area, and a lot of people come down from Riverside and Temecula to use our dunes,” Gilles said.
No one was left out of the cleanup, as hundreds of families scoured the desert in search of trash.
“We had a lot of children out there cleaning up with their parents, so they can enjoy the dunes and take pride in taking care of the lands as well,” Kennerson said.
“We had four staging areas in the south dunes,” she said. “They were able to collect a lot of trash; we filled one trailer that had to have been 20 feet long.”
Cleaning crews will continue to hit the dunes over the next few months, proving how important a trashless desert recreation area really is.
“The event is really important in that it shows the stewardship that is a high priority for the off road family user,” Kennerson said.
“It’s important the off-roaders keep the sands clean so we can go out and play,” she said.
" This is the spirit of cooperation among users to clean up after those that do not.
No matter what or where you recreate, you have someone that will throw their trash on the ground.
It happens in other places too, just like if you go to the movie theater, and how many people leave their garbage behind for the staff there to clean up! Why?
Is that any different? I don't think so.
Good job by all that came out and helped here.
Todd
UFWDA "
ballesteros wrote on Jan 21, 2008 7:34 PM:
" Great Job! I am so glad to see the youth appreciating their environment and doing good for the community. Again, Thank you. "
marygb wrote on Jan 21, 2008 12:14 PM:
" Let's hear it for the spirit of volunteerism and love of land. I especially love that children were part of the clean-up brigades.
I grew up playing in Glamis/sand dunes. I remember witnessing dune buggys (welded by high school friends) falling apart while riding them! LOL...cardboard was fun to sit on and slide. Keep in mind there were times we were the only few there. Now an army of visitor decend upon the desert to have fun. But...they should always clean up after themselves.
Thanks volunteers for an obvioulsy job well done that seemed to include a lot of fun. Taking care of the planet has its rewards. "
joselopez wrote on Jan 21, 2008 10:51 AM:
" Great to see all those people working together to keep the Dunes area clean. Question: Does the firewood and aluminum cans end up in the County dump? These items are a comdity of value that can be recycled. "
ricocafe99 wrote on Jan 21, 2008 8:47 AM:
" BRAVO!! "
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Todd wrote on Jan 27, 2008 9:17 AM:
No matter what or where you recreate, you have someone that will throw their trash on the ground.
It happens in other places too, just like if you go to the movie theater, and how many people leave their garbage behind for the staff there to clean up! Why?
Is that any different? I don't think so.
Good job by all that came out and helped here.
Todd
UFWDA "