Some Do and Some Don’t (Take Home Their Trash)

Clean And Clear Catawba, by Alice Battle – June 22, 2012

The area lakes are very popular recreational resources. People relate that they love the outdoors, the clean water and the pristine feeling when they are out in the boat. Boats are pulled ashore on vacant land to provide a beach experience.

Unfortunately, there are too many who do not consider the next party that occupies the area they leave behind. What they also leave behind are bottles, cans, paper plates, dirty diapers, plastic utensils and even barbecues. These items were carried in. Is it too much to ask that they be carried out by the same group?

None of the lakes maintain a crew to pick up garbage left behind. The cleanup crews on the lakes are volunteers who care about the environment. Last week a couple of jet skiers came across a littered beach. They cleaned up the area, but could not carry out the trash they collected. Other volunteers had to go out by boat to haul the debris.

There is no place to deposit that much trash for pick-up. The volunteers must make a run to the dump on their own.

If everyone did their part to maintain the vacant land, the lakes would always be pristine and clean. The burden of maintenance would be spread over more than just a few volunteers.

About Alice Battle – Alice lives on Mountain Island Lake has served on numerous groups devoted to protecting the lake, including the Duke Energy Relicensing stakeholders group. She currently is Lakekeeper for the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation.