Nice >> Hidden in the hills past Pyle Road laid mounds of garbage left by residents who refused to pay the fee required for disposal. But under the hot summer sun Thursday one group filled truck after truck with black bags of trash for the “Country Clean Up.”
Organized by Lake County Supervisor Jim Steele, about 10 volunteers showed up Thursday morning for the event to pick up illegally dumped debris.
Steele said he’d received reports from people in the area about the unsightly trash they encountered. And it’s not just the dumping that causes environmental concerns, but driving into the hills can create erosion problems eventually affecting Clear Lake and its surrounding ecosystem.
The volunteers, including Upper Lake High School (ULHS) football players, cleared areas littered with items large and small — from old newspapers to prescription bottles, couches and plenty in between.
“I wanted them to have awareness of what work it takes to clean this stuff up when people illegally dump,” Frank Gudmundson, ULHS football coach said. “Hopefully this will get them some day to do this and continue and that’s what we need to do.”
Steele said just in the first few hours the team managed to fill nine trucks worth of trash.
Before the morning was over, Steele and Gudmundson talked about plans for future events as they stood in the now trash-free area they helped clear.
