February 3, 2006
Warm Weather Volunteer Opportunity
The Stewards of Public Lands are seeking volunteers for a public lands cleanup project on Saturday, Feb.11, from 8 a.m. to noon, in the Bill Gray Road area. The project involves State Trust lands and Coconino National Forest lands, partly within Cottonwood city limits. The State Land Department, Forest Service, City of Cottonwood, Town of Clarkdale, Yavapai County, and Cornville Community Association are cooperators for the project.
To reach the project site, drive northeast on State Route 89A three miles from Cottonwood; turn north on Bill Gray Road just past the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church; then travel on Bill Gray Road about a quarter mile, just past the cattle guard. Volunteers should wear long sleeved shirts, long pants, hats, gloves and sturdy shoes. Eye protection such as goggles, glasses or sunglasses is needed. Participants should bring water, a snack, sunscreen, and cleanup tools (rake, hoe, shovel, grabbers). For more information about the cleanup, contact Judy or Dave Miller at 649-1916.
Over the past two years, Stewards have conducted cleanups almost monthly in several urban interface areas around Cottonwood and Clarkdale, where illegal occupancy and dumping have been chronic problems. Initial cleanups are followed by monitoring and further maintenance cleanups as needed. A huge cleanup was held in the Bill Gray Road area in April 2005. Now it is time to go back and keep it clean. Besides cleaning up the lands, the Stewards work with cooperating agencies and local governments to post the lands, build fencing or other barriers, monitor the areas, and report illegal activities.
Stewards of Public Lands is an action-oriented volunteer group that coordinates cleanup projects through multi-community cooperation. Stewards set a good example, clean up and maintain public lands, and enforce the laws that govern them. Clarkdale and Cottonwood furnish heavy equipment, dump trucks, signs and dumpsters. The Forest Service provides garbage bags, staff and equipment. The State Land Department provides litterbags and dumpsters. Yavapai County assists via its Community Service Program. The Arizona Game and Fish Department, along with other State and Federal officials, the County Sheriff and local Police Chiefs have joined forces to step up law enforcement efforts. Businesses and dedicated individuals provide their services and skills. More information is available at www.verdeconnections.com or by calling Stewards of Public Lands Co-Chairs Diane Joens at 634-4112 or Jess Tyler at 649-0023.