Hundreds clean up the Imperial Sand Dunes
Hundreds of people turned out Saturday to prevent the Imperial Sand Dunes from becoming the Imperial "Trash" Dunes during the 13th annual Sand Dunes Cleanup.
Most of the men and women who were combing the desert sands on their quads had vacationed there during the holidays and returned to make sure the dunes are clean again for next year.
"We come for the holidays, and come back to help out the community," said Pete Tisnado, who lives in San Diego. "We come every year just for the cleanup. It helps keep the Earth green, you know. We have to do our part and live green."
"We don't have to do this, but it helps out everybody. We need to make this place cleaner and make it look nice because people put so much money into this."
Tisnado said his family filled about 20 large garbage bags on Saturday alone.
"We brought our bikes and are having a good time. It is family-oriented and that is what is fun about it. You come with your family and bond. It's a great bonding tool."
Tisnado said his family is responsible with their garbage. "Every time we come out we leave the camp site exactly the way we found it. We pick up after ourselves, and rake it up for the next person."
Tisnado's son, Anthony, is also environmentally responsible.
"I keep the trash with me like a pack rat. I don't leave anything anywhere. This gets dirty, and it has to be cleaned somehow. If they close down the dunes, there will be nowhere to ride. This is supposed to be nice and not full of trash. Not trashy."
Jason Hitesman was also at the dunes Saturday to participate in the cleanup with his friends.
"It started originally up in Glamis with a group called Project Sand," he said. "A few years later, a second cleanup was started down here in the south dunes ... which used to be held in March. About four years ago ... the two were combined into one big cleanup."
Hitesman said by midday Saturday, four large bins had already been filled with trash from the dunes. He said there are some interesting treasures to be found in the shifting sands.
"Down here it is kind of weird. You can find fenders, parts off of abandoned smuggler vehicles and clothing left behind by illegal immigrants. You also find a lot of camp chairs and easy-ups that got blown away by wind and got buried in the sand. A lot of stuff will hide in the sand."
Jason Kaza, a fellow cleanup crew member, said a person can find just about anything in the dunes.
"There is a gentleman driving around to the different camps trying to find an acetylene cutting torch to break up a couple of rusted abandoned vehicles he has found that have been ditched, most likely by drug runners. People definitely find some unique items here."
Hitesman said nobody wants to look at a bunch of trash while enjoying the dunes.
"We like to keep it clean because we like it clean when we are out here. You don't want to see trash out there. It's ugly, it's bad, it's not healthy and it tears up tires. There is no excuse for it."
Art Brown, another event participant, said he approves of everyone who showed up to clean on Saturday.
"If you participate in the cleanup, it shows you have respect for life."
http://www.duneguide.com/sand_dune_guide_isdra.htm
posted by Crowdog at
9:51 PM
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