Bad Boaters

[Havasu_Dreamin]

Keeping It Clean: Volunteers pick up after people leave trash behind
BY GARY WEIAND
Tuesday, July 6, 2004 10:02 PM MDT
When you volunteer to pick up after litterbugs, you're likely to find just about anything - including the proverbial kitchen sink.
At 7 a.m. Tuesday, the Keep Havasu Beautiful Committee sent 13 volunteers in three boats to clean up the Lake Havasu shoreline. In less than four hours they had collected enough garbage to fill a large Dumpster.
Dean Barlow, committee chairman, said that the committee participates in five cleanups a year including three following the major summer holidays, but the shore quickly attracts new litter.
"People on boats just go along and throw things. They seemingly don't have any concern with the environment or the lake or anything," he said.
"It's unbelievable what you find," said volunteer Howard Roseen. "You find baby diapers all over the place. You wonder why people can't pick up after themselves."
The volunteers went ashore wherever they spotted accessible litter. They struggled up hills, fought through brush, and waded through shallows to pick up other people's junk. John Nelson said that after 15 years of volunteering for such work, he still doesn't understand the litterbug mentality.
"They must think that when they throw their junk behind some brush they've done their environmental chore. Out of sight, out of mind," he said. "The ones who get arrested for all this crap ought to have to clean it up. These guys haven't done anything to deserve this kind of work."
But for all the plastic bags hanging like ugly ornaments from the salt cedar, for all the cans strewn over the beaches, and for all the pieces of foam rubber trapped amid the reeds, trash isn't limited to small stuff. Some was either brought into coves by boat, or lowered down a bank.
Barlow said that his crew alone picked up several wood flats, some tires, a pillow, an old gas barbecue, the remnants of several mattresses and chairs, some old box springs, several foam mattresses, cardboard - and a kitchen sink.
Some sites looked like camps. One featured a clothesline strung between salt cedars, a blue blanket and scattered piles of refuse.
"Looks like the Viet Cong were here," said Nelson. "Somebody will come back this evening, see everything gone, and say, 'somebody ruined my house.'"
"Judging from all the dirty diapers I've picked up here, I'd say it was a family activity," said Barlow.
According to Barlow, there is a bright spot to the struggle against litter. The committee's distribution of 60,000 trash bags to area marinas and launch ramps reaches a great many responsible boaters, he said.
"They are used. Just look in a Dumpster after any weekend," he said.
Reprinted without permission from Todays News Herald
People that go to the lakes, or anywhere for that matter, and just leave their trash there should be ashamed of themselves.

[HavasuDreamin']

The thing I don't understand is..............it isn't anymore difficult to throw your garbage in a sack on your boat than it is to throw it on the beach! What is it..........maybe 10 steps to your boat!
Stupid people suck! :mad:

[Phat Matt]

That is one thing that really frustrates me at the river. I have seen people just throw their empty cans up on the beach right in front of there boat in the channel, and when they are ready to leave, they just leave!!! They don't pick them up and take them to the trash cans! :confused: It reflects on all of us that goes there. And yes I went and picked it all up and one of the cops said thanks.
This past weekend I also saw this "white trash" looking chick act like white trash when she knocked off a plastic blue cup off the back of their boat on PURPOSE while she was getting in to leave. Then they backed over it and it sank. WTF? Some people just don't care or they don't get it.
These people will end up ruining it for the rest of us. :mad:
Pick up after yourself because your Mom's not going to do it for you.

[MikeF]

UNFORTUNATELY, It is something we see all the time. :yuk:
In the fraction of a second, the person about to litter could change their mind and put it in the right place.
Hold onto it and put it in the can. There are better places for it!

[Havasu_Dreamin]

Originally posted by Phat Matt
This past weekend I also saw this "white trash" looking chick act like white trash when she knocked off a plastic blue cup off the back of their boat on PURPOSE while she was getting in to leave. Then they backed over it and it sank. WTF? Some people just don't care or they don't get it.
These people will end up ruining it for the rest of us. :mad:
Pick up after yourself because your Mom's not going to do it for you.
Exactly! It's losers like that that don't need to be on the lake!

[Debbolas]

Trash Bag in your ski locker, (2 seconds):D

[hd&boatrider]

I always take extra bags and hand them out to people. They are free right at the launch area so why not use them. I know some people see me take 6-7 of them and probably think I take them home or something like that. Easy to just take extras and give them to people out on the lake. I guess it is my way of helping out. I suggest you all do this.

[Phat Matt]

Originally posted by hd&boatrider
I always take extra bags and hand them out to people. They are free right at the launch area so why not use them. I know some people see me take 6-7 of them and probably think I take them home or something like that. Easy to just take extras and give them to people out on the lake. I guess it is my way of helping out. I suggest you all do this.
So you are the reason they run out? Why don't you just buy some instead of stealing them to take home? :confused: :p
J/K, that's a good idea. I have a roll of trash bags in my boat if anyone needs them. They kinda suck though, I need to pick up some Hefty's. :D

[hd&boatrider]

Originally posted by Phat Matt
So you are the reason they run out? Why don't you just buy some instead of stealing them to take home? :confused: :p
J/K, that's a good idea. I have a roll of trash bags in my boat if anyone needs them. They kinda suck though, I need to pick up some Hefty's. :D
If I am going to do some work out there and they have the bags...why go buy others. I know you are just giving me shit...that's OK at least I know the boats around me leave with all their trash. The bags at the dock are like big hefty bags by the way. At least at Mohave, I don't know about Havasu or Mead

[Phat Matt]

Originally posted by hd&boatrider
If I am going to do some work out there and they have the bags...why go buy others. I know you are just giving me shit...that's OK at least I know the boats around me leave with all their trash. The bags at the dock are like big hefty bags by the way. At least at Mohave, I don't know about Havasu or Mead
I'm just phuckin' with ya. The bags they had out are the same and they are very strong. They are better than the cheap ass ones I have in my boat, but they still work. Thanks for keepin' it clean! :D

[HCS]

We had a favorite beach where people would leave their trash.
So every weekend we would clean up the beach and hall it out.
After getting tired of policing the beach every weekend we put
out trash cans. We figured it would be easier to hall out a couple
of trash cans. Also we figure people would get the message.
Big mistake. Then everyone on the beach figured it was for their
trash and nobody took their trash out.:rolleyes:
What we ended up with was over flowing trash cans and twice
as much crap to pick up. So we removed the cans and put up a
big sign explaining the situation. Then most people got the
message. But there were still some people that would just leave
their crap on the beach.:mad:

[hd&boatrider]

If you are white, asian, black, hispanic, arab or whatever and you leave your trash behind I consider you to be white trash.
For the record I am a white boy.......but I am not white trash :)

[Debbolas]

Originally posted by Phat Matt
I'm just phuckin' with ya. The bags they had out are the same and they are very strong. They are better than the cheap ass ones I have in my boat, but they still work. Thanks for keepin' it clean! :D
I have pink ones that smell nice:D

[HalletDave]

Originally posted by Debbolas
I have pink ones that smell nice:D
I'll bet they do.;) :D

[Essex502]

We've always "packed out what we packed in" since we went camping 40 years ago as a scout. I have modified that policy a little ... We pack out what we pack in + a little someone else also packed in and left behind.

[mirvin]

What works for me is the good ol fashion "litter bug"!!!:D I use it all the time. People really freak out when you go out of your way to call them a litter bug. It's like it reminds them of thier traumatic childhood when other kids used to call them litter bugs.
mirvin;)

[Phat Matt]

Originally posted by Debbolas
I have pink ones that smell nice:D
uh yeah, I am going to leave that one alone. :rolleyes: :D

[hd&boatrider]

Originally posted by Phat Matt
uh yeah, I am going to leave that one alone. :rolleyes: :D
lol....I was thinking the same thing :)

[spectratoad]

I or I have my kids always make a couple runs around our beach to pick stuff up. I put my trash back in my cooler or use my empty ice bag etc...
Pack it in, pack it out!!:D

[Phat Matt]

Originally posted by hd&boatrider
lol....I was thinking the same thing :)
:D
OK, maybe I won't.
Scream must be so happy! :p

[Dr. Eagle]

Originally posted by HavasuDreamin'
The thing I don't understand is..............it isn't anymore difficult to throw your garbage in a sack on your boat than it is to throw it on the beach! What is it..........maybe 10 steps to your boat!
Stupid people suck! :mad:
I am with you on this one....... I NEVER leave ANYTHING behind when I depart from a beach. Everything is bagged and in the boat. And when we used to boat with a bunch of our friends, everyone picked up after themselves.
I just don't understand people... SPS!

[Jdbuck]

Hi there, I am relatively new to posting on this board so I just thought I would chime in on this topic. I think it is great the effort everyone is going to to keep the lake clean, it can be an infectious attitude so keep it up!!! My wife and I always take a bag from the Rangers station, it really isn't that difficult to keep or vacation areas clean.
As a side note, if you take a trash bag from the rangers at the launch ramp, make sure you turn it inside out. There is usually ink printing on the exterior and in the heat that ink comes off. It can make a real mess of your upholstery in the boat if you are not careful.
BE SAFE ON THE WATER!!

[hd&boatrider]

Originally posted by Jdbuck
Hi there, I am relatively new to posting on this board so I just thought I would chime in on this topic. I think it is great the effort everyone is going to to keep the lake clean, it can be an infectious attitude so keep it up!!! My wife and I always take a bag from the Rangers station, it really isn't that difficult to keep or vacation areas clean.
As a side note, if you take a trash bag from the rangers at the launch ramp, make sure you turn it inside out. There is usually ink printing on the exterior and in the heat that ink comes off. It can make a real mess of your upholstery in the boat if you are not careful.
BE SAFE ON THE WATER!!
Never thought about it regarding turning the inside out. That explains some ink spots that I have seen from time to time. Thanks

[mtndewdrops]

On July 5th we launched at 8:30 a.m. at Windsor. Went around the island toward Thompson Bay and it looked like a junkyard... beer cans, flip flops, spent fireworks, you name it, it was floatin out there. Pretty damn sad if you ask me.
I always pick-up trash at the cove I spend time in...always looks better when I leave than when I arrived. I was snorkeling and dove 10-12 feet to reclaim some empty Bud Lite cans.
Last Year Ziggy's Mrs. and I hauled out alot of junk from a cove we frequent. We must have spent a half an hour cleaning the place up so we could stand spending some time there.
Sincere thanks to the many others that put out the extra effort to pick up their own trash let alone anyone elses.

[Essex502]

Dennis - Great to meet you and the Mrs. at the Regatta...lemme' know when you guys are going out to LHC again!

[mtndewdrops]

Originally posted by Essex502
Dennis - Great to meet you and the Mrs. at the Regatta...lemme' know when you guys are going out to LHC again!
We had a great time meeting you and yours as well, check your PM.

[shueman]

Originally posted by mtndewdrops
I always pick-up trash at the cove I spend time in...always looks better when I leave than when I arrived.
Sincere thanks to the many others that put out the extra effort to pick up their own trash let alone anyone elses.
Same here. Respect Nature's Bounty...

[Tremor Therapy]

I agree with all of you, and I also make sure that any beach or cove I park at is clean before I leave. But if you really want to see the extent of the literbug mentality, put on a diving mask and take a look at the bottom of Copper Canyon! You could probably buy a new boat with the scrap value of all of the beer cans and bottles at the bottom of that place....what a freakin mess!:yuk:

[Seadog]

We live on a side road that is a mile long. We also have no near neighbors. Once a year, the county has a pickup program where you bag up roadside trash and they haul it to the dump. Last time we filled almost two trailers with all the trash and most of it was beer cans. And this is just my wife and I picking the crap up. I sometimes wish there were some ability that would take all this trash and fill the cars of those who dumped it.
It has gotten to the point where a lot of counties have hired trash cops. Usually retired police that search dumped trash for clues of ownership and they also stakeout known dump sites and get photographic evidence. Some counties around lake areas, have dump sites with free dumpsters. Some of these remote areas have no practical means of getting rid of house trash and by placing these in key locations, they have eliminated a lot of illegal dumping.