In honour of Mother害羞草研究所檚 Day weekend, more than 70 people gave back to Mother Earth by assisting with a community cleanup of illegal dumpings across Peachland害羞草研究所檚 watershed area Saturday (May 8).
The event, organized by Okanagan Forestry Task Force (OFTF) and the Peachland Watershed Protection Alliance (PWPA), saw Peachland residents volunteer six hours of their time to pick up garbage that was illegally dumped across the watershed, which spans 400 sq. km.
With the area serving as the source for the community害羞草研究所檚 water and as a site for recreational activities, Taryn Skalbania, the co-founder and director of outreach for PWPA, said it害羞草研究所檚 important for people to respect the land.
害羞草研究所淚t seems that we have a very finite space on this Earth. But we害羞草研究所檙e creating an infinite amount of things that are just disposable and people are just abandoning them,害羞草研究所� said Skalbania. 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 just not a lot of respect for Mother Nature, the wildlife and the animals.害羞草研究所�
This was the watershed害羞草研究所檚 first of two cleanups of the year. Throughout the day, volunteers picked up discarded items that included everything from shotgun shells, furniture, BBQs, TVs, car parts and tires, and even the remains of an animal.
害羞草研究所淥ne, it害羞草研究所檚 unsightly. But two, it害羞草研究所檚 dangerous. We found 40-gallon drums here, oil change abandoned, metal,害羞草研究所� said Skalbania. 害羞草研究所淓very weekend, we call them the weekend warriors, they come here and use it as an illegal target site.害羞草研究所�
Virginia Schmidt, a cleanup volunteer and the secretary of the PWPA, said she was heartbroken and devastated by all the garbage she picked up.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not OK. People like us can clean up, clean up and keep cleaning up. But people don害羞草研究所檛 have respect and we have no one to monitor that,害羞草研究所� said Schmidt. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 pretty shocked. I害羞草研究所檝e done the cleanup before, but it didn害羞草研究所檛 seem that bad last time.害羞草研究所�
Peachland resident and volunteer Lloyd Stinson Sotas said he was happy to see the community turnout, but was not at all pleased with the garbage he picked up.
害羞草研究所淭his is my home. It害羞草研究所檚 home and nature,害羞草研究所� said Sotas. 害羞草研究所淭hose people really oughta be ashamed of themselves.害羞草研究所�
Similarly, Peachland resident and volunteer Maggie Lovelock said people need to realize that they害羞草研究所檙e polluting their own backyard.
害羞草研究所淲ould you do this to your own backyard? Why do this to everyone else害羞草研究所檚 backyard?害羞草研究所� she said.
According to Skalbania, there are plans to place cameras and signs around the area, cautioning visitors to respect what the land has to offer.
害羞草研究所淛ust nice, polite, reminding signs that this is your community drinking water. This is a community watershed. Treat it with respect,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淣ot just for your humans, but for the animals, the wildlife, all the users of the watershed.害羞草研究所�
READ MORE: Cleaning up Peachland害羞草研究所檚 backcountry for Mother害羞草研究所檚 Day
READ MORE: Illegal dump found in Kelowna backcountry, authorities seeking answers
aaron.hemens@kelownacapnews.com
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