2026… The Year of the Cleanup!

I made that up.  But actually, if you’ve visited a forest last year, you know it should be so!

Trash, on our shared public land, is piling up and it’s not just at target shooting sites.  It’s a combination of illegal dumping, homeless camps, abandoned vehicles/RV’s/boats, and target shooting trash.  It all adds up to degrading our recreational experience and harming the environment.  The Pacific Northwest has always been known for its pristine forests, gorgeous scenic views and a population who are proud of what we have.  Proud enough to pitch in and help keep it that way.  The scenic views will remain, although some are tainted with trash, but do you think the pride, in public land owners, is still there that prompts us to do something about it?

As you know, there are no cleanup crews employed by forest agencies, (except the few employees who take care of designated camp grounds).  Some locations have the help of Inmate work crews, but that’s not enough to keep our land clean.  Forest management agencies depend on volunteer help now more than ever.  The help needed is more than the occasional large group cleanups.  It’s small individual cleanups that make a difference.  It’s like your own property where every so often you need to weed the garden, mow the lawn and do regular yard maintenance.

Sadly, the much of the trash you will find is at a target shooting site.  And many shooting sites are near a main roadway where all can see the result of shooting on public land.  It’s not pretty and it should be a top priority for us to clean it up and keep it looking nice.

Typically, Trash No Land hosts 8 to 10 group cleanups, at target shooting sites, each year Spring thru Fall.  But with so much public land, and so many trashed shooting sites, those 8 to 10 group cleanups barely put a dent in it.  We need an army of individuals committing Random Acts of Cleanups every weekend.  Can we make that happen?  It’s possible.  All depends on how many people still have pride and respect for the lands we own and love.

So here’s the deal…  Every time you visit the forest, take 2-3 trash bags and clean up what you can.  Invite a friend or two.  Take the kids.  Pack a lunch.  Bring your recreation tools and don’t forget the ammo.  Take photos and email them to Trash No Land with your story to: info@trashnoland.org .  You don’t have to tell the exact spot you cleaned, but please do include a general location.  Then plan to join one of our group cleanups where we have many helping hands to make a big difference in short order.

This year we’ll start our group cleanups in March on the Tillamook State Forest, OR, at North Fork Wolf Creek Rd Shooting Lanes and, with enough volunteers, several sites on Salmonberry Rd (Date & details TBA).  At this cleanup, you’ll hear of the upcoming improvements planned for the Wolf Creek Shooting Lanes.

Then it’s up to SW Washington on April 25th in the Yacolt Burn State Forest for the annual Pick Up The Burn event.  It’s where all recreation groups and general public come together and clean up the whole forest in one short day.  A lot of fun and great people to meet. (Details coming soon).

Lots more to be scheduled on USFS, BLM and State lands in Oregon and Washington.  We will notify you as we nail down dates and details.

Meanwhile, Get some!  And let us know!

Thanks, Everyone!!!

Bill Cogley

Pres/CEO Trash No Land

Trash No Land.org

info@trashnoland.org

“Stewardship Keeps It Open!”