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Garbage Problem Plagues Lindo Lakes
March 16, 2009LAKESIDE, Calif. -- Lindo Lakes is a popular spot to spend the day.
However, the East County oasis attracts more than just visitors. It also attracts plenty of trash.
"Everybody's out here feeding the birds, which is wonderful, but then they leave the bags behind. They blow off the tables and eventually wind up out in the lake," said visitor Denise Biegeman.
Biegeman walks her dogs at Lindo Lakes almost every day and said she is annoyed by what she sees.
"I'm always picking up plastic bags, beer cans, bottles, fishing line …," said Biegeman.
Evan Stover is another park user who spends his day helping park maintenance crews pick up trash five days a week.
"The rangers gave me a grabber, and the rec center gave me one," said Stover.
The problem for the 74-year-old Stover is the same for the park crews -- some of the trash cannot be reached from shore.
"We get off the shoreline and we're dealing with water that in some areas is waist to chest deep. Some areas we have to access by boat," said Stover.
That is where the problem lies, as county crews have a boat but cannot use it.
"Well, I just learned the boat has a hole in it, so I talked to my staff, directed them to get that repaired and we'll get that back on the water," said Randy Ford, district manager of county parks.
However, that seems unlikely as the boat has so many holes in it that it might be beyond repair.
"We're always looking for new equipment but in these fiscal times that might be a little difficult," said Ford.
Especially since there are no fees to use the park, said Ford
Until the boat is repaired or replaced, some of the garbage will have to remain.
Biegeman hopes park users will pay more attention when it comes to their trash.
"Nine out of 10 times there is a garbage can right next to it or really close by, and people just don't use them," said Biegeman.
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