The
drive to the dramatic view of Bedford County from a vista atop
the ridge was ruined by years of dumping and littering along
Skyview Road. But this former "Dirty Dozen" site,
which had degraded Georges Creek, Dunnings Creek, and the Juniata
River, was cleaned of over 7 tons of trash on Saturday, May
3, 2003.
Black
Oak Ridge Landscaping removed all of the tires and bulky items
from the steep slopes of the Crowsfoot area and Skyview Road
the week before the volunteer cleanup. On the scheduled day
of the cleanup, volunteers met at the Alum Bank Fire Company
for supplies and safety talk and then proceeded to the dumpsite,
cleaning the area of all remaining trash.
Due to a winter
ice storm that felled a multitude of trees over the site,
Black Oak Ridge Landscaping had to cut branches and clear
the area before work 
could
begin. They then winched up over 200 tires, which contained
water that provided breeding sites for mosquitoes, appliances,
and other heavy items.
Volunteers,
led by members of PA CleanWays of Bedford County, donated
a total of 59.5 hours to return the area to its natural state.
In addition to tires and appliances, the area yielded household
trash, yard waste, and construction debris.
Harclerode &
McGee Appliances removed freon from the appliances, Roll Off
Container Service provided hauling, Jake Hoover's Septic Cleaning
provided sanitary facilities, Shade Tire Processing Center
took the tires, and the Pleasantville Family Restaurant provided
lunches for the workers. Waste Management-Shade Landfill,
Inc. provided free waste disposal and Hemlock Springs Excavating
donated the use of equipment to transport bags of trash from
the site to rolloff containers.
Gallitzin State Forest Cleanup Team
Alum Bank Fire Company
Bedford County Youth Probation
Black Oak Ridge Landscaping
Gallitzin Sate Forest Employees
Harclerode & McGee Appliances
Hemlock Springs Excavating
Jake Hoover's Septic Cleaning
Local Volunteers
PA CleanWays of Bedford County
Pleasantville Family Restaurant
Roll Off Container Service
Shade Tire Processing Center
Waste Management-Shade Landfill, Inc.
|
The site is
now being monitored by local residents to watch for and act
on any subsequent dumping activity.
To
ensure proper disposal of waste, DCNR encourages residents
to contact the Bedford County Recycling Coordinator at (814)
623-8099.
The
Gallitzin
State Forest consists of two
separate areas
in Northern Bedford, Cambria,
Indiana, and Northern Somerset counties, comprising 15,336
acres.
The
Babcock Division in Northern Somerset
County is the largest tract
and includes the scenic Babcock State Forest Picnic Area along
Route 56, four miles east of Windber. The Clear Shade Wild
Area and the John P. Saylor Trail also provide recreational
opportunities.
The Charles F. Lewis Natural Area is located at the western
end of the Rager Mountain Division near Cramer in Indiana
County. This 384-acre unique scenic area includes the two-mile
Clark Run Trail, which winds through the Clark Run Gorge with
its numerous small waterfalls and interesting geologic features.
The lands are open to hunting, fishing, and general recreation.
Learn
about other
illegal dump sites in state forests and parks.
This page last updated July 19, 2003.
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