The
steep slope in Rothrock State Forest along Colerain Road, located
in Huntingdon County, Spruce Creek Township, had been dumped
on for many years. The trash included tires, household items,
construction debris, vehicle parts, yard waste, and appliances.
Tires and other trash offered prime breeding sites for mosquitoes,
potential carriers of West Nile virus.
Prior
to the day of the volunteer cleanup, Rothrock State Forest personnel
pulled tires and other large items up the steep slopes.
Then,
on April 24, organizers PA CleanWays of Huntingdon County met
with local volunteers and members of the PSU Center for Watershed
Stewardship at the Colerain picnic area in Rothrock State Forest
to participate in the cleanup as part of the Great PA Cleanup.
The 16 volunteers removed trash from a 4-mile section of Colerain
Road, donating a total of 48 hours to the project.
"We've
had a chronic problem with dumping along Colerain Road,"
Rothrock Assistant District Forester Sam Bricker said. "Community
involvement is paramount to developing a long-term solution.
I am pleased with our progress."
A
ton of trash, 84 tires, and over 1/2 ton of scrap metal were
removed from the site and properly disposed or recycled. Before
and after the cleanup, volunteers enjoyed baked goods and a
great lunch donated by several local businesses. Uni-Marts,
Inc. of State College donated drinks, Stricklers Ice of Huntingdon
donated bottled water, and Marshall House Bed and Breakfast,
Spruce Creek Bed and Breakfast, Cedar Hill Bed and Breakfast,
Connie Iddings, Don Zimmerman, Don Beaver, Mary and Kert Ivie,
and the Spruce Creek Tavern, all of Spruce Creek, who donated
baked goods and lunches for the volunteers.
Rothrock State Forest Cleanup Team
Cedar Hill Bed and Breakfast
Connie Iddings
Don Beaver
Don Zimmerman
Marshall House Bed and Breakfast
Mary and Kert Ivie
PA CleanWays of Huntingdon County
Park's Garbage Service
PSU Center for Watershed Stewardship
Rothrock State Forest Employees
Spruce Creek Bed and Breakfast
Spruce Creek Tavern
Stricklers Ice
Uni-Marts, Inc.
|
Contracted
services were provided at a discount by Park's Garbage Service,
Inc. of Mount Union for hauling, disposal, and labor.
DCNR
encourages Huntingdon County residents with questions about
recycling and proper disposal to contact their county Recycling
Coordinator at (814) 643-8192.
Rothrock
State Forest
