Pallets of construction debris were cleaned up by Stewards of Public Lands volunteers in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, town of Clarkdale, city of Cottonwood, and Yavapai County. Numerous piles of discarded landscaping debris, which take more than 40 years to disintegrate, were also hauled away. Waste Management, Northern Arizona Waste Service, and Safeway have provided complementary services to the Stewards volunteers.

Community volunteer Fred Rees assists city of Cottonwood volunteer Jim Wixom at a Stewards of Public Lands trash cleanup in October. Collaborative efforts among citizen volunteers, local government agencies and local businesses provide a safe, clean landscape for the public's enjoyment. Community volunteers are invited to mark their calendars to assist in planned cleanups Nov. 13 and Dec. 11. The city of Cottonwood provided two roll-off dumpsters and a backhoe loader for the October cleanup, while the town of Clarkdale furnished a backhoe loader and dump truck. Cottonwood's street crew hauled three trailer loads of metal to recyclers.

Stewards of Public Lands volunteer Jess Tyler (left) and Clarkdale Police Chief Patrick Haynie load illegally discarded computer monitors and CPUs into a loader operated by volunteer Sgt. Michael Pierce. Dumped in washes, these materials provide potential threats to the Verde watershed's aquifers, rivers and streams. The town of Clarkdale and city of Cottonwood have collaborated with the Stewards, Yavapai County Community Services, and the U.S. Forest Service in public lands cleanups that began in April. Local law enforcement agencies have all pledged stepped-up enforcement against illegal dumping.

Community partnerships work. Collaborative public lands cleanup efforts with community volunteers, the City of Cottonwood, Town of Clarkdale, Yavapai County and the U.S. Forest Service continue. State Trust Land officials have also provided dumpsters and garbage bags. The Prescott National Forest and Verde District Ranger Tom Bonomo have donated equipment and hundreds of trash bags to the Stewards' efforts. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has also expressed support for the Steward's watershed cleanups. Much of the illegally dumped trash winds up in washes that connect with the Verde River. There is always concern that multitudes of illegally dumped materials that include tires, car batteries, and paint and solvent containers could impair the public's safe drinking water through aquifer infiltration.

The Stewards of Public Lands have completed cleanups of the West Mingus Avenue and Allen Springs Road areas, Ogden Ranch/Old 279 and the Bill Gray Road areas. Future maintenance cleanups are planned as needed.

The partners are now tackling the Ogden Ranch Road and old Highway 279 areas. Community volunteers Jess Tyler and Fred Rees assessed the area prior to the cleanup and inventoried four car bodies, one camper shell, two engine blocks, more than 25 pieces of furniture, 30 mattresses of various sizes, four pallets of construction debris, landscaping debris, and 15 refrigerators and appliances. The two volunteers estimated enough household trash and litter to fill several roll-off dumpsters. Prior to the last Stewards' cleanup, the city of Cottonwood's street crew, supervised by Claude Lankford, picked up three truck loads of metal and hauled them to B&R for recycling. Town of Clarkdale Street and Police Department employees have also spent many dedicated hours in cleanup efforts. Illegal dumping affects everyone in some way.

 "The Stewards are not just about cleanup projects. Our efforts are a long-term commitment," Bonomo says.

The Stewards want to keep the Verde watershed clean for everyone's health and safety. The goal is to restore the landscape to its former beauty, and create enjoyable and safe recreational opportunities for residents who enjoy hiking, running, bicycling, or for those who enjoy just taking a nice leisurely Sunday drive.