FSUDad: Thanks to all the came out and helped with the clean-up. You guys/gals are the best!!! The following article appeared in the Lakeland Ledger today.
By Tom Palmer The Lakeland Ledger Tuesday May 1, 2007
THANKS TO GEOCACHERS
One of the most embarrassing sights on a publicly owned piece of property in Polk County is the boat-launching area on State Road 540 at Saddle Creek.
Recently a group of local geocaching enthusiasts - people who put out and retrieve items with the aid of GPS units - took on the cleanup of this area as a workday project.
The photos that were forwarded to me showed great results.
In case you didn't know it, this area is part of Circle B Bar Reserve.
It has been a chronic dump site for as long as I can remember. I've seen appliances, tires and animal carcasses along with the usual cans and bottles.
I stopped by Thursday to look at the progress. Unfortunately the barbarians had been busy. I quickly found four tires, some construction debris and an alligator that probably didn't die in his sleep.
Someday there may a better access point for Lake Hancock, and this disgrace can be closed for good.
The cleanup day points to another issue besides my disgust with litterbugs.
It is that volunteers are an important component in the management of public lands.
Polk County Environmental Lands Program has periodic volunteer workdays and other volunteer opportunities.
For more information, call 863-534-7377.