closing of our ponds/lakes due to trash and gang activity

[panfisher]

i knew it was just a matter of time for this to happen, the wife said that they closed I-82 ponds #4 and#5 because of all the trash and the gang activity, i've posted my views before on this site. like i said i walk around every pond and small lake that i can, so i see how bad the trash has been getting. the worst offenders have been small groups of people with infants and little children. they stay all day bring everythig including diapers but they'll leave with nothing including the diapers. then you get the other lowlifes that break into your vehicles and or do their graffiti thing. this happens more during the hot days of summer, but i have seen this to be a growing problem the last few years. there has not been one place that i've been to. rivers/ lakes/ ponds that did not have alot of trash around the areas normally used. the next one should be the buena pond. lots of trash at this pond scolded a family this spring for throwing their chip bags and pop cans into the water in front of them.they left afew hours later with the stuff still floating outon the pond. they gave me that i don't understand what you are saying attitude. the thing about this pond is that there are trash cans all over this sight and the perps had a some maybe 100ft from them expect one of your fishing holes to not be there any more because of people like these.

[GJorgy]

A lot of people just don't get it. Why trash a place where you go to relax and have fun. Hey even fishermen do it. I can't believe how many worm/egg/bait containers that are left on shore. If you took the trouble to carry it in then for gods sake it isn't that hard to pack it back out! I used an underwater camera on a local lake one day and was disgusted at the amount of cans and bottles and just plain trash that was sunk on the bottom. And this lake isn't a large popular lake either.

[panfisher]

pond #6 isjust as bad if not worse than 4-5 i snorkaled this pond this spring and couldn't believe all tha garbage at the bottom. there was a tv set among the thousands of beer bottles and cans. also there is alot of weighted down plastic bags. these lowlifes will take their time hide the stuff they bring in but can't take the time to take it out. i was at one spot on the naches river last week and picked up huge bag and a half of garbage. i will donate $100.00 to some sort of program that would help catch these low lifes i can along with others keep picking up the trash but then i'm just an enabler (why should they pick it up when someone else will). problem is it most likely wouldn't get used (100.00) because people don't want to get involved.

[tnj8222]

yup its just sad. i got plastic bags in my tackle bag now, people just dont care.

[shawn]

It's a damn shame that a few people can ruin a good thing for everyone.Last year while salmon fishing I chastized a group of kids about throwing their trash everywhere.One went and got his father and sad part is all the dad could say is it's not that big of deal,kids will be kids.So if that dad is out there reading this ''Shame on you".

[gpc]

Trash at our lakes is terrible. But now things are getting really bad. Some time yesterday 2 kids got shot at steel lake park in Federal Way. The girl who is 17 years old is still at Harborview with the bullet stuck in her spine. They doubt she will be able to walk again. Its very sad. Not to mention the last time I was at steel lake park I witnessed a pit bull fight.

[Paul & Sammi]

Its not much better here on the eastside. We pick up beer bottles and cans almost every where we go. What gets me is the people who 'clean their boats' at the launches by tossing everything at the end of the ramp. Got to be those skiers who regularly try to swamp us. Cant be fishermen, can it?.

I spent my summers as a teenager floating and fishing for miles on the Little Spokane River with my best friend. Fished there up until about 10 years ago. Every time we went we would pack out bags of trash. The land owners eventually had enough of the trash, drunks and fires on their land and up went the no trespassing signs and fences. The county even banned river access from under bridges. Cant even fish there now. There is no river access at all now for miles and miles.

We own land on Deadman creek that feeds into the Little Spokane so I can sympathize with landowners on the river. Same problem here. We have lots of no trespassing signs and barbed wire now too. Anyone who bothers to ask to go on our land gets a big YES. This has happened exactly 3 times now in the 19 years I've lived here. Most prefer to sneak in the back way. Lost count of how many the irate gun toting land owner and sheriffs have removed now. Could probably fill a garbage truck with all the crap I have had to pick up too. I just don't get these people

[beerman1981]

I have fished those ponds before, and I believe it is a shame that people cannot be responsible enough to preserve the outdoors and keep it the way it should be. These violators are not just ruining it for others, but for themselves as well. How stupid can a person be to not realize that by leaving dirty diapers, beer bottles and cluttering the bottom of lakes with tv's, tires, etc that they themselves are completely destroying the habitat (which they apperantly enjoy). Irresponsibility P**** me off. When a person leaves a beer bottle lying around, the outcome is that their own child (or someone elses) may slice their foot open. As far as dirty diapers and other unsanitary items lying around, hmmmm, what are the consequences here? INFECTION, INFECTION AND MORE INFECTION! WOO HOO! Nothing beats a good case of ecoli or influenza at your local fishing hole. Why stop there? Why don't we send around a person with a case of "anthrax" and let him go around from fisherman to fisherman and infect them all (Heavy sarcasm). Litter in the water? That's like putting arsenic in the water. Why don't we pollute the water that we love to fish, so that all the fish we love to fish for will die? Think about that one. (Joe cusses and swears)

From my understanding Gang activity is the main reason these ponds were closed. One look around is apperant of this. The tunnel that you go through while accessing this lake is completely annihilated with gang graffiti, as is the outhouse (inside and out). I personally felt nervous the few times I fished this pond based on the surrounding apperance. My question though is this: "Is shutting down a pond really going to decrease gang activity? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!! The gang bangers will just find another spot to loiter at, which in turn will result in another location being closed off, etc. If the Lower Valley / yakima really want to decrease gang activity, they are going about it completely wrong!!!! It's almost as bad as the anti-meth murals they put up on certain buildings in the Yakima area (with the belief that these murals will help decrease meth use). GIVE ME A BREAK, AND CUT THE CRAP! Yes the problem is bad, but shutting down local fishing holes and painting murals is just a complete waste of tax payer money. These solutions are not remotely effective. The only reason I think that such 'solutions' have been implemented is because officials have no clue how to deal with these large social problems. They think that by painting a few murals and closing down a fishing hole, they will give the appearence that the officials are working hard on the gang/ drug problem.

I'm not buying it. If you want to combat gang activity, leave the pond open. Have police officers do a stakeout. There are plenty of bushes/ trees around this area. Let the gang bangers come, and then bust them in the act. In turn, something will actually be done about the gang problem (ie arrests and drugs off the street) and honest, good hearted anglers can fish. It's almost as if city officials are hiding from the problem. If you want to combat the problem, you DON'T shut down a place where you know that you can arrest gang members and get drugs off the street. Keep it open and wait for them to show up. Arrest them. It's as simple as that. Now, more time and money has to go into finding new hang outs for gang members. Well, city officials, y'all had a great place to combat drug problems but you blew it. THANKS FOR RUINING MY FISHING HOLE.

Joe

(apperantly i'm leutinant now)!!!! SWEET!

[KUP]

Joe, you are 100% right on. The toxic waste is a big worry. The water you are on today might LOOK mighty purdy, but there is trouble brewing below and just because you can't see it doesn't mean it ain't there. I like your signature line, too.
I'd like to think that MOST fishermen practice that motto and don't throw things overboard, including beer bottles.
Putting up signs does not stop the crime.. criminals don't care and most of them can't read LOL.

I agree the way out of this is ENFORCEMENT. Take back our lakes like they "Take back the streets" .
And where the heck is the media? There should be more public outcry about ruining our lakes and streams in the press.
Diapers are the worst. The worst. And you KNOW kids learn by example, so there is the next generation of litterers in the making.
The guy who thinks up a cleaning and removal machine is gonna be rich. Wish it was that easy...

maybe the web and forums like these is a way to start. Grass roots thing, ya know. Think about it, Joe, you are always so good about teaching others to take care of our great outdoors so we and our children can continue to enjoy Washington's great beauty.
Any ideas? Maybe start a petition ...here on Washington Lakes? ? I don't know... feels helpless to sit back and complain... maybe there IS some power in the press...anybody else out there have ideas that will bring about real (reel) change?

[panfisher]

yea! instead of a sign that says "YAKIMA palm springs of washington" it should be "YAKIMA armpit of washington" the people in charge just keep covering up the smell (problems) with deoderant. (stupid laws that don,t work, signs that people laugh at, etc,) stink is still stink when its just covered up. to get down to the problems a thorough washing (actually dueing something about the problems) is needed. but to many are afraid of the soap/ water and good hard scrubbrush needed to get the job done. <')//<

[Fish-or-man?]

I agree with Beerman. And not to sound like a punk for critisizing law enforcement (I realize they can't be everywhere at once, especially in an area like Yakima), but it has always amazed me how many cops in this area are sitting around in speed traps, when they could be staked out at a place like an I-82 pond, or even at Rotary Lake. I think we in the Yakima area should definitely increase taxes to get more local law enforcement officals to combat the gangs and Johnny No-Laws of the area. Although, I suppose that may not even help (although it wouldn't hurt) because I really question the wisdom of Yakima's city council... In fact, I think on a whole, they're a bunch of morons not fit to run a MacDonalds, let alone a city. The Greater Yakima area could be a fine place to live if we could enforce some laws around here.

[cavdad45]

Unfortunately it's the day we live in. As far as the trash and garbage, it has to be up to each of us to do more and clean up after the scumbag POS's that leave their garbage everywhere. If we leave it up to the state or county to enforce it, they will, but the cost to us will be high. Look at Oregon. Just 5 or 10 years ago, you could fish anywhere and not have to fork over your wallet. Today if you fish in Oregon, you pay fees at nearly every lake in the state just for access. If you fish 100 days a year that cost can be $300-$500 out of your pocket!!!

Who knows where that money goes? The fisheries are not improved, actually they continue to decline. And the trash? It's still there.

[beerman1981]

"Although, I suppose that may not even help (although it wouldn't hurt) because I really question the wisdom of Yakima's city council... In fact, I think on a whole, they're a bunch of morons not fit to run a MacDonalds, let alone a city."

Well said! Fish-or-man! I agree with you one hundred percent! I also like the petition idea, especially in yakima. It would be pretty rockin' to get some sort of petition going and show up at the courthouse or something... If we as fishermen don't stand up for the lakes we enjoy fishing, and show to our "so called" leaders, then they will only continue to close pond after pond. All of us in ever city need to show our authorities that we mean business when they stomp on our toes -- PUSH BACK.

Joe

[beerman1981]

[MikeFishes]

I was at Martha Lake (AM) this weekend and saw a bunch of just junk left there. It was kind of maddening to see, especially for a pretty nice lake. I would definately call the Snoho County Sheriff if I saw someone littering at one of the lakes I go to. That's over a $1000 ticket, isn't it? Of course, that's if I saw it happen. Can't do much except clean up after them if I wasn't there.

[panfisher]

I-82 ponds #4&5 are open for fishing after the problems of trash and the wrecking of the fishing dock. they also did a rainbow trout plant oct. 10th:cheers:

[panfisher]

be sure you all put a g-bag in with your tackle gear this year:thumright

[michaelunbewust]

GOOD LUCK OVER IN YAKI-VEGAS. I REGULARLY TRAVEL TO TRI-CITIES THRU YAKIMA (GO HOME TO GIRLFRIEND'S EVERY OTHER WEEK-END), BUT, I WILL NOT STOP AT YAKIMA ANY LONGER. MY MOST RECENT EXPERIENCE WAS I PULLED INTO BURGERKING ACROSS FROM WALMART (WAITING FOR MY GIRLFRIEND'S KID), AND THE MANAGER TELLS ME I WAS LUCKY I HADNT COME THRU THE NIGHT BEFORE, DUE TO THE FACT, THEY ARRESTED A COUPLE OF GUYS FOR A DRUG-RELATED SHOOTING BY GANG-BANGERS (I GUESS THE GUY THAT WAS SHOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO ROB THE DRUG DEALER OF HIS DRUGS. TALK ABOUT CRAZY!! PANFISHER BE CAREFUL OUT THERE ON THOSE PONDS, AND, ALWAYS HAVE A PHONE WITH YOU. I USED TO HIT A NUMBER OF PLACES ON THE WAY OVER, JUST DROWNING WORMS, BUT, WILL NOW WAIT UNTIL AT LEAST PROSSER. I KNOW THE PROBLEM IS EVERYWHERE, BUT, WE ALWAYS BROUGHT OUR ANIMALS TO THE FAIR AND FISH THE YAKIMA GROWING UP, AND, NEVER SEEN IT LIKE IT IS TODAY. TRI-CITIES WAS LOSING THE GANG BATTLE, BUT, HAVE PUT TOGETHER A GANG-TASK FORCE (MY SON IS A MEMBER), AND ARE REALLY PREACHING PREVENTION THIS YEAR TO THE YOUNG KIDS IN SCHOOL. THE CITIES ARE BECOMING A LITTLE BIT BETTER BECAUSE OF IT. MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU PANFISHER AND BEERMAN!!

[Anonymous]

Education, enforcement, education, enforcement. It's really that simply. Some people you're never gunna change, and you know who you are....even some fishermen/women commit the folly crime...oxymoronic if you ask me. Here's where we step in...yes, us the angler. If we see someone litter, which is a misdemeanor is the state of WA we need to speak up and educate the person who committed the acts of littering and trashing our favorite fishing hole. I, for one, am most annoyed with people who leave behind empty powerbait jars at boat launches (you know who you are) and worm containers floating on the surface of a lake.

But, I'd like to point out that the WDFW does a poor job of providing trash bins at certain locales (lakes/rivers). For instance, I'll take Lake Margaret, a fun, clean little lake on the whole. There is a toilet up top and enough parking for around 10-15 vehicles, give or take a few. There are no trash cans in sight...something that is very alarming. Simply raising our taxes is NOT an option for this problem. We need to get our heads out of our...you know what...and take some action here. I hate seeing passionate fishermen become passive observers. Let's go now! Get off your rear-end and speak up, spark change! I have the WDFW enforcment hotline number on speed dial on my new cell phone and will use it if I have to this Spring. Let's be the change we want to see out on the water. We can't wait and SHOULD NOT get more government involved with raising taxes (because G-d knows where that money goes...certaintly not to more enforcement or improved waste removal). We need to bring along pastic bags to pick up after other people who simply don't give a darn about the environment.

Earlier today I saw a picture post by one of our members that showed fishing line making it's way in on the fishes' upper head/body. This was not only sad to see, but very disheartening. For one, think about all the leaded line, and mono that sits at the bottom of our area lakes; one just need to bottom bounce Pine Lake for brown trout to figure this one out. As one we aren't going to make much of any progress...but as a cohesive unit of fishermen/women we will spark change. Let me give you one quick example. Last year I floated down the Cedar River in the dead heat of summer, it was around 100F outside and people (teenagers) were floating the river too. We were fly-fishing, they were wasted. I could have filled up a hundreds of garbage bags worth of beer bottles, energy drink cans, needles, old bbq grills glued onto the riverbed, among many other strange things (clothing, etc.)...it's where things break down. We need to enforce this the best we can, and educate other anglers who are ignorant enough not to pay due respect to our area waters...not just lakes...but rivers, and Puget Sound, too.

In conclusion, I hope that people will take a little extra time this Spring and think ahead, bring garbage bags and pick up what you can. If you see someone litter, call them out. I urge the WDFW to adopt a trash system at all their facility sites...they have the resources and they should supply us with the proper means of waste disposal. The last thing we need is another tax to keep our fishing areas clean...we have what we need already to make this happen -- it's you, the angler. I hope to run across some of you polluters this summer and then we can have a face-to-face talk about why you do what you do. To a clean, safe, and fun start to the 2008 fishing season!

[panfisher]

so far my own experience is with trash cans on site has been;

1.always full and never emptied!
2. people still to lazy to throw their trash in those cans even when it's only 20 ft away!
3. these same people will walk way around a lake with their stuff but can't walk back with the same stuff and drop it into a can thats along the way!
4. when you do ask them to pick up "THEIR" trash they try to get into your face !
5. these same people usually have kids along so they teach them that its O.K. to trash these area's

this year i'm going to take vidieos of these people the law won't do anything with pictures! you have to show them actually throwing the trash down, and leaving it behind.