Trash cleanup at Quemado Lake and along Highway 36 beautifies forest and community

QUEMADO, NM, June 26, 2023 – The Gila National Forest, Quemado Ranger District staff will be spending some time out and about, picking up litter from the Quemado Lake area and along the district's adopted section of Highway 36 over the next two weeks.

"It feels good to work together as a team on a common effort and be able to see the fruits of our labors," said Quemado District Ranger Randall Chavez. "Group workdays like this help staff build team relationships, while making improvements to the public land and showing pride in our community."

Wednesday, June 28, Quemado Ranger District staff will team up with staff from New Mexico Game and Fish to clean up litter, such as fishing line, cigarette butts, and packaging materials from the Quemado Lake shoreline. The group will also spend time removing graffiti from restrooms. Graffiti impairs the beauty of the forest. Please help us stop the graffiti.

The following week, on July 5, the group will pick up more litter, this time along miles 0 – 1 of their adopted stretch of New Mexico Highway 36, which runs past the Quemado Ranger Station. Please use caution when driving past our workers.

You can contribute to our cause by never letting litter hit the ground in the first place. When visiting the public lands, you must pack out your trash from any site where trash cans are not provided. If trash cans are provided, but they are full or overflowing, you must pack out your trash. Leaving bags of trash stacked on and around trash cans attracts bears and other wildlife. Eating trash habituates bears to seeking out human trash as food, endangering the animals and people who camp or live in the area.

Show you care about the Gila National Forest and its wildlife by bagging up food scraps and trash and removing it with you at the end of your visit. You are encouraged to leave your site better than you found it picking up litter left by irresponsible users before you. For more information contact Maribeth Pecotte at 575-388-8211 or Maribeth.Pecotte@usda.gov .