Joint Effort Ocala National Forest Cleanup

[jasoncj7]

Greetings atvflorida.com members.  I'm an OHV user (83 CJ7), on staff at Florida Jeepers Offroad Association and acting VP for Florida Four Wheel Drive Association.  I'm also active in a Volunteer Ranger program in ONF so you might of seen me on the trail in a green Ford Ranger p/u at one time or another.

I am organizing a cleanup in ONF with the Forest Service (they are locating areas that need cleaning up).  Trash brought in by visitors is the target of this cleanup will last one full day.  November 5 or 6 are the dates we are looking to do this on since it places us in the forest during a break period of hunting.

Currentlly have approx 20+ folks seriously interested in participating.  Reply back if you have questions or plan on helping out.

More info can be found at the following URL's :

Florida Trail Riders Topic on the cleanup
FL4WDA Topic on the cleanup
FJOA Topic on the cleanup

[eric]

Sounds great! Please let us know as soon as they decide on what locations

[GSPKurt]

Hey Jason-
Kurt here. Unfortunately, I'll be in Wisconsin doing some bird hunting that week. Best of luck with your efforts. Wish I could be there. Did you contact Lisa and let her know?

[jwscroll]

I will try to be there.

[dreth]

my wife has a heart walk on the 5th! i have no idea what that means so i will check and see if i can go

ONCE AGAIN I FEEL THAT THIS WILL GO A LONG WAY IN THE EFFORTS TO KEEP THE FOREST OPEN TO RIDING AND POSSIBLY OPEN OTHERS.

[jasoncj7]

Please let us know as soon as they decide on what locations

I've been to a few of the locations in the north section of the forest but there should be some spots all over allowing us to split up and make a greater impact.  We all will need to meet up in the morning at some central location for an official "Cleanup Orientation" since this is being coordinated with the Forest Service.

Unfortunately I dont have more than a day to devote to this but in the future I would like to organize Cleanup Efforts to include a campout and BBQ in the forest and I'm sure the FS will provide a place for us to do that.  For now, I'd like to join some of the motorized vehicle usergroups in the forest together since alot of efforts are similar already; basically, let's get started on something!

Hey Kurt, Lisa should know about this since she is now Environmental Affairs Chair for FL4WDA. Thanks for the interest everyone.

[IT200]

Jason I feel saturday would be the better day as alot of the dumps are open. We are going to need places to get rid of all the trash. By the way I am Mark Turck one of the OHV volunteers.

[Bush Hog]

Where is it taking place?  I've wanted to organize a clean up in the area I ride.  Is is possible to get the Forrest Service to put a dumpster somewhere for a weekend?

[jasoncj7]

Where is it taking place?  I've wanted to organize a clean up in the area I ride.  Is is possible to get the Forrest Service to put a dumpster somewhere for a weekend?

This is going to take place where the Forest Service have identified areas that need cleaning up, I'm hoping this is the first of more organized cleanups between the FL4WDA and the Forest Service that we all can help out in.  The FS should be arranging the dumpsites with established dumpsters, Saturday will most likely be the day for this.

[backinsaddle]

Any thoughts on how to get the bigger stuff out of the forest, like abandoned cars, etc?  Or are we only worried about the manageable stuff.

[Kat1333]

You can count on my crew for help.  Keep us updated on this and future effort(s).  I am glad there are good people out there doing great things.

[stump66]

Any thoughts on how to get the bigger stuff out of the forest, like abandoned cars, etc?  Or are we only worried about the manageable stuff.

bury it
or drag it woth a sportsman 800 

[jasoncj7]

Any thoughts on how to get the bigger stuff out of the forest, like abandoned cars, etc?  Or are we only worried about the manageable stuff.

In general, only trash that we can carry and place into a bag, back of truck or on a trailer.  Dont want to go for glory and have someone get hurt.  I'd leave automobiles and simply report it to law enforcement, probably registered as stolen if I had to guess.

Hope to have some more information later this week or next week about details of the cleanup.  November 5 is looking to be the date.

[susieblazer]

 

  We are out for that date , that is when spacerider and dirtygrl80 are getting hitched............

[qt314nfla]

Keep me posted.  I'd be interested in helping out also.

[apkkfx400]

Available either Nov 5th or 6th-Let us know where and when to meet up!!

[jasoncj7]

The meeting place is looking to be the Lake George District Ranger Station for Nov 5 and will also be a place to take trash to provided other dump stations are not available, "Keep Marion Beautiful" is looking to help us out with dumpsters.

Currently, I am awaiting word back for some GPS locations that the Law Enforcement community has taken record of as needing to be cleaned up.

[jasoncj7]

http://fl4wda.com/forums/forums/3/394/ShowPost.aspx#394

The area that we are looking to concentrate on is the Church Lake Management area, specificially roads off of 42.  Depending on how many show up and what types of vehicles/trailers we have the effort may spread out but given the shortness of time a local area is likely to be targeted.

If you plan to volunteer for this, please be at the Lake George Ranger Station on 40 (352-625-2520) by 8am Nov 5 for a Forest Service orientation.  I plan to end our cleanup around 3pm the latest.

Bring bug spray, gloves, lunch, water and trash bags if you have it.  Pickup trucks and trailers are prefered as more can fit in them.  In the future, I would like to utilize ATV's with trailers in tow to access hard to reach areas.  Thanks to all.

On another note, I have been working to get this effort covered by means of a public announcement after the fact letting our communities know that we are actively working to better our recreation areas.

[qt314nfla]

I already have plans that weekend but would be interested in future clean up rides.

[jwscroll]

Due to circumstances beyond my control I will not be able to attend the cleanup. Please take pics so we can post em here. Someone needs to get a written account as well so we can post the story with the pics. The more interesting the story the more likely we could get it picked up by a newspaper or other media source.

[jasoncj7]

Hope to see some folks out there tomorrow from here.  Will let you know about future cleanups.

[AintSkeered]

Florida OHV Recreation Management Workshop
May 1- 4, 2006
Hilton-Ocala
Ocala, Florida

http://www.fl-dof.com/calendar/2006_ohv_may_wkshop.html

[jasoncj7]

We cleared about 9 tons of garbage from the forest with the help of 29 volunteers.  Clubs/associations in attendance were: FL4WDA, Florida Jeepers Offroad Association, Gator 4x4 Club, Mosquito County 4x4, Orlando Jeep Club and Florida Toyota Territory Off-Roaders Association.  Also had a couple folks from Tampa not yet plugged into a club.

Thanks to all of the volunteers, Keep Marion Beautiful and the Forestry Service for making this cleanup effort a success.  More will be planned next year, for now the FL4WDA is working on our annual campout along with some other things.

(Click images for larger version)