Issues in Westlock - Crown Land

rknight111

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Just listing to 630 Ched, Shaye Ganam show. John Biro from Westlock County protective services is on, they are having some serious issues on the crown land out there. I would presume this is the Long Island lake area. I texted Shaye and the podcast will be available at around 1 pm, ill post a link to that.

The issues they are having is what we keep hearing,

Garbage being left all over, even fridges.
People are discharging firearms all over, shooting tannerite. Fires are starting, they had one in early April. There is no care being used when shooting and people around the area are concerned, buildings and stuff are reported to have bullet holes from stray bullets. People are basically discharging firearms recklessly. John said they even found 50 Caliber bullets.

This is nuts and will get these areas shut down.
 
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Ballzdeep

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This is sad, i have some of my best memories around that area. Was a great area and never packed. Spent many weekends out there years before they cleaned the dump up and made staging area. People that were around saddle circle used to be top notch. Even had a guy drive a tractor down to the pits to pull my stuck truck an trailer over that sandy mess of a road. We went shot for shot that night and had a riot, was the good ol days... Someone should set up trail cams to see who these punks are...
 

Bogger

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I was listening to that... there is no easy answer, a lot of people are pigs, vigilante justice is fitting but illegal. Probably the best solution is to allow organized groups/clubs to hold tenure over specific areas and allow them to charge access fees for use. Most will not agree but government user fees will just go into general revenue and problems will not be solved, at least non-profits collecting revenue can put that revenue into solutions such as trail cams, clean up efforts and greater enforcement. Like many have stated, we don't need new laws we just need a method of enforcing the laws that already exist.
 

nast70

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This is online now as well, with a pic (insert puke emoji here). It's getting a ton of attention, it will be closed for sure for May long. Call it a fire ban, or an ATV ban, but the writings on the wall.

‘It’s out of control’: Westlock County residents concerned over Crown land abuse (msn.com)

westlockcountygarbage.jpg
 
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rhody605

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Most likely be easy to round up people to help this cleanup. I'd be in depending on timing and family schedule.
 
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TylerG

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Most likely be easy to round up people to help this cleanup. I'd be in depending on timing and family schedule.

I got a call back from John @ Westlock County, but unfortunately was on an important call with the VP of my department at work, his voicemail says he wants to talk so I've returned his call and hope to hear from him soon.

I will keep everyone in the loop.
 

TylerG

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Alright Folks,

I've had a conversation with John @ Westlock County, he is VERY elated that we are offering to try to set this up. The area in question is East of Clyde down "Landing Trail" in the Gravel Pits.

Here's the list of what we need to do:

We need to pick a weekend to go and do this cleanup. I propose we go with the 2nd Saturday in May, May 15 this gives us time to get everything planned and organized.

We will require man power, lots of it, Ron is looking into getting a bin, but John at the County would prefer we use Pickup trucks with Dump Trailers.

Ron is also looking to see if he can get a tracked skid steer from his family for the day.

The residents of this area are fedup, and apparently some have even gone over a few times with garbage bags to try to cleanup.

John will help us to publicize this event as well through his media contacts, we will have to follow any and all COVID protocols as well (masks, social distancing, gloves etc).

We will be looking for donations of garbage bags, bottles of water, possibly gloves, man power, and equipment.

If you have equipment, or are willing to donate items, please email me at tylerg@snowandmud.com
 

rhody605

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Maybe message Matt Niddrie on Alberta OHV trail riders. They have volunteered before and helped clean up some of Hell's Half Acre recently. That was along with UTV Canada.

I'll see if I can get the family dump trailer for that weekend. And see how the schedule works for us.
 

TylerG

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Maybe message Matt Niddrie on Alberta OHV trail riders. They have volunteered before and helped clean up some of Hell's Half Acre recently. That was along with UTV Canada.

I'll see if I can get the family dump trailer for that weekend. And see how the schedule works for us.

Matt Niddrie is the last person I will contact....... I could tell you many stories of his "volunteerism" and "not for profit".......

I may have to log back into Facebook to post this up though, but no affiliation to his group.
 

06 Dragon

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Instead of charging everyone monies for camping in the back country and policing lock downs why don't they focus on these trouble areas? Pretty sure it is not to difficult to pose as a fellow camper and party goer. Video the culprits giving the rest of the good law abiding outdoor folk a bad rep. Don't bust it up on the spot. Gather up the evidence. Get the offenders on the way out. Present them with large fines and make them clean up everything. Heck with technology now days I am sure they have cameras that can monitor these areas. Even some well placed game cameras would work.
Anyway just post up the clean up date and good snow and mud folk will come and clean up.
 
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snopro

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What is concerning is people out of backlash may just make messes using the theory that if I'm paying for cleanup then they can clean up my mess. This is no different than current gun legislation. Penalize the good ones because of the bad ones. If they really wanted to make a dent they should have started the season before May long weekend. That is traditionally the worst weekend of the year for party goers and the pig population to do the most damage.
 

snopro

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I'm shocked they lumped in the managed parks in Kananaskis like Peter Lougheed and others. In all the years I have camped in a managed park I have not seen a camper leave a mess behind? Why is that? Because they are monitored and they have to register to stay and leave all their personal info behind. Maybe the answer is to make random campers register as well?
 
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