Volunteers clean up illegal dumping in Desert Hot Springs, protect Mission Creek watershed

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. — Volunteers spent Saturday clearing illegally dumped trash from the Mission Creek area of Desert Hot Springs as part of National CleanUp Day.

The “Clean Our Watershed” community cleanup brought together local organizations, businesses, students and volunteers to remove appliances, tubs, plastic, wires and other debris scattered across the desert.

The event was organized by the Kiwanis Club of Palm Springs, New Earth Creator, BGB Environmental Services and Friends of the Desert Mountains.

“When I came out here, I didn’t think it would be this bad,” said high school junior Andrea Castro, who participated with Key Club.

Organizers said the cleanup is about more than improving how the area looks. Andres Marquez, founder of New Earth Creator, said years of dumping have created pollution near important local water resources.

“What we want to do is restore this environment back to natural conditions, because there’s been a buildup of pollution, and it interfaces with our local water systems,” Marquez said.

Mission Creek is part of the groundwater system beneath the Coachella Valley. Local environmental groups say trash and chemicals left on the land can eventually move into the soil and potentially reach water below.

“When trash sits on top of this land, it actually percolates down into the water,” said Karin Jaffie, marketing and communications manager for Friends of the Desert Mountains. “And at some point in time, that will impact us.”

Desert Water Agency says nearly all of the water used in the Coachella Valley comes from groundwater.

Wildlife is another concern.

Jaffie said surveys of the area have found protected burrowing owls, other birds and rattlesnakes.

“We’ve actually seen the burrowing owls nesting in dumps that were burned out, piles and trash like that,” Jaffie said. “And it could actually poison them or hurt them in some way.”

Volunteers said some of the debris went far beyond everyday litter.

“There’s a lot of trash,” volunteer Tammy Martin said. “Not only just trash and windblown things, but big, like refrigerators and tubs and everything.”

Organizers hoped to fill four local trash haulers to capacity by the end of the cleanup.

Berlinda Blackburn, principal owner of Blackburn Environmental Services, said residents have legal options for disposing of large or hazardous items.

“Call your local trash service provider,” Blackburn said. “They can arrange bulky item pickup, hazmat pickup. There’s opportunities to dispose of trash legally.”

Organizers said Riverside County also has resources available for reporting illegal dumping. Marquez said the long-term goal is to prevent more trash from ending up in the desert.

“I suggest you just don’t do it,” Marquez said. “You don’t understand the impact that you are presenting, not just to the wildlife, to our water, but also to the community.”