Posted by Cindy Yeast, Director, Estes Valley Watershed Coalition
On Saturday, October 15th, Lake Estes held its second annual line and tackle cleanup sponsored by the Nomadic Wildlife Society of the Estes Valley Basin Association. Twenty-two volunteers combed the shores of the lake to collect fishing lines and trash. We were also able to go to the bottom and clean up the area near the lake shore as the lake level dropped.
The purpose of the cleanup is to prevent injury or death from waterfowl or other birds entangled in the line or swallowing tackle or lead sinkers attached to the line. Cleaning up the lake area makes it safer for humans and other animals.
A large amount of fishing line and gimmicks were collected. An estimated 200 pounds of trash was also collected. The trash included plastic such as cans, bottles and plastic bags, as well as oars, fishing rods, ropes, tarps, seat cushions and even drones.
One stump was full of fishing line and bait, so one of the volunteers, fisherman Evan Jones, took a full bucket home from that one stump and checked his inventory. In addition to line and hooks, he was retrieving tackle such as lures, floats, flies and floats. He also had collected his 154 lead weights which weighed him over a pound. Lead weights are not regulated in Colorado, but some states do because lead poisoning can kill waterfowl, eagles, and other birds.
For more information on the Estes Valley Watershed Coalition, please visit www.evwatershed.org.
