OK, this clean-up is moving forward. Looks like we have a few people who have stated they will come, hopefully there are more of you that are coming but haven't posted. Here are the details:

We will meet in the Blue Creek parking lot Saturday am, 9am. My truck is a Chevy Silverado 2002 with a Leer top, extended cab. We should be up and have hot coffee going. I'll have a sign up as well. I will try to park near the trailhead end of the parking lot.

We will hike in to the Creek with garbage bags. Please bring your own heavy duty gloves. Plan on spending 2-3 hours picking up. We will pile the bags up at the trailhead next to Blue Creek and hopefully anglers will help us bring them back out to the parking lot. I expect we'll have quite a few!

Around 11:30 or so we will break for a hot dog lunch at Blue Creek. I'll have a propane stove to cook. If you want to bring some grub or something to drink be my guest. I'll bring hotdogs, buns, and condiments. After lunch we'll hike out what we can to the parking lot. I haven't heard back from Tacoma Power yet so that is still up in the air. But I figure better to have the trash in bags at the parking lot than scattered at Blue Creek.

I think that's about it. Lets have a BIG TURNOUT and show what anglers can do when we work together. See you Saturday!

Mike

May I make one more suggestion?

It may be a good idea for you make a few small signs that you can place at certain points on the "trail" that say something like: Please help us and pack a bag to designated area at the trail head…and thanks for your help guys! Maybe you can place another small sign at the trail head where you would like the bags placed.

Currently I have other commitments on both Saturday and Sunday, but if they fall through, I will drop by to help you guys out! If there is anything else that I can do to help you before that time, let me know.

Best of luck… and Great Job Guys!!

Thanks, I'm working on the signs tonight. If you can't help you'll just have to help us next year.
The Tacoma Power person is out of the office until Jan 13th. I left a message with the office, will try again tomorrow.

Mike

You need to get a hold of Dean Mcleod ASAP at (360) 985- 2222, EX: 7558

This guy is the person who is in charge of operating the dams and the grounds at both the Barrier dam and Blue Creek. He also controls the guys that pick-up the trash at both the Barrier dam and the Trout Hatchery.

Don't let them give you the "round around'!

Good luck,

Cowlitzfisherman

Great news, I called Tacoma Power and we have a dumpster that will be in the parking lot Saturday morning. Funny, when I called the second time (first time I left a message), the person said "Oh, this is about the clean-up Saturday, right?". I must say I'm pleasantly surprised how easy it was to get the dumpster out there. Maybe CFM or someone else spoke with them? In any case, all we need to do now is show up and pick up trash. I've got a hotdog lunch planned so come on down, fish awhile and help clean up. The fishing hopefully will be better and I know the trash is still around. See you there! And thank you Tacoma Power for being on top of this with such short notice.

Sounds like the chips are falling in to place.

I am ready to pick up some garbage and catch some fish.

I'll be there Saturday with a buddy. See ya there!

Yor are a good man, Mike C.

Thanks for all the hard work. I'll show up Saturday and help with the easy part. Looking forward to meeting you.

Let me know if you need anything else.

Mike,
I know for a fact that Tacoma, WDFW, WDOE and NMFS have people (staff) reading this board daily!

That's why it's so important to voice our true opinions. I am glad to see that Tacoma has finally offered their help.

Great job mike!


Cowlitzfisherman

Hey Guys - Never been to BC before... Herd all the horror stories and thought I should steer clear... Plans fell through for me on Sat. So I figure I will fish it until 9 and do my part to help out... Can't think of a better way to impact a stretch of creek that gets so much pressure!

Mike - this was a great idea! Is it hard to find if I head there in the dark??? Printed out your directions and it looks like I can't go wrong but leave it to me and I will get lost!

Just follow the crowd. You can't miss it.

Once you get to the parking lot look for the trailhead on the northwest corner of the lot. There are two main trails, one goes pretty quick into the woods - this takes you to the Blue Creek fishing area. The other one is more to the norht of the parking lot, this takes you up a crest and then makes you follow Blue Creek to get to the fishing area. Take the other trail! You'll know you're on the wrong trail if you start walking along the creek. They both end up in the same place, just that the woods trail is much easier. Once you get to Blue Creek it will be obvious.

EL and I will be going up today and glowballing at the far end where the Cowlitz splits between an island. Looking forward to seeing you there Saturday!

Here's the map again. Watch that darn turn at the Tucker Road area. You need to turn left on to Classe Rd but it is easy to drive past it on Tucker road as it goes to the right. Slow down!

Anybody got a report about the cleanup? Such a very cool thing to do. You guys are really top drawer guys in my book. Thank's in advance.

Stay tuned, report is being posted!