Tramonto Cub Scout Troop to clean up Skunk Creek Tank January 9
Scouts promote “Leave No Trace”

January 6, 2010

Desert Hills Cub Scout Pack 431 under the leadership of Park Steward and Den Leader Trevor Harwood, will be cleaning up Skunk Creek Tank on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 9 a.m. The project, which will help the scouts earn their World conservation award, also supports the Leave No Trace Program. The tank is located on the Sonoran Preserve at the Northern base of the mountains between Tramonto and Desert Hills. Once a rich riparian area that held water 8 months a year, the tank has been destroyed by illegal dumping, desert parties and motorized vehicles.

Leave No Trace aims to protect preserves. It is a cooperative educational program that fosters stewardship of public lands through education and training. Principles of Leave No Trace include parking in designated areas, picking up all trash (yours and others), sticking to trails, managing your dog and cleaning up pet waste, keeping wildlife wild and leaving things as you find it by not picking up plants or rocks.

Desert Hills and North Phoenix residents are fortunate that the area between 19th and 27th Avenues and Joy Ranch Road and Carefree Highway was purchased by Phoenix Parks Department in July 2008 using a voter authorized sales tax and is now part of the Sonoran Preserve. Area residents are encouraged to hike, bike and ride horses on preserve trails. Signs have been posted prohibiting dumping and motorized vehicles. The preserve is patrolled by Phoenix Park Rangers and Park Stewards.

More information about the Preserve can be found at http://phoenix.gov/PARKS/sonoranp.html
For more information about the cleanup project visit;   http://www.pack431scorpions.com/projects