Group says rebar, trash in Ascarate Lake makes it dangerous for outdoor enthusiasts
El PASO, Texas -- A group calling itself Save the Lake contends that rebar and trash in Ascarate Lake is making conditions dangerous for outdoor enthusiasts who want to enjoy the water.
Save the Lake organizer Timothy Hargrove told ABC-7 that rebar sticks out six to eight inches in multiple areas of the lake.
“We have two guys that love to paddle board out here almost daily. What would happen if there was a high wind, they lose their balance and impale themselves on a piece of rebar,” Hargrove asked.
He also pointed to trash barrels the had made their way into the lake previously, but maintained nothing had been done.
Hargrove said he personally has removed garbage items that have become entangled with the feet and limbs of ducks for fear of them asphyxiating.
And he added that it's not just the trash that is hurting the ecosystem: “In the past five years this lake has had two fish kills as they call it. The last one they swept out close to 900 fish from golden algae blooming.”
In a statement to ABC-7, El Paso County Commissioner David Stout responded to the group's concerns.
"I met with a number of folks recently and we talked about some of these things. I agree that our staff must do everything they can to pick up trash in a timely fashion and keep things clean, and if that isn't happening, we need to do a better job. However, we do have limited staff and resources and when there is higher utilization of the park it can become more difficult.
We ask that visitors also take it upon themselves to deposit all of their trash in the receptacles and help us keep things tidy, we all want the park to be clean for everyone. When it comes to the rebar, part of our future plans for the park are to dredge the lake completely and get any and all such debris removed. We are currently working on a park master plan that would include that work, but it must be formally presented to the public for feedback, finalized and then fully funded.
In the meantime, our parks director and her staff will continue to work to identify ways to deal with these issues. We know there is much work to be done, and the park is far from perfect, but we have invested millions of dollars over the last few years in order to make the park better and more attractive, and hope to continue along that path so that everyday there are improvements."
