In a bid to tackle the growing problem of illegal camping and the unsightly mess it leaves behind, Pinal County officials are assembling a task force in Apache Junction and Tonto National Forest area. According to ABC15, this move comes after over a thousand acres of land was recently sealed off by the Bureau of Land Management for the construction of a new recreation site, inadvertently dispersing squatters into adjacent state and federal lands.
These areas, once scenic, are now marred by extended stays of campers, accompanied by illegal dumping that leaves behind a trail of debris and destruction. Pinal County residents have raised concerns about the safety risks posed by such activities, including the potential for fires to spread on the state lands that serve as a backdrop to their homes. “There’s nothing behind us. We have state land behind us, so if the brush catches fire, this place is like toast,” a local resident, Dave Stanke, told ABC15.
The task force aims to unify government agencies and simplify rules to effectively address the issue. Currently, jurisdictional confusion prevails, with Pinal County District 5 Supervisor Jeff Serdy pointing out the gaps in law enforcement across the nine million acres of state land. "These folks understand that," Serdy said about the violators’ knowledge of enforcement blind spots. Meanwhile, the Arizona Department of Public Safety states enforcement over state and federal lands falls to county sheriff offices.
Meanwhile, residents have taken matters into their own hands where government agencies fall short. As reported by 12News, Eric Goll and other locals are spearheading cleanups in response to the littering and environmental damage caused by long-term campers. “Well I come out to the desert to forget my problems and recharge the batteries," Goll said. "And when I come out here and there’s 15 broken campers and piles of garbage and buckets full of crap out here it’s not what people come out to do around here and enjoy.” BLM has responded by saying that the trash left behind is so toxic they won't send their own employees to clean it up, leaving it up to the community to restore their environment.
The difficulty extends to Tonto National Forest land, where Forest Service Law Enforcement is tasked with confronting those overstaying the legally allowed 14 days. Yet the problem persists, manifesting in a vicious cycle of occupation, eviction, and reoccupation. With the state at a crossroad, residents hope this new task force will lead to lasting solutions and reclaim their beloved public lands from this crisis.
