Illegal Dumping Scars The Beauty Of Colorado's High Country

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EVERGREEN, Colo. (CBS4) - It's not the place you'd expect a lot of trash and old appliances to pile up, but that's what's happening along the scenic Squaw Pass outside Evergreen. Now some are saying enough is enough.

Squaw Pass Road is being tarnished by illegal dumping.

"You think, 'Wow, what a beautiful road,' until you go to the other side of the parking area and you look down the embankment and you see all the garbage," Evergreen resident Tim Eagan said.

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Eagan noticed the problem a few weeks ago when he and his wife pulled over to look at the view on the way to Echo Lake.

"We looked over the embankment and it was full of garbage, and I just thought, 'I can't let this lie," Eagan said.

On Wednesday Eagan and his fellow Rotary members organized a cleanup of the area along with dozens of volunteers and police, fire and Forest Service members. Together they collected truckloads of debris.

CBS4's Tom Mustin interviews Evergreen resident Tim Eagan (credit: CBS)

"We had a refrigerator we retrieved out of there, sofas, shutters from a house, remnants of carpeting, bottles, cans, food items -- you name it," Eagan said.

Evergreen Chamber of Commerce President Betsy Hays people caught dumping on Forest Service land face serious penalties.

"This is not okay. Once you cross in to Clear Creek County, it's a $1,000 fine," Hays said.

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The punishment could also include up to 30 days in jail.

With litter gathering at an alarming rate, Eagan has a message Coloradans.

"We all live here for the beauty of Colorado and to see something like that, that's just totally disrespectful for where we live," Eagan said. "It's shocking."

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Eagan hopes to help clean up other areas as well.

Tom Mustin is CBS4's Weekend Anchor. He has been with CBS4 since 2002, and is always looking for great story ideas. Connect with Tom on Facebook or follow him on Twitter @TomCBS4.