Michaux State Forest

Between March 24th and April 15th of 2003, a massive cleanup near the community of Mount Holly Springs, along Ridge Road North at the tip of Michaux State Forest, was performed. Over 140 community volunteers donated over 798 volunteer hours to remove a total of 235 tons of trash, scrap, construction debris, and appliances, along with 825 tires. A majority of the trash and objects were buried and strewn over a steep hillside resulting in the use of a crane to lift the trash for volunteers to sort. A backhoe and track hoe was necessary to get through the concentrated areas of trash. After the trash removal, fresh soil was used to fill the area. Top soil was laid and grass seed distributed. Many businesses volunteered their time as well as their goods. Volunteers came from the Cornell-Abraxas Leadership Development Program, South Penn Enduro Riders Off Road Motorcycle Club, Tressler Wilderness School, South Middleton Township, Carlisle Glass, and Cumberland County Conservation District.

This cleanup was funded through the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources who works in partnership with PA CleanWays to identify dumpsites and to form community volunteer teams to help remove the waste under The Forest Lands Beautification Program.