Overloaded houseboat burying human waste in the sand

Status
Not open for further replies.
Update: I recently received a call from the NPS ranger that originally investigated the incident asking additional questions, asking for further clarification of items in my witness report, and inquiring about statements I'd made on this website regarding this incident. It appears to me that they are vigorously investigating this incident and that they are in the process of contacting numerous witnesses as part of building their case. I was also asked if I would be willing to appear in court as a witness in this case - which I confirmed.

Other important comments made on this call:
1. Members of the NPS love Lake Powell as much as we on this forum do and are as incensed with this situation as much as we are
2. This is the largest human feces contamination that this ranger has ever seen in his time at Lake Powell
3. The response and actions by those on WaynesWords to keep this situation visible and "on top of the pile" are much appreciated, with Gem Morris's follow-up with the GCNRA public relations personnel specifically mentioned.

I'll continue to post fact-based updates on this situation and hope others also continue to do so (opinions welcome also! I just can't participate in that side myself at this time!). Thank all of you for your support in helping to bring this situation to a rightful conclusion.
 
Last edited:
Good Job, everyone. There are many who watch these forums who aren't members. This is a good opportunity to educate the public-at-large to a situation that might be obvious to us, but may not have the same impact on someone who may only use the lake, "once in a lifetime".
 
Pegasus said:
Update: I recently received a call from the NPS ranger that originally investigated the incident asking additional questions, asking for further clarification of items in my witness report, and inquiring about statements I'd made on this website regarding this incident. It appears to me that they are vigorously investigating this incident and that they are in the process of contacting numerous witnesses as part of building their case. I was also asked if I would be willing to appear in court as a witness in this case - which I confirmed.

Other important comments made on this call:
1. Members of the NPS love Lake Powell as much as we on this forum do and are as incensed with this situation as much as we are
2. This is the largest human feces contamination that this ranger has ever seen in his time at Lake Powell
3. The response and actions by those on WaynesWords to keep this situation visible and "on top of the pile" are much appreciated, with Gem Morris's follow-up with the GCNRA public relations personnel specifically mentioned.

I'll continue to post fact-based updates on this situation and hope others also continue to do so (opinions welcome also! I just can't participate in that side myself at this time!). Thank all of you for your support in helping to bring this situation to a rightful conclusion.
Click to expand...


Thank you VERY much, Pegasus.
Trash Tracker Eric
 
Well I don't think jail time is required for this, just costs the taxpayers more money. I love the option to clean up. It will not be an easy job and probably priceless compared to a small fine if that does become an option. Probably the sad part of this whole thing is that 20 people did not know better or care. Could not one person in this group stand up and say no.

We do a lot of dry camping in our RV and I can tell you I find TP at almost every site I go to, worse is 5g buckets full of poo, wish portable toilets were mandatory for dry camping. I always thought our public school system should take a day(s) or so every year and go over things such as this, littering, putting out campfires, defacing red rock, not to take garbage out and shoot it up with gun, ect... Beat that in every school kid every year and it might help some. Obviously their parents are not doing this.

Lastly, we RV a lot and have found that the black water tank tends to pile up at the point of impact. I now always add 5 gallons or so of water to the tank before we go out to help disperse the waste and it has made a difference.
 
Zman said:
Well I don't think jail time is required for this, just costs the taxpayers more money. I love the option to clean up. It will not be an easy job and probably priceless compared to a small fine if that does become an option. Probably the sad part of this whole thing is that 20 people did not know better or care. Could not one person in this group stand up and say no.

We do a lot of dry camping in our RV and I can tell you I find TP at almost every site I go to, worse is 5g buckets full of poo, wish portable toilets were mandatory for dry camping. I always thought our public school system should take a day(s) or so every year and go over things such as this, littering, putting out campfires, defacing red rock, not to take garbage out and shoot it up with gun, ect... Beat that in every school kid every year and it might help some. Obviously their parents are not doing this.

Lastly, we RV a lot and have found that the black water tank tends to pile up at the point of impact. I now always add 5 gallons or so of water to the tank before we go out to help disperse the waste and it has made a difference.
Click to expand...
What a great idea, instill pride about our parks and personal behaviour, I'm afraid that would take away from the pc bs.
 
Thanks for the updates all, good job Pegasus. I'm all in favor of the self-clean up, a small donation ($1000-ish to the NPS for education on this subject), and a year or so ban from all National Parks and Rec Areas. I think this would sting enough to keep them from doing it ever again and get the word out that it's not cool, while not ruining anyone's life.
 
Glad something is being done in this case. It's outrageous what these people did. And pretty gross. It does cause a thought to occur to me. When they created a specific parks pass for the Glen Canyon area, we were promised a bunch of improvements to the park. A few floating restrooms popped up, and that was nice. But the last time I saw one of those, it was too disgusting to even think about using. I'd sure like to see an accounting of the fees collected and expenditures for all these wonderful "improvements" to the park. In my opinion, which is based on 41 years of boating at Lake Powell, the park has never looked worse. Aramark plays a huge role in the condition of the facilities. Memorial Weekend was a joke - stores were not stocked, facilities were not in service, Dangling Rope store looked empty. Now, no fuel available at Halls for the prime weeks of summer. It's extremely difficult to be able to locate propane at any up-lake marina. I was walking along the dock at Wahweep and I overheard a couple discussing the restaurant on the docks at Wahweep - they really built a great facility and it could be so nice, but the way they go about running it is so half-assed it's really disappointing. I have the good fortune to know some of the people who worked at Lake Powell in the late 1970's through the early 1990s. Those were the best years at Lake Powell. The park was well kept, the marinas were getting nicer, there were more services every year, people were excited to be there and were willing to spend money on new boats, the staff cared, the living quarters for the staff (especially up-lake) were decent. Low wages mean new employees every year, who have no concept of what the marinas used to be, or could be. Aramark runs it for cash - no long term perspective, no investment in facilities upgrades, no wait lines for slips in fact there's so much capacity I don't know why anyone would leave their boat in the water year round to get infested with mussels. And you want to talk about poop (this post's subject) - there's so much bird poop on the slips you can't even walk on them. Break down and need a repair or a part - good luck with that, you can't even get propane or fuel! The ferry is broken more often than it runs. Lake Powell is as much a part of me as my blood and bones, but for the first time in my life, I am seriously thinking it may be time to get out. Either move my boat to somewhere a little easier to get to with better marina services, or just do something else. I've spent countless thousands of dollars at Lake Powell, but right now when I think about using some of the all-too-rare free time I have available, the stress that comes from dealing with the conditions of Lake Powell just doesn't look too appealing. It's a magnificent place and I have so many memories of awesome vacations with family and friends, but those were different times. Hope things improve at Lake Powell so others can have the experiences I did when I was young. New management, and a new concessionaire to replace Aramark - better yet, three new concessionaires to compete!
 
Last edited:
I agree that ARAMARK should be tossed, but, they have been in control of Powell (without a current contract) for so long that they are like our senators & congressmen, the have a job for life and will do everything, including screwing the U.S. citizens to keep their jobs. I
also have been going to Powell since the early 80's. Sq
 
Kevin G said:
Glad something is being done in this case. It's outrageous what these people did. And pretty gross. It does cause a thought to occur to me. When they created a specific parks pass for the Glen Canyon area, we were promised a bunch of improvements to the park. A few floating restrooms popped up, and that was nice. But the last time I saw one of those, it was too disgusting to even think about using. I'd sure like to see an accounting of the fees collected and expenditures for all these wonderful "improvements" to the park. In my opinion, which is based on 41 years of boating at Lake Powell, the park has never looked worse. Aramark plays a huge role in the condition of the facilities. Memorial Weekend was a joke - stores were not stocked, facilities were not in service, Dangling Rope store looked empty. Now, no fuel available at Halls for the prime weeks of summer. It's extremely difficult to be able to locate propane at any up-lake marina. I was walking along the dock at Wahweep and I overheard a couple discussing the restaurant on the docks at Wahweep - they really built a great facility and it could be so nice, but the way they go about running it is so half-assed it's really disappointing. I have the good fortune to know some of the people who worked at Lake Powell in the late 1970's through the early 1990s. Those were the best years at Lake Powell. The park was well kept, the marinas were getting nicer, there were more services every year, people were excited to be there and were willing to spend money on new boats, the staff cared, the living quarters for the staff (especially up-lake) were decent. Low wages mean new employees every year, who have no concept of what the marinas used to be, or could be. Aramark runs it for cash - no long term perspective, no investment in facilities upgrades, no wait lines for slips in fact there's so much capacity I don't know why anyone would leave their boat in the water year round to get infested with mussels. And you want to talk about poop (this post's subject) - there's so much bird poop on the slips you can't even walk on them. Break down and need a repair or a part - good luck with that, you can't even get propane or fuel! The ferry is broken more often than it runs. Lake Powell is as much a part of me as my blood and bones, but for the first time in my life, I am seriously thinking it may be time to get out. Either move my boat to somewhere a little easier to get to with better marina services, or just do something else. I've spent countless thousands of dollars at Lake Powell, but right now when I think about using some of the all-too-rare free time I have available, the stress that comes from dealing with the conditions of Lake Powell just doesn't look too appealing. It's a magnificent place and I have so many memories of awesome vacations with family and friends, but those were different times. Hope things improve at Lake Powell so others can have the experiences I did when I was young. New management, and a new concessionaire to replace Aramark - better yet, three new concessionaires to compete!
Click to expand...


Zinke has a twitter page and he has already visited this area - contact him with specific complaints https://twitter.com/SecretaryZinke - if he received enough about Aramark he likely would take a look at what is going on... would not hurt to mention this situation to him as well... I already told him I'd love for him to visit Lake Powell - since he fishes perhaps he should hook up with Wayne!!!
 
Squirrel said:
I agree that ARAMARK should be tossed, but, they have been in control of Powell (without a current contract) for so long that they are like our senators & congressmen, the have a job for life and will do everything, including screwing the U.S. citizens to keep their jobs. I
also have been going to Powell since the early 80's. Sq
Click to expand...


I think no one else wanted the concession - they have Grand Canyon, too... and it is a mess - has been for years.
 
One thing to remember - our entry fees from all Federal parks go back to DC and into the General Fund [along with SS, Medicare, etc.] then they dole back a pittance to the parks...
 
Waterbaby said:
One thing to remember - our entry fees from all Federal parks go back to DC and into the General Fund [along with SS, Medicare, etc.] then they dole back a pittance to the parks...
Click to expand...
"Under the Federal Recreation Lands Enhancement Act, national parks keep 80% of all fees collected and use that money to fund critical projects that improve services and protect resources."
 
Since it has nothing to do with poop on the beach I started a new thread in Issues on park funding in general....
 
Waterbaby said:
I think no one else wanted the concession - they have Grand Canyon, too... and it is a mess - has been for years.
Click to expand...

I thought Grand Canyon was Delaware North? I know Yosemite was Delaware North, but just lost the contract to Aramark.

When does the contract for Aramark on Lake Powell come back to bid??
 
Wow! :( Glad to know that the NPS staff is taking the incident seriously and kudos to Pegasus for being willing to make time to be willing to appear in court as a witness.
 
So, exactly why is this. Have the Desert Oasis Poop party not shared an interest in getting the mess cleaned up! And if not, where is the management company, they need to lean on that insurance policy and do a full HAZMAT cleansing. Of the impacted environment. Remove all the sand by barge, maybe 10 feet down, and replace it with new sand. This is outrageous! With the monsoon now upon us all that bacteria is leaching deeper and deeper into the sand and into the water. I am still 100% unable to wrap my head around any of this. Why would anyone ever want to pollute this beautiful and so special place. Is there a go fund me Page that we can contribute money to for the prosecution. Sign me up! I hope that part of the penalty is restriction from ever returning to Powell. In my book, none of them are welcomed.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top