COLLIN COUNTY, Texas — The Collin County Sheriff's Department plans to 'redouble' its enforcement efforts to curb illegal trash dumping and criminal trespassing around Lake Lavon.
An initiative employed last weekend revealed more than a dozen dumping sites around the Collin County lake.
"The situation around the lake is out of control. We are going to redouble our investment in enforcement," said Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner.
The land surrounding the lake belongs to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. There are a number of communities and homes that sit alongside the lake, along with parks. And there are also large patches of thick vegetation which are nearly inaccessible areas.
"There's a bunch [of trash] out here. It happens a lot," said resident Luke Rowbotham. "You'll find just about anything and everything," said Joe Gedeon of the Lake Lavon Clean-Up group.
Gedeon tells WFAA he has filed over fifty police reports about trash over the last four to five years. He's seen construction debris, household trash, and party trash, and does what he can to clean up what he sees.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers tells WFAA the trash problem is a daily battle. The illegal dumping is one problem. The criminal trespass where people cut fences to get in is another problem.
Skinner says that people are riding ATVs through trails and parts alongside the lake.
"We found areas where they cut down a number of trees to make a big party area," said Skinner.
In the coming weeks, Sheriff Skinner will pitch an idea for mounted patrol in the hard-to-reach areas around the lake.
For that, the department will need horses and stables. But before that, the Sheriff will need the county commissioners to sign off. Skinner says there is money in the budget and will not require tax dollars. He also says there are a number of deputies on staff who are qualified for mounted patrol.
"We want to begin employing deputies on horseback around the lake to manage this situation," said the sheriff.
The sheriff says the stables, which he hopes to build near the jail, will also serve as an equine therapy program for veterans in custody suffering post-traumatic stress and/or traumatic brain injury.
Gedeon is encouraged by the talk of enhanced enforcement in the area but will reserve judgment until he sees the impact of the measures. Admittedly, he is jaded by the lack of response over the last several years following countless reports filed with authorities.
"My first reaction is, are they going to actually prosecute?" asked Gedeon.
Sheriff Skinner said offenders could face criminal trespass charges which are misdemeanors and trash dumping charges which could rise to the level of a felony.