YAKIMA -- A helicopter airlift will be removing over 9 tons of trash and debris along the Yakima and Naches rivers.
The removal is set for Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 9 a.m.
The trash is associated with six abandoned homeless encampments in the 13-mile Selah Gap to Union Gap area.
The trash includes human waste, garbage, and syringes.
According to commissioners, the waste is in hard-to-reach areas like islands and floodways, which make it difficult to reach by foot or by heavy equipment.
They say airlifting the waste will protect the rivers and the ecosystem.
“Abandoned camps pose serious public health and safety risks to our community, the environment, and the campers themselves,” stated County Commission Chair Amanda McKinney.
County staff has collected about 75 bags of trash, each weighing about 250 lbs, so far.
Funding for the airlift is provided by the Yakima Health District and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife.
A section of the Greenway between Boise Pond and the McGuire Playground will be closed during the airlift.
The airlift is expected to take up to six hours.