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Las Vegas valley trash build up on flood control channels

Posted at 4:31 PM, Aug 14, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-15 03:04:16-04

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Concerned neighbors reached out to 13 Action News about garbage piling up on washes in the valley. One of the problem spots is the wash on Cambridge near Flamingo.

Shantae White says, "Every time we go by it's like it gets dirtier and dirtier. We always say that they need to clean this up because it's getting more dirtier."

But the wash right now is cleaner than it was on Friday when a neighbor took this photo and sent it to us.

County crews were there Wednesday to take the junk out.

Emon Brown says, "It's not sanitary at all. You got people walking by. The way it smells even my kids say that it stinks over here."

The trash in the wash can be blamed on the homeless who live there as well as the rain and the wind blowing and pushing the litter into the channel.

People living near the Cambridge and Flamingo wash say trash pile up is a constant issue but they didn't know who to call for help.

Erin Neff is with the Regional Flood Control District. "We encourage you to tell us when you see trash in the system."

Neff says with 650 miles in its system to keep an eye on, they rely on neighbors to report issues.

Remember the flooding in the southwest valley several weeks ago?

There were blocked storm drains along Jones and that water couldn't get in. So there was some street flooding that's totally preventable because we have the system in place but that water couldn't get into the gutters because they were blocked with trash.

You can report problems with the flood control channel on the district's website or by calling 702-685-0000. They'll notify the public works department in charge of the cleanup.

You can also directly report the problem to the county or the city you live in.

"It's the perfect example of why they say don't litter," says Brown.