Why Left Beaver Creek in Floyd County KY Is Drowning in Garbage—and How We Can Save It

If you’ve ever driven through Floyd County, Kentucky, and caught a glimpse of Left Beaver Creek, you might’ve thought the same thing I did: this could be a gem. A winding stream perfect for a lazy float, a fishing pole, and a cooler of cold drinks. Instead, it’s a trash heap—plastic bags snagged on branches, old tires half-submerged, and junk littering the banks. It’s a real shame, and it’s got folks asking: why does Left Beaver Creek always stay full of garbage?

The answer’s simpler than you’d think, but it’s rooted deep in how we live out here in Appalachia. Rural streams like Left Beaver are magnets for trash. People toss their garbage—household waste, broken furniture, you name it—along roadsides or straight into the water. When the rains come (and they come hard, like those floods that tore through Eastern Kentucky in 2022), all that junk washes downstream. The creek’s twists and turns trap it, and without anyone to fish it out, it just piles up.

Floyd County’s terrain doesn’t help. These hills make it tough to set up widespread trash pickup, and a cash-strapped rural county often can’t afford enough dumpsters or regular cleanups. Illegal dumping’s been a problem here forever—when folks don’t have easy options, the creek becomes the landfill. Unlike some city rivers with maintenance crews, streams like Left Beaver are left to fend for themselves. Worse yet, local politicians seem more worried about losing votes than addressing this mess. They sidestep the issue, hesitant to spend money or take action, and that needs to change. A clean creek shouldn’t be a political gamble—it’s common sense.

But it doesn’t have to stay this way. Imagine floating Left Beaver Creek without dodging soda bottles, or casting a line into water that’s not choked with debris. It’s not a pipe dream—it’s doable. The garbage isn’t an unstoppable force; it’s a problem we can tackle with effort and teamwork.

A Solution: The Left Beaver Cleanup Crew

Here’s the fix: let’s start a volunteer group—the Left Beaver Cleanup Crew. Picture this: a few dozen of us—locals, anglers, paddlers—hitting the creek a couple times a year. We’d haul out trash, bag it up, and get it gone. Partner with the county for free dump access and maybe snag a small grant from a group like the Appalachian Regional Commission for gloves, bags, and a flatbed to cart off the big stuff. Throw in a cookout after—some burgers, a bonfire, and a few cold drinks—and it’s a day worth showing up for.

It’s not just about one cleanup, though. We’d push for permanent fixes: more roadside trash cans, a drop-off site near the creek to cut down on dumping, and stricter littering laws with real enforcement. Right now, fines and rules are too weak or ignored—let’s change that with hefty penalties and patrols to back them up. If we get loud enough, maybe the county or state steps in with a part-time ranger to keep watch—politicians or not. Start small, build momentum, and Left Beaver could be a stream we’re proud of again.

We need a dedicated ‘Litter Control Department’ that doesn’t mess around, and leaders that enforce county codes with real urgency. If nothing changes, nothing changes. Tourism will be a big reward after all the hard work.

Why It Matters

A clean Left Beaver Creek isn’t just about prettier views. It’s about taking back a piece of our outdoors—something we can fish, float, and pass down without wading through garbage. Appalachia’s got enough scars; we don’t need our streams to be another one.

So, what do you say? Grab a pair of boots and join me on the banks of Left Beaver. Let’s make it the stream it should be—and show the vote-counters we’re done waiting.

Drop a comment below if you’re in—or if you’ve got ideas to make it even better. Community Creek Litter Watch? IDK, BUT, we need to act now!