How Something So Beautiful Can Look So Trashy

The Belton Dam has a trash problem.

As a new resident to Temple, I find myself driving around looking to see what my surroundings have to offer. Checking out Belton Lake was at the top of the list for me and my family, so our first stop was Belton Dam.

Driving across the dam offered a spectacular view of the lake. We recently ate dinner at the restaurant there at the dam, the Dead Fish Grill, and were able to catch a sunset on the lake and it was really beautiful.

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We stopped at the overlook to get some pictures while I had some family in town, and I was shocked at how much trash was scattered all over the place. It was really ridiculous to see how people just completely disregarded the beauty of the lake's surroundings and just threw their trash out.

Beer bottles and cans, fast food wrappers, diapers, facemasks and plenty of other things were just thrown all over the parking area and over the side. Broken glass just littered the bottom of the otherwise beautiful mural, not to mention the graffiti that was painted on the wall.

It really was a very disappointing sight.

I went back to take some pictures and was glad to see that the parking area looked to have been recently cleaned, but the trash scattered at the bottom was still there.

I've always thought that Central Texas was a pretty clean area. I've driven through some other states and noticed the trash scattered along the highway, but always thought Central Texas was mostly well kept, and it is for the most part.

Maybe we should organize a clean up crew and hit some of the parks in Temple, Belton and Killeen, or maybe those responsible for all this trash can just STOP LITTERING!

People go to places like the Belton Dam to unwind, relax, and clear their minds. The beauty of the view is not the same when the place looks like somebody's personal dumping area.

Let's get back to the "Don't Mess With Texas" campaign and show some Texas Pride!