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Jan 14, 2008 9:23 pm US/Pacific
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Low Lake Waters Revealing Abandoned, Stolen Cars
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
Rivers and lakes are running low, and they've been unveiling some unattractive secrets. As the waters receded, they revealed abandoned and stolen cars that have been sitting below the surface for more than a decade.
"We've been able to recover 15 different vehicles," says State Park Officer Kirk Coons. "And one boat."
Judging by the registration on some of the cars, they have been concealed for more than a decade.
"I know six vehicles [we found] are stolen," says Coons.
A dumped green forest service truck has been under so long that it is completely covered in mud, making it almost impossible to remove.
It's a major concern, says Officer Coons. "It can affect the fishery of Lake Oroville in general. It can lower the population of the fish here."
The lake is down to just 700 feet, the lowest it has been since 1990. Several towing companies are volunteering their services to remove the cars.
"They want to clean up the lake," says Coons. "They don't like coming out here and seeing a bunch of abandoned vehicles on the shoreline."
Removing vehicles is making the water cleaner, but Coons says that they still have a long way to go.
"It's ongoing," he says. "It just depends on how often people continue to dump vehicles in the water."
Some of the cars will never be removed, but Coons says some of the car owners will be tracked down and held liable for their abandoned cars.
Seven of the 15 recovered cars have been identified as stolen so far.
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