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Alex Courtenay reporting
Most of the debris left behind by Hurricane Earl in August has been cleared up, but there are still some areas that are in need of a clean-up. One of them is the Haulover Creek, a small channel that connects the Belize River to the Belize City harbor. The creek has been made impassable because of several uprooted trees and mangroves. Deputy Chief Forest Officer, Marcelo Winsor explained the situation and its solution.

Macelo Winsor - Deputy Chief Forest Officer
"Well we had Hurricane Earl last year in August and that had caused quite some damage to the mangroves along the Haulover creek and today basically what we have done is assess the situation. We are all teaming up with Belize City Council for us to both go in and clear the creek itself."

Alex Courtenay, 7News
"Now, into terms of strategies to begin the clearing up, what will you guys try and do?"

Macelo Winsor - Deputy Chief Forest Officer
"Based on our assessment today we will determine the resources we need in terms of equipment and man power. Most likely we will need a pontoon, which of course the forest department will build and bring to the area and of course chainsaws with men as well, manpower as well."

The Forest Department won't be the only agency taking on the responsibility of clearing the creek. The Belize City Council has offered its services and will use the opportunity to develop its repertoire..

Phillio Willoughby - Belize City Councilor
"Like I said this is a partnership. We are collaborating together. Our staff from the Belize City Council, we had to clean up the entire city, post earl. So, doing this will just sharpen our tools and skills, assets and other resources that we have built to our capacity and strengthen our capability to thus further outreach in rendering services to the wider Belize City. So, again this will be a tool. It will enhance us to be more aware in terms of dealing with this type of scenarios."

And, the City Council may not be the only collaborators. Councilor Willoughby also told us about the potential for public involvement.

Phillio Willoughby - Belize City Councilor
"Let me first of all say thank you to the residents and other agencies who have begun or commence the clearing, the second phase now of this clearing in relation with relevant or requisite authorities will do it: 1). will be more strategic in our cleaning, 2). will be doing in it in a way that is proper because the clearing that we saw that has transpired over the past few days, the logs of these mangroves and other trees are just in the water ways which I believe represents some sort of threat or it could be of danger to others vessels or individuals traversing the water way. So now we will be coordinating, I would say more strategically, more properly with the agencies that know and have the best practices within in the ambit of their department. I believe that all of us coming together and now I say, I now extend a welcome to other residence, to other business or organization who have commence clearing prior to and want to further join in with us and say well, we have gotten the Belize City Council attention, we have gotten forestry and DOE attention and they can handle it. Come in and let's all partner together and have the waterway cleaned up."

And for those who were concerned, it looks like the blockage won't affect the upcoming La Ruta Maya…

Macelo Winsor - Deputy Chief Forest Officer
"No, I don't think they need to be very concerned about it. I believe that in 2-3 days, I think we should have this very well cleared. That is in teaming up with the Belize City Council."

Despite the large volume of trees blocking the way, the clean up is only expected to take a few days to complete.