The League to Save Lake Tahoe has been hosting regular cleanup events around Lake Tahoe for years and dedicated community members have shown up in droves to help keep litter from wrecking our Jewel of the Sierra. But with 75 miles of shoreline and hundreds more miles of trails and neighborhood streets there is a lot of ground to be covered. Every piece of litter in the Tahoe Basin will eventually end up in its cobalt waters if it is not picked up. Land managers simply do not have the resources to keep up with the constant pressure, but there is help.
Since 2014 the League has been supporting passionate community members looking for ways to remove trash from Tahoe's environment by giving them the tools to conduct safe and effective cleanups while also gathering data for solutions. All of the data collected from both League cleanups and "community cleanups" has already lead to litter solutions (2015 plastic bag ban and
2018 Styrofoam ban
in the City of South Lake Tahoe and the more recent Basin-wide cigarette disposal canister program). The data has also identified trash "hot spots" where more frequent and focused attention is needed.
"By bringing together the passion and dedication of the Tahoe community with land managers in need, a scientific approach to cleanups and an eye towards solutions we can stop the constant assault of plastic pollution and other litter on our beaches" explained Marilee Movius, the League's community engagement manager.
Several Tahoe Blue Crews are already out on patrol, getting trash out of Tahoe while arming the League with powerful data to make a change. You can join the movement and make a difference too!
Tahoe Blue Crew Leader Trainings are taking place every month around Lake Tahoe. Find the next training
here or contact us at
tahoebluecrew@keeptahoeblue.org to get started on your own Blue Crew.
