Story courtesy Clean Up the Lake
Clean Up The Lake is a local Tahoe-based nonprofit that is focused on fighting back against plastic and all forms of pollution in our global environment. What differentiates the organization from others is that most of the clean-up efforts are concentrated underwater, with volunteers diving for litter that has accumulated in our lakes and waterways.
Watch the video for the 72 Mile project
Courtesy Clean Up the Lake
Teams of SCUBA divers use yellow mesh bags to gather litter and pass it up to free divers who help bridge the gap between teams above and below the surface. Kayakers then collect the trash from the divers, while a jet skier logs field data to be used for further research. Boat drivers help transport the crew and monitor safety. With this system, the organization has been able to remove more than 10,400 pounds of trash from below the surface, including more than 3,192 cans and 106 tires.
In 2020, Clean Up The Lake completed a circumnavigated cleanup of Donner Lake and now has be embarked on the 72-Mile clean up, the first project of its kind on Lake Tahoe that launched on May 14. The team will be circumnavigating the lake over the next six months, diving three days a week cleaning the underwater shoreline around Lake Tahoe.
The clean-up effort is presented by Tahoe Blue Vodka, which donated $100,000 that Tahoe Fund matched with donations from their donors, including a $25,000 donation from Vail Resorts. Additional grants came from Nevada Division of State Lands Lake Tahoe License Plate program, Tahoe Mountain Resorts Foundation, Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation and American Century Championship.
Those who would like to help our cause can donate or apply to be a volunteer at cleanupthelake.org under “Ways to help.”
The biggest way to help our effort, is to act as a steward of the Earth and Lake Tahoe. Whether you are a long-time resident of Tahoe, recently moved to the area or are here on vacation, it is important to remember that the entire basin is a part of the Lake Tahoe watershed. When a piece of garbage is littered in the mountains, it can be washed down into our rivers and lakes and furthers the pollution in Lake Tahoe. Pack it in and pack it out.
With more humans comes more trash, and our species is still learning to manage our waste issues as our global population skyrockets. Please do your part and help Clean Up The Lake; whether you eliminate single-use items from your day, pick up trash from trails and on shore, or clean trash off the beach and out of the lake. We appreciate your support in protecting our beautiful home. | cleanupthelake.org
