More than 650 volunteers collected 1,375 pounds of trash at Lake Tahoe on the day after the Fourth of July.

According to the League to Save Lake Tahoe, also known as “Keep Tahoe Blue,” an environmental nonprofit that organizes the “Keep Tahoe Red, White & Blue” cleanup event, volunteers picked up 25 percent less litter than last year and 97 percent less than in 2023. This is the 12th year of the cleanup event.

“This is the direction we love to see—less litter and more people leaving the beach better than they found it,” Marilee Movius, sustainable recreation manager for Keep Tahoe Blue, said in the statement.

The League has been organizing the cleanup since 2013, collecting data on what types of trash have been found to help come up with solutions to mitigate littering. It has proven effective after banning plastic water bottles and Styrofoam, along with deploying beach-cleaning robots.

Also involved is a beach management initiative launched in 2024 called the Tahoe Blue Beach program at Zephyr Cove Resort, whose expressed aim is to protect Lake Tahoe from the impacts of recreation. It is a collaborative program between the League to Save Lake Tahoe, land managers, California State Parks, and businesses that focuses on three concepts for success: education, engineering, and enforcement. Improvements include facilities, staffing, signage, and beach enforcement.

“Every July 5th, we see lots of familiar faces turn up to volunteer, but it never ceases to amaze me how many people spend their vacation with us cleaning up the beach,” Cara Bourne, spokesperson of Vail Resorts, said in a statement. “No matter if it is our home or our beloved vacation spot, we can each do our individual part in protecting this special place.”

The League is aligned with the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan, which has over 20 regional organizations collaborating to implement it, along with participation from over 3,000 residents, visitors, and businesses who share the vision of responsible recreation.

The League to Save Lake Tahoe was founded in 1957, with a mission to protect, restore, and advocate for preserving the beauty of Lake Tahoe Basin for future generations.

(League to Save Lake Tahoe)