Tahoe’s Trash Triumph: Volunteers Find Surprisingly Clean Beaches Post-Holiday

In an inspiring outpouring of support, 774 volunteers from inside and outside the Tahoe Basin spread out across over a half dozen beaches around the Lake early July 5 to remove litter, refresh, and revitalize the shoreline following the 4^th of July holiday. Fortunately, their hard work didn’t take much time, as they arrived to mostly clean stretches of sand, trails, and streets.

For the League to Save Lake Tahoe, its 15 event partners, members of the Destination Stewardship Plan, and the global community of Tahoe lovers, this was precisely how they hoped to ring in the 11th annual “Keep Tahoe, Red, White & Blue” July 5th Beach Cleanup—with far fewer trash to clean up than in the recent past.

“Look around at all these volunteers. There are so many smiles and such positive energy. I think people are happy to be here, pitch in, and protect Tahoe.”

– Naomi Morgan, a long-time participant in the annual cleanup

The 2024 cleanup event was made possible with the support of League’s generous donors and partners: Aramark Destinations, Bally’s Lake Tahoe, California State Parks, Camp Richardson Resort, City of South Lake Tahoe, Clean Up The Lake, ECO-CLEAN Solutions, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Kirkwood Mountain Resort, Northstar Mountain Resort, Stio Mountain Studio Tahoe, Tahoe City Downtown Association, Tahoe City Public Utility District, USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTMBU), and Vista Recreation.

The astounding volunteer turnout for this year’s event set a new record, surpassing the previous high by more than 200 individuals and showing the public’s commitment to taking care of Tahoe. Yet, the 774 volunteers, a beach-cleaning robot from ECO-CLEAN Solutions, and Clean Up The Lake divers found only a touch more than the average litter collected during July 5^thcleanups. Participants removed 1,866 pounds of trash, not even a quarter of what volunteers removed on July 5, 2023.

“Today, we saw clear evidence that people went out of their way to protect Tahoe – that includes land managers, an amazing number of volunteers and partners, and the tens of thousands of people who spent their holiday on the beach. Thank you for helping to Keep Tahoe Blue. Now, let’s keep this going through the weekend and all summer.”

– Marilee Movius, senior community engagement manager for the League to Save Lake Tahoe

Other groups and individuals also cleaned up their local beaches and neighborhoods after the holiday. These independent, grassroots efforts are another key ingredient to ensuring the Tahoe environment stays healthy and beautiful.

At Zephyr Shoals, the focus of much attention following the 4^th of July in 2023, the scene was calm. Families lounged under umbrellas, kids cooled themselves in the Lake’s clear waters, and beachgoers used dozens of added trash receptacles, portable restrooms, signs, and maps to take care of Tahoe as they enjoyed it. Temporary fencing, a prohibition of outside alcohol, and extra staffing also contributed to a mellow and enjoyable holiday.

The beach improvements at Zephyr were implemented by Aramark Destinations as part of the new Tahoe Blue Beaches program – a collective effort by the League to Save Lake Tahoe and USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) to “raise the bar for beach management” in Tahoe. Based on the small amount of litter at Zephyr Cove and Shoals in 2024, the program showed it could be successful.

“We had visitors from around the world enjoying the beaches and amenities at Zephyr Cove Resort & Shoals. We are thankful to all our team members and partners who worked together to create a safe, enjoyable and memorable experience. This was the first year we managed the Shoals area, and we are pleased with the great outcome this year to protect and preserve its natural environment.”

– Aramark Destinations District Manager Kevin Schiesz

The Tahoe Blue Beaches program provides a customized approach to addressing each beach’s challenges during the busy summer. The goal is to make the right choice easy for beachgoers to enjoy Tahoe responsibly.

“The LTBMU is grateful for the collaboration and coordinated efforts of concessionaires, law enforcement and emergency response agencies, Destination Stewardship partners, and volunteers whose efforts leading up to and during July 4 helped make the busy holiday a success. We also want to thank the many responsible visitors who recreated well, put their trash in approved containers, and enjoyed the beautiful outdoors around Lake Tahoe.”

– Forest Supervisor Erick Walker

The League to Save Lake Tahoe is aligned with and taking action to implement the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan in collaboration with over 20 regional organizations. The award-winning plan, developed with the participation of over 3,000 residents, visitors, and businesses, establishes a shared vision for the region’s outdoor recreation and tourism and encourages everyone to help take care of Tahoe’s cherished communities and environment. Visit www.stewardshiptahoe.org to learn more and read the plan.