Every spring, Tahoe wakes from its winter hibernation—and so does litter that’s been hiding all winter. Melting snow brings on the “trash bloom,” which is no cause for celebration. But every volunteer who shows up to clean up, every piece of trash removed, and every data point reported makes Tahoe stronger.
This Earth Month, join the League to protect the lake you love. Whether you’re showing up to one of our many Earth Month events, using your phone to generate citizen science data, or attending an Eyes on the Lake training, there’s a way for you and everyone to make an impact—whether you have five hours to spare or just five minutes.
Spring Clean for Tahoe’s Future
Earth Month is more than a moment—it’s a movement. And it starts with hands-on action. We’re hosting the first of 2025’s community cleanups, including our Earth Day Cleanup on April 22, to tackle the spring trash bloom head-on. These aren’t just beautification events. They’re powerful data collection efforts that lead to actual policy change. When volunteers report what they find, it provides evidence that strengthens our advocacy for litter prevention, such as the single-use plastic water bottle bans in South Lake Tahoe and Truckee that your cleanup data helped to inspire.
Fun Fact: The first Earth Day took place on April 22, 1970—13 years and a few days after the League to Save Lake Tahoe was founded!
Science in Your Pocket
Can’t make it to a cleanup? You can still be part of the solution every time you explore Tahoe. Reporting through the free Citizen Science Tahoe web app turns your sightings of litter, algae, invasive species, or clear water into real data used by scientists and advocacy teams to protect Tahoe. There’s nothing to download, and it only takes a moment to make a difference.
Your phone just became a conservation tool. Visit the Citizen Science Tahoe web app and start reporting.
Citizen Science Tahoe was developed by the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, Desert Research Institute, and Keep Tahoe Blue.
Innovation in Action: BEBOT StoryMap
Big problems call for bold solutions. Our new BEBOT StoryMap brings you behind the scenes of Tahoe’s solar-powered beach-cleaning robots. The BEBOT fleet is a powerful tool for removing micro-trash and pollutants before they reach the Lake. It is one example of how the League leads by combining science-backed data with tech innovation and collaboration. In partnership with ECO-CLEAN Solutions the League is thinking big, incorporating cutting-edge technology, and exploring scalable solutions to modern threats.
Plastic Water Bottle Ban: One Year Later
One year ago, South Lake Tahoe took a bold step with its single-use plastic water bottle ban. Today, most retailers have eliminated single-use plastic bottles of one gallon or smaller—reducing litter at the source and shifting behavior Basin-wide.
And it’s catching on—Truckee passed its own ban on single-use plastic water bottles. With continued community support, Tahoe can set the standard for pollution prevention.
Celebrating the League’s 68th Birthday!
Ooph, we’re getting old. We were founded on April 19, 1957 by passionate Tahoe-lovers who believed the Basin deserved protection. Today, we continue that mission—powered by science, volunteers, and donors. The League’s model works because of people like you, and by combining hands-on action, science-based strategy, and advocacy where it matters most.
As a donor-funded organization, your support through donations helps fund help fund the cleanups, restoration projects, and advocacy campaigns that protect Lake Tahoe all year long and keep it swimmable, hikeable, and enjoyable for generations to come.
Join the Movement
Earth Month is just the beginning. Join us for Snapshot Day, Tahoe Forest Stewardship Day, and the July 5th Keep Tahoe Red, White & Blue Cleanup this summer. Volunteer at an Earth Month event, report using the Citizen Science Tahoe web app, or donate to expand your impact. Together, we can protect the Earth, Keep Tahoe Blue, and make a difference for future generations.