Winter in Lake Tahoe is a snow lover’s dream, with snow-covered forests, powdery slopes, and the Lake’s legendary blue hue. The surge in winter visitors leads to heavier traffic and, unfortunately, an increase in plastic sled litter and other pollution, putting pressure on Tahoe’s delicate ecosystem.  

The League to Save Lake Tahoe works hand in hand with local agencies, businesses, youth groups, and local volunteers to tackle these issues from every angle. Our winter partnerships shape how the League’s Policy, Data Science, Community Engagement, and Communications teams join forces to Keep Tahoe Blue. 

Microtransit: Easing Winter Congestion 

More cars on the road means more tailpipe emissions and road debris consisting of fine sediment particles, flecks of tires and oil, which all move downhill to the Lake. Through the leadership of Gavin Feiger, the League’s Policy Director, and Darcie Goodman Collins, CEO, we collaborate with the South Shore Transportation Management Association (SSTMA) to offer Lake Link on the South Shore, and work with the Truckee North Tahoe Transportation Management Association to support TART Connect on the North Shore.  

These free, on-demand, app-based microtransit shuttle services encourage visitors and residents to leave cars at home, easing traffic congestion and reducing pollution. Here’s how the League helped bring microtransit to life: 

• Lessons Learned: Gavin, Darcie, and other League team members launched Tahoe’s first microtransit pilot program in 2018, providing valuable insights for future operations and, importantly, proving there was a demand for microtransit options in Lake Tahoe early on. 
• Collaboration & Data Science: The League’s policy experts assembled stakeholders and worked to unlock private and public funding, while leveraging ridership numbers to expand service areas and routes. 
• Community Engagement & Communications: The League builds awareness of Lake Tahoe’s alternative transportation programs through marketing, social media, business partnerships, and local events, helping visitors and locals understand and embrace these lake-friendly alternatives. 

Spooner Sled Hill: A United Front Against Litter 

A Tahoe Blue Crew leader and the sled litter she gathered

Unofficial sledding spots like Spooner Sled Hill (near Hwy 50 & SR 28) were hotspots for trash—broken plastic sleds, food wrappers, clothing tags, and more. Once the snow melts, that litter can make its way downhill into the Lake. The League teamed up with the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU), Take Care Tahoe, and the Clean Tahoe Program to fix the root problem.  

• Community Engagement: Led by our Community Engagement Director, Marilee Movius, Tahoe Blue Crew volunteers picked up 2,000 lbs of trash in one winter season, while collecting crucial litter data about what they picked up and how much. 
• Data Science & Policy: Armed with that data, Gavin’s policy team browsed through options to find repeatable solutions. We developed and funded a pilot project that provided dumpsters, portable toilets, and bilingual signage. This simple solution was effective at massively reducing winter litter at the Spooner Sled Hill. NDOT then agreed to fund the program, including litter collection by Clean Tahoe, while LTBMU supported logistical efforts. 
• The Result: After implementing this plan, Spooner Sled Hill saw a drop in litter from 2,000 lbs one winter, to 126 lbs the next, as reported by Tahoe Blue Crew data. 

Diamond Peak Ski Team: Inspiring the Next Generation 

Diamond Peak Ski Education Foundation (DPSEF) Ski Team Keep Tahoe Blue.

Winter litter extends to ski resorts, too—where plastic bottles, snack wrappers, and lost gear often dot the surrounding areas. To address this issue, the Diamond Peak Ski Education Foundation, and their young ski racers and team parents, formed a Tahoe Blue Crew and adopted a site near the Diamond Peak resort. They supply the League’s data scientists with valuable insights into the types of waste most commonly left behind.  

• Community Engagement: Through Diamond Peak Blue Crew cleanup efforts, together we can Keep Tahoe Blue and collect valuable litter data throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin. 
• Communications: Our Digital Media Coordinator, Kayla Bruni, has collaborated with the young athletes to raise awareness and create sensational cross-promotional campaigns throughout North Tahoe and the broader winter sports community. 

By displaying the “Keep Tahoe Blue” logo on race bibs, Diamond Peak Ski Team members raise awareness beyond the slopes, reminding everyone—from young skiers to locals—to help protect Tahoe’s beauty. 

Blue Business: Partnering for Tomorrow 

Preserving Tahoe’s winter wonderland isn’t limited to government agencies or community volunteers. Businesses have immense power to create change, which is why the League relaunched the Tahoe Blue Business program in 2024. Through our Blue Business program, the League’s Strategic Partnerships Manager Hailey Hawkins forges commitments with partner businesses to adopt lake-friendly best practices, sponsor cleanups, and collaborate with the League to multiply our impact to safeguard Lake Tahoe and support innovations—whether that’s new microtransit services or cutting-edge litter-prevention tactics.  

Visit our Tahoe Blue Business page to learn how your company can become part of the solution. 

Coming Together for Tahoe 

We invite you to be part of the movement—whether that’s using winter lake-friendly transportation on your next ski trip, forming your own Tahoe Blue Crew, or partnering with us as a Blue Business. Every small action contributes to a more sustainable Tahoe, keeping the Lake’s waters crystal-clear and litter-free for the powder hounds, sledders, and wildlife. Together, let’s Keep Tahoe Blue for future generations.