League to Save Lake Tahoe is celebrating 10 years of its “Keep Tahoe Red, White & Blue” event at six sites

LAKE TAHOE, CA/NV (June 27, 2023) – After Fourth of July festivities, Tahoe’s beaches and surrounding areas are often blanketed with trash, which can hurt wildlife and the Lake’s unique water quality and clarity. Last year, Keep Tahoe Blue volunteers removed a staggering 3,450 pounds of litter the morning after the holiday. Every July 5th since 2013, the League to Save Lake Tahoe has welcomed hundreds of volunteers to prevent pollution from reaching the Lake’s blue waters. This July 5th, residents and visitors are invited to pitch in, clean up, and celebrate 10 years of the Keep Tahoe Red, White & Blue Beach Cleanup.

Over almost a decade, the annual event has become Lake Tahoe’s largest single-day cleanup. It not only removes harmful trash from the natural environment, the event raises awareness of the disastrous impacts from intentional and unintentional littering and leads to policy solutions. The League’s policy experts use statistics on the collected litter – the materials, items and amounts – to successfully advocate for litter prevention solutions, such as bans on plastic bags, Styrofoam and plastic water bottles.

This year, some of the League’s long-time volunteers will host several cleanup sites with support from more than a dozen local businesses and organizations. That makes this community event a prime example of “shared stewardship” – individuals, public and private groups coming together to Keep Tahoe Blue.

WHAT & VISUALS: The 10th anniversary of Tahoe’s largest annual litter cleanup event, taking place at beaches and surrounding areas around the Lake Tahoe Basin. Features of the event include:

• Volunteers will collect and bag trash from beaches, surrounding streets, neighborhoods and parking areas; at all cleanup sites.
• The BEBOT – an electric, beach-cleaning robot – will sift beach sands to remove tiny bits of litter difficult to detect by people; at Kings Beach.
• Clean Up The Lake’s dive team will patrol the underwater environment near the shoreline for debris; at Zephyr Cove.
• League to Save Lake Tahoe staff will conduct a training on how to identify and report aquatic invasive species; at Zephyr Cove.
• Support and participation from a broad range of sponsors and partners, representing the public and private sectors; at all cleanup sites.

WHO: Hundreds of local and visiting volunteers, representatives from the League to Save Lake Tahoe, Northstar California Resort, Kirkwood Mountain Resort, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Stio Mountain Studio, Zephyr Cove Resort, ECO-CLEAN Solutions, Mananalu Pure Water, California State Parks, the City of South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City Public Utility District, USFS-Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Vista Recreation, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, and Tahoe City Downtown Association.

WHEN: Wednesday, July 5 | 8:30 – 11:30am

WHERE:

• Kiva Beach – 1 Heritage Way, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
  • Reception located here.
• Kings Beach State Recreation Area – Raccoon Street, Kings Beach, CA 96143
  • Reception located here.
• Nevada Beach – 416 Bittlers Road, Zephyr Cove, NV 89448
  • Reception located here.
• Lakeview Commons/Regan Beach – 1004 Lakeview Avenue, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
  • Reception located here.
• Tahoe City Commons Beach – 400 North Lake Boulevard, Tahoe City, CA 96145
  • Reception located here.
• Zephyr Cove/Shoals – 760 Highway 50, Zephyr Cove, NV 89448
  • Reception located here.

WHY: Tahoe’s beaches are the final stop for harmful litter before it enters the Lake’s blue waters. Collaborative litter prevention efforts – like the annual Keep Tahoe Red, White & Blue beach cleanup – are crucial to protect the Lake’s delicate ecology, its famous water clarity, and the experience of millions who enjoy its natural beauty every year.

HOW TO REGISTER: Interested volunteers should visit keeptahoeblue.org/events.

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Media Contact:
League to Save Lake Tahoe, Chris Joseph, 805.722.5646
The League to Save Lake Tahoe, also known by its iconic slogan “Keep Tahoe Blue,” protects and restores the Tahoe Basin’s unique natural beauty and environmental health – today and for future generations. Guided by science, we develop innovative solutions to complex environmental problems, mobilize thousands of volunteers each year, and act as both watchdog and advocate for Tahoe’s wellbeing. Learn more about our 66-year-old organization at keeptahoeblue.org.