When scuba divers cleaned up all 72 miles of Lake Tahoe’s shoreline, they weren’t just pulling out a whopping 25,000 pounds of trash. Dive teams from Clean Up The Lake (CUTL) were also identifying “hot spots” or areas along the shoreline with high concentrations of litter. 

With support from the Tahoe Fund, Tahoe Blue Vodka, and other partners, CUTL divers revisited 20 hot spots on the Nevada shoreline in 2023 to observe changes in litter accumulation and perform surveillance for aquatic invasive species (AIS).

The good news? These 20 hot spots had only 879.5 pounds of submerged litter in 2023, compared to 2,937 pounds of litter during the initial cleanup in 2021. This data suggests that the 72-mile cleanup was a long-lasting, low impact solution for keeping litter out of Lake Tahoe.

The CUTL team is also analyzing data from hot spots on the California side of the lake. Although that analysis has yet to be finalized, results are looking similar to those of the Nevada side, showing that Lake Tahoe is significantly cleaner now than it was in 2021. 

Even with such promising results, there’s still more work to be done. During this monitoring project, the CUTL team also conducted deep dive surveys near each hot spot location at 35 and 70-foot depths. These dives revealed that there’s still a high concentration of litter in those deeper zones that will need to be removed as part of a future project. 

Photos by Clean Up The Lake

Starting last week, trail users on the popular multi-use Legacy Trail in Truckee will find new messages stenciled in chalk along the path. From educational “share the path” and “keep right” reminders, to more tongue-in-cheek messages like “friends don’t let friends block trails” and “it’s okay to be shy, but if you’re about to pass, say hi,” the goal of the new Take Care Tahoe campaign is to reduce trail user conflicts and collisions on paved paths in the region. The two biggest issues are large groups blocking the entire trail by walking side-by-side, and bikes going too fast around pedestrians. 

“The Town is happy to be partnering with Take Care Tahoe on this pilot initiative. As the popularity of our trail system continues to grow, reminders of trail etiquette are becoming more important,” said Jen Callaway, Truckee Town Manager. “We have heard from our community there is a need to deter user conflicts and accidents on trails. With this campaign and fun messaging, we will be able to see how effective this type of signage and communication can be to remind everyone how to use our trails.”

The campaign will launch with an initial list of 20 messages that include straightforward instructions, funny reminders, and Spanish-language messages. The public will be encouraged to share their feedback and new message ideas on Take Care Tahoe’s website and social media channels. Any new message ideas that are submitted have the potential to become new stencils.

“As more people use paved paths to walk, run, and ride throughout the region, it has become more important than ever to remind users about how to share the trail with others,” said Noah Shapiro, Take Care Tahoe program manager. “We’re hoping that a series of lighthearted messages stenciled along the trail itself will grab the attention of more people than a traditional posted sign might.”

In addition to the Legacy Trail, the campaign will be introduced on the Trout Creek trail in Truckee once construction is completed. In the future, it may also be expanded to other regional multi-use paved trails.

Learn more about the trail etiquette campaign at takecaretahoe.org.

Nineteen miles of trail that travel through Desolation Wilderness from Echo Lakes to Lake Aloha are in desperate need of extensive restoration work due to high use, erosion and extreme weather events. To address this critical need, the nonprofit Tahoe Fund is partnering with the Tahoe Rim Trail Association to launch a $50,000 matching campaign. 

“In the last year alone, the section of trail that travels from Echo Lakes to Lake Aloha had over 2,000 trail users per week between June and September,” said Morgan Steel, Executive Director, Tahoe Rim Trail Association. “With the support of Tahoe Fund donors, we will be able to undertake major restoration work to repair and fortify this popular section of the Tahoe Rim Trail system co-aligned with the Pacific Crest Trail.” 

The work to be completed over the next two years will include re-establishing the trail tread, completing extensive rock work to make the trail surface safer for hikers and equestrians, and adding drainages to decrease erosion. Together, these trail restoration activities will protect water quality, prevent habitat and landscape fragmentation, and protect sensitive biological resources.

“This beloved section of trail takes you to gorgeous alpine lakes and through pristine wilderness,” said Deb Howard, Tahoe Fund board member. “We’re calling on our community to help fund this restoration work to give all trail users a safer, more enjoyable experience, while also reducing the impact on Tahoe’s sensitive alpine environment.”

All donations to the Echo Lakes Trail Restoration project will be doubled until the $50,000 fundraising goal is reached. Contributions will also be matched with funding from the Latrobe Fund and in-kind contributions from California Conservation Corps, the Pacific Crest Trail Association, and the US Forest Service. 

Learn more about the project and donate at www.tahoefund.org/desolation.

Every year, an average of seven people drown in Lake Tahoe due to cold water shock. A new safety education campaign from Take Care Tahoe is encouraging those who spend time in Lake Tahoe to wear a life jacket and “think before you sink.” Envisioned by local Girl Scout and South Lake Tahoe high school student Sadie Beall, the campaign was designed to educate people about the dangers of cold water shock, how quickly it can happen, and how to avoid drowning. Several marinas and kayak and SUP rental operators in the Tahoe Basin have already agreed to help get the word out to their customers about the campaign.

“Growing up in Tahoe, I’ve been around the lake and its cold water for my entire life. My dad has always worked at a marina, and boating is part of our life, so hearing about cold water shock and drownings that unfortunately happen every year is not unusual,” said Sadie Beall, initiator of Take Care Tahoe’s Cold Water Shock campaign. “In launching this campaign, my goal is to educate people about what cold water shock is, and how it can be avoided while still enjoying Lake Tahoe.”

Cold water shock occurs when the body enters extremely cold water and the muscles lock up, resulting in temporary paralysis. Marinas and other watercraft rental operators participating in the campaign will post cold water shock posters and stickers with QR codes that drive visitors to the Take Care Tahoe website for more information. There, viewers will find facts about cold water shock such as:

• Within 15 minutes in cold water, blood flow decreases to the extremities to preserve heat at the core. You will lose movement of legs and arms and will be unable to stay afloat unless you are wearing a life vest.
• 55% of all open-water drownings occur within 10 feet of safe refuge.
• 66% of people who drown in cold water are regarded as strong swimmers.

Information shared on the campaign page also includes boating laws related to lifejacket use, live lake conditions information, and forecast models for water temperature, wave height, and water currents, as compiled by the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center. Site visitors will also find details about proper boating etiquette on Lake Tahoe, information from the Lake Tahoe Water Trail, and other resources related to cold water shock.

“Sadie came to us last year to propose a new Take Care Tahoe campaign focused on cold water shock,” said Noah Shapiro, Take Care Tahoe program coordinator. “Realizing that this effort can help save lives and impact how people recreate on Lake Tahoe, it was something all of the Take Care partners were eager to support. We are pleased to be rolling this campaign out as summer officially gets underway, and are encouraged that so many marinas and other businesses are committed to helping get the word out.”
Learn more about cold water shock and how to prevent it at https://takecaretahoe.org/take-action/cold-water-shock/.