LAKE TAHOE, Nev. – On Saturday, June 13, 41 volunteers gathered on Tahoe’s East Shore to replant, restore, and improve Marlette Creek as part of Keep Tahoe Blue’s Tahoe Forest Stewardship Days event.
Now in its 29th year, Tahoe Forest Stewardship Days is the region’s longest-running and largest single-day ecosystem restoration volunteer effort, held in early summer and fall each year. The event focuses on restoring streams, creeks, marshes, meadows, and wetlands. When healthy, these ecosystems are Lake Tahoe’s best protection from the impacts of climate change. They are also a natural filtration system, preventing tiny particles of sediment from flushing into the Lake, where they harm Tahoe’s water quality and clarity.
“I was happy to find an opportunity to help restore this unique environment,” said Miranda Scalzo, a volunteer from Kings Beach. “It was fun and rewarding to get a chance to be outside and contribute.”
Community members from Tahoe’s north and south shores hopped aboard Heavenly Mountain Resort shuttle buses in the morning to travel to the newly opened Chimney Beach parking area, located a few hundred yards from Marlette Creek. The shuttle drivers themselves got caught up in the pre-event enthusiasm and decided on a whim to volunteer. Other participants mark these events on their calendars for weeks or even months in advance.
“I volunteered for Earth Day last year, but now that I live locally, I’ve already participated in three Keep Tahoe Blue events this year and signed up for the July 5th cleanup too,” said Lupe Gonzales.
“Just last weekend I worked at the National Trails Day event, and here I am back again,” noted Joe Hibbeln. “It’s great to have all these chances to give back and connect with a like-minded community.”
Staff from the Nevada Tahoe Conservation District and Keep Tahoe Blue guided participants on projects ranging from planting aspens and reinforcing stream banks to building debris structures that slow stream flows and boost the creek’s ability to filter water heading toward the Lake. A group of volunteers also removed litter to demonstrate to visitors that everyone should leave Tahoe better than they found it.
The event was conducted through a partnership between the Nevada Tahoe Conservation District, the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, and Keep Tahoe Blue.
Future Keep Tahoe Blue volunteer events can be found at keeptahoeblue.org/events.
Photos from Keep Tahoe Blue:
