I still remember when I was working in the tiki bar at Round Hill Pines. It was the first summer of COVID, and it seemed like the entire state of California had come to visit our little beach. The money was great, but the impact was undeniable. That summer, something changed in me. I realized our beaches aren’t just beautiful places; they’re the economic backbone of this community and should be invested in as such.
As someone who has called Lake Tahoe home for decades, I started Eco-Clean Solutions not because I’m an environmentalist or an entrepreneur, but because I’m your neighbor who couldn’t stand by and watch our community lose what makes it special. What began as a personal mission has revealed an uncomfortable truth. The problem is deeper than we knew, and we’ve been taking this economic asset for granted.
The Economic Reality
Our beaches help drive a multibillion-dollar annual tourism economy. About sixty percent of our regional economy depends on outdoor recreation, with four million of our 17 million annual visitor days specifically focused on beaches and trails. This supports over 9,000 jobs in North Lake Tahoe alone and generates $383 million in recreation spending.
But here’s the risk. National studies show beach pollution drives visitors elsewhere. Research shows that doubling beach debris decreases tourism spending, while reducing litter by 75 percent generates $42 per resident in economic benefits over just three months.
The message is clear: dirty beaches don’t just offend our values, they threaten our livelihoods.
Environmental Stewardship That Pays
Beach cleaning isn’t just about aesthetics. Every piece of litter we remove prevents chemical contamination of Lake Tahoe’s legendary waters, protects birds and fish, and stops plastic from breaking down into microplastics that threaten the lake’s clarity and overall health.
Our systematic data collection reveals pollution patterns that help land managers prevent problems at their source. This is preventive medicine for our lake and far cheaper than treating symptoms after they become a crisis.
The environmental and economic goals aren’t in conflict. Lake Tahoe’s beauty is our brand. Protecting it protects our future.
The Investment That Pays for Itself
The numbers are compelling. Other coastal communities show that every dollar invested in beach cleaning generates $7 to $42 in economic benefits. When we bring those ratios to our four million beach visitors, we’re protecting hundreds of millions of dollars in annual economic value.
A comprehensive basin-wide beach cleaning program would cost a small fraction of its impact.
The BEBOT technology we use mitigates the negative environmental impacts and costs far less to operate annually than traditional tractor systems, all while collecting ten times more pieces of litter than volunteer-led efforts. This isn’t expensive, feel-good environmentalism; it’s smart infrastructure investment with measurable returns.
Make Tahoe a Model
ght now, beach cleaning in our basin is fragmented and reactive. We need dedicated, long-term funding that treats beaches like the critical infrastructure they are.
I’m calling on all people with a stake in our community to help establish systematic beach cleaning programs. This isn’t charity, it’s protecting the economic engine that supports our livelihoods.
Tourism-dependent communities everywhere struggle with loving their natural assets to death. But Lake Tahoe can show a different path. One where environmental quality and economic vitality reinforce each other.
I started mechanical beach cleaning because I love this place. What I’ve learned is that doing right by our community means recognizing that we can do better. Clean beaches aren’t a luxury, they’re essential to our community’s economic vitality.
The data is clear. The technology exists. The economic argument is overwhelming. All that’s missing is commitment.
The question isn’t can we afford to invest in clean beaches, it’s how can we afford not to?
-JB Harris
JB Harris founded Eco-Clean Solutions, a Lake Tahoe-based company using BEBOT technology for mechanical beach cleaning.