Crews clean up South Lake Tahoe beaches

Hundreds of volunteers started cleaning the beaches of South Lake Tahoe after the July 4 fireworks celebration that brought an estimated 100,000-125,000 people to the area. The massive amount of trash left on the beaches in the past caused many local people, groups, agencies and businesses to help educate the public about not trashing beautiful South Lake Tahoe.

Clean Tahoe, Ski Bum Family, League to Save Lake Tahoe and Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority are spearheading clean up efforts all week long. Even after a the large outreach push to remind everyone to clean up after themselves there were still thousands of pounds of garbage picked up. Early reports indicate that trash made it to the dumpster and trash can areas, but they were overflowing by mid-day Saturday.

Garbage bags were handed out at many venues as groups of people went in, which did help since those bags were found full.

Kenny Curtzwiler, who has been cleaning up El Dorado Beach after the past 17 Independence Day celebrations, said the beaches were much cleaner this year. Two people, John and Sandy Walsh, join Curtzwiler and his staff as they started at 6 a.m. on Sunday. They picked up about 2,500 pounds of garbage. South Tahoe Refuse gave Curtzwiler the keys to the dump since they were closed Sunday.

Clean Tahoe, the South Lake Tahoe non-profit who is focused on litter abatement, removed more than 400 pounds of trash from the public roadway and sidewalks near the Stateline area on the morning of July 5th. The largest problem area was along Stateline Avenue. and Lakeshore Blvd., where nine 30-gallon bags of litter were collected.

“This year the Stateline area wasn’t quite as bad as last year, but it is still pretty disappointing to see that much litter left out in our community after one night,” said Jeff Pollitt, Clean Tahoe Field Crew Supervisor.

The League to Save Lake Tahoe also had a large group of people on the beaches. “We’re thrilled that twice as many people came out for this year’s cleanup compared to last year,” said Marilee Movius, the League’s community engagement manager. “Cleanups like these are only possible because of the engagement of our volunteers, our business partners, and the land managers for Tahoe beaches.”

There will be groups of people on beaches all week to pick up items washed in as well as ensuring all areas are clean of trash.