From science to solutions: how it works
Science-to-solutions is Keep Tahoe Blue’s approach to tackling the Basin’s biggest threats. Here’s how it works:
- Collect: Volunteers gather data throughout the Tahoe Basin. From tracking litter collected at cleanups to reporting aquatic invasive species sightings, every data point builds a picture of Tahoe’s health.
- Analyze: Our team of experts analyzes and compares data to historical trends in the Tahoe Basin. In partnership with partner agencies and researchers, we seek out the best available science to identify emerging threats to the Basin.
- Act: With science in hand, Keep Tahoe Blue develops solutions that address litter, invasive species, pollutants, and more. We use data to advocate for long-term solutions, from legislation that reduces plastic litter at the source to alternative transportation solutions that combat pollution.
- Measure: Results matter. After putting solutions in place, Keep Tahoe Blue tracks outcomes to ensure that every action delivers results for Lake Tahoe. Lessons learned go beyond the Tahoe Basin through global initiatives like the Chile Lagos Limpios collaboration.
Case study: From holiday cleanup to lasting change
Every summer, our July 5th Keep Tahoe Red, White, & Blue Beach Cleanup shows the science-to-solutions process in action. Volunteers remove thousands of pounds of litter left after the holiday, while also collecting data on what’s found and where. That data doesn’t just measure success — it guides future solutions, from targeted litter prevention policies to improved beach management under the Tahoe Blue Beach program.
Explore the interactive StoryMap below to see how this single event demonstrates the power of turning community science into lasting protection for Lake Tahoe.
Click to view Keep Tahoe Red, White & Blue StoryMap
Initiatives and outcomes
- Combating plastic pollution: Since 2014, volunteers have collected data at more than 2,000 cleanups. That data informed bans on single-use bags, Styrofoam, straws, utensils, and water bottles in South Lake Tahoe, inspiring neighboring communities like Truckee and Mammoth Lakes to follow. View 10+ years of litter data through our Trash Dashboard.
- Piloting litter-fighting robots: In partnership with Eco-Clean Solutions, we brought solar-powered robots to clean Lake Tahoe’s beaches. Visit the BEBOT StoryMap to see the robots in action.
- Preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species: The Eyes on the Lake program empowers community members to identify and report aquatic invasive species sightings that threaten Lake Tahoe’s health. Meanwhile, in the Tahoe Keys, weed-eating robots form a critical line of defense against invasive species. Explore Eyes on the Lake data with Citizen Science Tahoe.
- Raising the bar on beach management: Drawing on cleanup data, visitor surveys, and pilot testing, the Tahoe Blue Beach program upgrades recreation management through education, engineering, and enforcement. This collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, California State Parks, private beaches, concessionaires and land managers makes responsible recreation the easy choice. Learn about the Tahoe Blue Beach program.
- Monitoring Lake Tahoe’s water quality: Since 2000, thousands of volunteers have collected water quality data at creeks and streams flowing into Lake Tahoe during our annual Snapshot Day event. This event captures a snapshot of Tahoe’s water quality at a moment in time. Read the Snapshot Day report to see citizen science in action.
- Testing innovative solutions: Keep Tahoe Blue tests new solutions to Tahoe’s toughest problems, from the Tahoe Keys Control Methods Test fighting aquatic invasive species, to the Emerald Bay Shuttle pilot and tire-wear study aimed at reducing traffic and pollution while studying the effects of tire degradation at the Lake.
Tahoe Keys and the future AIS management solutions
Click to watch the results of the Control Methods Test
Aquatic invasive species (AIS) threaten Tahoe’s clarity and water quality. In the Tahoe Keys, invasive weeds pose the biggest ecological threat to the Lake. In 2024, Keep Tahoe Blue and our key partners finished a three-year Control Methods Test, running multiple AIS management strategies, backed by rigorous monitoring, to chart a path forward in preventing AIS from spreading throughout the Lake. This initiative shows why science-backed solutions are essential: they allow us to act early, adapt quickly, and prevent irreversible harm.
After nearly a decade of leadership, funding, and coalition-building efforts, the three-year CMT process concluded in the fall of 2024. You can find a summary of the actions taken during years one, two, and three in the reports linked below.
- 2025 Final Control Methods Test (CMT) Summary Report
- Summer 2024 CMT Implementation and Interim Results Special Report
- Main Takeaways from Control Methods Test Year 2
- Control Methods Test Year 2 (2023) Annual Report
- Summer 2023 Control Methods Test Implementation and Interim Results Special Report
- Control Methods Test Year 1 Preliminary Results
- Summer 2022 Control Methods Test Implementation Special Report
Our global impact
Keep Tahoe Blue’s work is powered by a team of Tahoe-lovers, policy experts, and advocates. We partner with research institutes, agencies, and community organizations to ensure that Tahoe benefits from the latest knowledge and best practices. That expertise has allowed us to work with other organizations to help protect freshwater lakes beyond the Tahoe Basin.
In May of 2018, Chileans invited a delegation of experts from Tahoe to visit and assist in their efforts to protect their lake region, just north of the Patagonia region. We worked closely with Chile as they launched their own lake advocacy organization known as “Chile Lagos Limpios” (Chile Clean Lakes). The hands-on work takes the lessons learned over decades at Lake Tahoe and solutions found through data, scientific research, and implementation to help solve similar issues facing their lakes now. That expertise and lake-saving work is helping 23 lakes North of Patagonia.
In 2024, the Lake Champions—a group of nine individuals from the U.S with diverse specialties and backgrounds—returned to Chile to continue sharing lessons learned on lake management and preservation. By pairing local expertise with global leadership, Tahoe becomes a model for science-driven conservation not just here but worldwide.
