January 2026
Featured Core Volunteer: Andrea Lundquist
When Andrea Lundquist moved to Tahoe from the city in 2019, she wasn’t just looking for a change of scenery. She was searching for a way to connect with this special place and the people who care for it. “I was hoping to discover an opportunity to get involved with the environmental community.” That search quickly led her to Keep Tahoe Blue.
She began by volunteering at cleanups and restoration projects, including hands-on work in Johnson Meadow, where new friendships formed alongside muddy boots and shared purpose. Over time, volunteering became both routine and refuge. Andrea finds calm wandering off the trail and along roads, collecting trash. Someone once called it “the worst Easter egg hunt ever,” but she sees the upside. Less trash on beaches and bike trails means progress.
Tahoe’s pull on Andrea started long before she moved here. More than 20 years ago, her first visit left a lasting impression. She was “mesmerized by the big blue view at Lakeside Commons,” and soon found herself making the drive up for ski weekends for nearly two decades. Now living in Meyers, the commute to Kirkwood is shorter, and the connection runs deeper.
One of Andrea’s most meaningful volunteer experiences is Snapshot Day at Fallen Leaf Lake. “I’ve really felt my contributions matter.” Returning to the same site for five seasons has allowed her to see how consistent data collection helps track change and stability over time. That continuity matters. Her impact extends beyond monitoring. During a Stewardship project in the Meeks Creek meadow, Andrea helped remove more than 100 unwanted trees, restoring space for native growth.
When she’s not volunteering, Andrea embraces Tahoe life fully. She skis at Kirkwood, paddleboards on Fallen Leaf and Baron Lake, hikes around Paradise Park, relaxes at Baldwin and Pope Beaches, keeps an eye out for bears, and hosts a neighborhood book club.
Her message to those enjoying their time in Lake Tahoe is simple and direct. “Both visitors and residents need to remember that their actions have consequences. Throwing your bottles, cans, and food wrappers out of a window does not mean they disappear.”
We’re grateful to Andrea for her steady commitment, curiosity, and care for Tahoe’s landscapes. Because of volunteers like her, the Lake and its surrounding environment are better protected, season after season.