Tahoe officials are cracking down after a popular South Lake beach was trashed by Fourth of July revelers.
Images widely circulated online showing beer cans, plastic water bottles, beach chairs and other party accessories left at Zephyr Shoals the morning after an Independence Day celebration stirred up public vitriol. While it’s unclear who was at the beach, the episode further intensified the contempt some Tahoe locals feel toward oblivious tourists who flock to the lake during peak holidays.
A local beach cleanup effort undertaken by nonprofit groups on July 5 collected more than 6,300 pounds of litter and junk, and prompted renewed pleas from lake advocates to respect the natural setting.
Now, the U.S. Forest Service, which owns and oversees Zephyr Shoals, says it will install a concessionaire to manage the popular beach area, starting in the fall. Visitors can expect new rules and stricter enforcement, according to the League to Save Lake Tahoe.