There’s no better place than Lake Tahoe during the summer. But, with the Lake’s popularity comes a cost. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people flock to Tahoe’s iconic beaches, and too often, they leave behind more than footprints. Pristine, litter-free beaches are still possible — if we protect them together.

That’s the vision behind Keep Tahoe Blue’s Tahoe Blue Beach program.

This first-of-its-kind beach management initiative brings together land managers, concessionaires, businesses, nonprofits, and cutting-edge technology to make responsible, Lake-friendly recreation the easy and obvious choice. And it’s working, based on our data collected at the July 5th “Keep Tahoe Red, White and Blue” cleanup event.

What Makes a Beach “Blue”?

Pristine and beautiful beaches don’t stay that way without intentional design and active management. The Tahoe Blue Beach program offers a bold, science-driven blueprint for better beach management through the Three E’s framework:

• Education comes first. Clear, engaging signage and proactive outreach help beachgoers understand how to recreate responsibly before stepping on the sand.
• Engineering upgrades follow. That means restrooms, trash and recycling stations, and natural access points designed to reduce erosion and blend with Tahoe’s landscape.
• Enforcement is the final step. When expectations are clear, enforcement ensures that rules are followed. This helps protect fragile ecosystems and wildlife, preventing the misuse or abuse of public lands.

Together, the Three E’s form a strong foundation that helped deliver a cleaner and safer beach at Zephyr Cove Resort and Shoals last summer. Now, they are guiding the program’s expansion to Kings Beach for summer 2025, with additional partners and beaches getting involved too.

A Growing Movement, North and South

Led by Keep Tahoe Blue, in partnership with the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (USFS) and concessionaire Aramark Destinations, the Tahoe Blue Beach program launched in 2024 at Zephyr Cove Resort and Shoals beaches during the July 4th holiday weekend. The program was effective and the results were clear: 97% less litter was collected during the League’s 2024 July 5th cleanup event than the previous year.

“Through the Tahoe Blue Beach program, our guests last summer enjoyed a clean, pristine beach and they did their part to keep it that way. That’s the beauty of this program. Our staff worked with Keep Tahoe Blue and the Forest Service to create an experience where taking care of the beach — while you enjoy it — just feels natural.”

— Aramark Destinations Tahoe District Manager, Kevin Schiesz

Thanks to this success, the Tahoe Blue Beach program is expanding in the summer of 2025 to Kings Beach on the North Shore thanks to a $75,000 grant from the North Tahoe Community Alliance (NTCA) and partnership with California State Parks who manage the beach.

At the heart of the Tahoe Blue Beach program lies a deep commitment to environmental stewardship. The TOT-TBID Dollars at Work funds programs that understand the health of our natural environment is crucial for the long-term vitality of the Tahoe region. This project takes significant steps to protect and nurture our natural surroundings, ensuring they remain a source of joy and pride for generations to come.

Kings Beach isn’t the only new site joining the effort. Camp Richardson, Tahoe Beach Club, and Meeks Bay Resort will participate in various ways, increasing the momentum and providing a model for broader implementation throughout the Tahoe Basin. These partnerships show the true strength of collaboration in protecting our home and shared treasure.

BEBOT and Friends: Tech Takes Action

Press play to see the Bebot in action.

Technology also plays a starring role in the program. Through a collaboration with ECO-CLEAN Solutions, the Tahoe Blue Beach program has a fleet of all-electric, sand-sifting BEBOTs ready to deploy. The beach-cleaning robots remove tiny bits of plastic and other trash buried beneath the surface that are easily missed by people.

Together with other aquatic cleanup tools like the Pixie Drone, Collec’Thor, and CD3, these tools are part of a growing arsenal to keep pollution out of the water before it starts.

In 2024 alone, the BEBOTs cleaned over 1 million square feet of shoreline and removed more than 38,000 pieces of subsurface litter.

A Model for Stewardship, Powered by Community

Since 2014, the League has hosted over 2,000 litter cleanups, backed by passionate volunteers. The data gathered has helped tailor science-backed solutions to each beach’s unique challenges.

But true success comes when everyone plays a role. The League brings together the right partners — land managers, local businesses, and regional organizations — to implement a united strategy that works for the Lake and the community.

This year, additional beach operators are exploring participation, helping scale the program and strengthen its impact. The Tahoe Blue Beach program succeeds when we share responsibility.

“With millions of visitors per year, it’s increasingly important that people do their part in practicing sustainable recreation while enjoying their public lands. The Tahoe Blue Beach program will help people do just that.”

— USFS Forest Supervisor, Erick Walker

Powered by People and Data

Every year, volunteers gather litter data using the Citizen Science Tahoe web-based app and cleanup tracking tools like the Keep Tahoe Blue Trashboard (trash data dashboard). These observations help measure where and when problems occur and track what’s working. Last year, litter collected was documented, helping direct where attention is most needed, and pointing out what types of products — like single-use plastics — become litter most frequently.

A Cleaner Lake Starts at the Shoreline

The Tahoe Blue Beach program is more than a cleanup initiative. It’s a model of what’s possible: a cleaner and more welcoming experience for residents and visitors alike. The League, its partners, and the public each have a role in creating a better Tahoe. Here’s how you can make a difference:

• Support participating beaches, volunteer, and donate.
• Leave the beach better than you found it.
• Encourage your favorite beach to join the program.
• Explore the program data and impact.
• Follow @KeepTahoeBlue and share this blog.

Your pristine Tahoe beach awaits… it’s up to you to keep it that way.