Photo by: Clean Up the Lake
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As summer approaches, the League’s work across the Basin is in motion. Volunteers are doing their part to Keep Tahoe Blue, and programs focused on monitoring, restoration, and community outreach are ramping up. Your continued support makes this progress possible.
Every action matters. Whether you support science-based solutions, volunteer at events, or help educate others, you play a role in protecting Lake Tahoe. Much of what threatens the Lake is not immediately visible from the surface, but it's a different story below. Your support ensures we can detect issues early and respond with long-term solutions that preserve Tahoe’s clarity and health for the future. |
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Snapshot Day: 25 Years Strong and Still Making an Impact |
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On Saturday, May 10th, volunteers in the Tahoe-Truckee region gathered for the 25th annual Snapshot Day, the Lake’s longest-running citizen science program of its kind. Seventy-six volunteers monitored 32 sites throughout the watershed, collecting water samples and capturing a snapshot of water quality to help track changes over time. Early results show the Truckee River watershed is in good health. That progress directly results from decades of stewardship, data collection, and collaboration. A full 25-year report is in development and will be released soon.
The work continues. Join us this summer for community cleanups, Eyes on the Lake training and hands-on restoration events. |
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A Setback for Science and
Stewardship in Tahoe |
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Photo by: Tahoe Daily Tribune |
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The AmeriCorps program has long supported environmental education, conservation, and community outreach throughout the Tahoe Basin. This year, budget cuts unexpectedly ended that support, affecting several of our partner organizations, including the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC), Sierra Nevada Alliance, and the Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP).
Through programs such as SNAP, AmeriCorps members have strengthened local nonprofits and expanded access to hands-on environmental learning. At TERC, they have brought science education to classrooms and community groups, helping to inspire the next generation of Tahoe stewards. Without their involvement, many programs now face reduced capacity. The League stands with our partners and honors each AmeriCorps member's commitment to protecting the Lake. We remain dedicated to continuing this work together.
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Tahoe Blue Beach: A Cleaner Shoreline Starts with Us |
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The Tahoe Blue Beach program continues to raise the bar for shoreline stewardship. Made possible through collaboration with the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Aramark Destinations, ECO-CLEAN Solutions, and the League, the program is showing results.
Last summer, efforts at Zephyr Cove and the Shoals reduced visible litter by 97 percent. In 2025, with support from the North Tahoe Community Alliance and California State Parks, the program will expand to Kings Beach for its first pilot season on the North Shore.
By combining public education, infrastructure improvements, and enforcement, this partnership creates cleaner beaches and healthier habitats while protecting the visitor experience. Everyone has a role in keeping the Lake's shorelines clean, safe, and enjoyable for all. Your pristine Tahoe beach awaits… it’s up to you to keep it that way |
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The Golden Mussels Threat
is Closer Than You Think |
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Last fall, a new invasive species was discovered in California for the first time. Golden mussels, small but aggressive filter feeders, were intercepted during a boat inspection at Folsom Lake, just hours from Lake Tahoe.
These mussels seriously threaten the Lake’s clarity, native ecosystems, and water infrastructure. Like quagga mussels, which the League and partners have helped keep out of Tahoe for over a decade, golden mussels form dense colonies on boats, docks, rocks, and pipes. They tolerate a wider range of habitats, adhere more strongly to surfaces, and reproduce quickly. If introduced, they could irreversibly alter Tahoe’s ecology and water quality.
Golden mussels are NOT in Lake Tahoe, and with continued vigilance, we can keep it that way.
What You Can Do: - Inspect and decontaminate: All motorized watercraft launching at Tahoe must be inspected and, if needed, decontaminated at an official station.
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Clean, drain, and dry everything: This includes paddleboards, kayaks, fishing gear, and inflatables.
- Use free decontamination services: Non-motorized watercraft qualify, too.
Preventing the spread starts with informed, consistent action. Visit TahoeKeepers.org to learn more and be part of the solution. |
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Your Eyes Can Help
Protect the Lake |
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Every visit to Lake Tahoe gives you a front-row view of the Lake’s health, and your observations matter. The Citizen Science Tahoe web app makes it easy to report algae, litter, and other water quality concerns from your phone, in just a few minutes.
Want to take your impact further? Join us at our Eyes on the Lake training on June 11th at the Tahoe Keys Marina. You’ll learn to spot aquatic invasive species and contribute valuable data for early detection and long-term protection. This summer, submit an Eyes on the Lake report through the Citizen Science Tahoe app for a chance to win prizes from the League and Tahoe Keepers. It only takes a few minutes, and no download is necessary.
Whether you’re paddling the Lake, hiking, or relaxing on the beach, your eyes can help Keep Tahoe Blue. |
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Your Gift Helps Stop Invasive
Species Before They Take Hold |
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Lake Tahoe’s beauty isn’t guaranteed. It takes attentiveness, science-based solutions, and your support to keep invasive species like golden mussels and aquatic weeds from spreading and threatening everything we love about the Lake.
Your donation powers early detection, citizen science, and fast action so threats can be stopped before they become irreversible. From harmful algae blooms that turn the blue Lake green to litter-filled beaches, your gift helps us protect Tahoe’s clarity and health for generations to come. Will you make a gift to Keep Tahoe Blue? Every dollar protects the Lake, the scenic beauty, and unforgettable memories that bring us back year after year. |
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Staff & Core
Volunteer Spotlights |
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May 2025 Staff Spotlight: Courtney Thomson Courtney empowers communities to protect their happy place — Lake Tahoe. The hands-on volunteer opportunities she leads, such as Tahoe Forest Stewardship Days, Eyes on the Lake, Snapshot Day, and other citizen science programs, are at the heart of our mission. She turns three important words — Keep Tahoe Blue — into action.
Courtney's passion for the environment began at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and many other wildlife conservation projects spanning from Florida to Costa Rica and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Now, Lake Tahoe is incredibly lucky to have her on its team! Go to keeptahoeblue.org/events to participate in a training, work day or other volunteer event to meet Courtney and our whole team. |
May 2025 Core Volunteer Spotlight: Andrew Pavlu
Andrew grew up just down the mountain in Reno, where Tahoe was the backdrop for beach days, camping trips, and lifelong memories. Since joining the League’s volunteer program in 2022, he’s been giving back to the Lake that gave him so much.
“I like to enjoy the parks and mountains around Tahoe,” Andrew says. “Working with Keep Tahoe Blue is just one way to try to give back to the Lake for all the memories it gave to me.”
Andrew has become a steady and dependable presence at hands-on events, including Forest Stewardship Days, Snapshot Day, and Labor Day Cleanups. He shows up ready to work, welcomes new volunteers, and never shies away from a tough task.
He may not seek recognition, but his impact speaks for itself. Thank you, Andrew, for protecting what we all love.
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Efoil Tahoe: Lake-Friendly Fun
That Makes a Difference |
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Efoil Tahoe offers more than just a new way to explore the water — it represents what’s possible when business and stewardship go hand in hand. As a certified Tahoe Blue Business, Efoil Tahoe provides zero-emission, electric-powered foil board experiences that let riders glide above the surface without disturbing the Lake’s clarity or peace.
By reducing noise, eliminating fuel emissions, and educating customers about lake-friendly recreation, Efoil Tahoe is helping protect what draws so many to Tahoe in the first place. This is the future of outdoor adventure: clean, quiet, and aligned with the Lake’s long-term health.
When businesses lead with sustainability, they do more than reduce impact and inspire others to follow. |
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Looking for a meaningful way to start your day? The Tahoe Roast from Fog & Fern Coffee was created in collaboration with the League to honor the Lake and support the people who protect it. As a certified Tahoe Blue Business, Fog & Fern keeps their coffee small-batch, sustainable, and rooted in the community. Every bag of Tahoe Roast supports lake-friendly values, from sourcing to packaging.
Pair it with one of our Insulated Stainless Steel Travel Mugs, perfect for hot mornings on the trail, or pour it over ice in a KTB Kombucha Pints built for your cold brew, iced coffee, or favorite kombucha. Whether you’re commuting, hiking, or working from home, your daily coffee ritual can support the work to Keep Tahoe Blue.
🛍️ Shop Online or visit us in person at:
📍 2877 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA |
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14th Annual Bike Path Cleanup June 3 | 5 pm - 8:30 pm South Lake Tahoe
Learn how to identify Tahoe’s various native and invasive aquatic plants, and how to report observations that allow the League and our partners to control new populations of aquatic invaders before they do lasting damage to Lake Tahoe. |
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Eyes on the Lake Training June 11 | 10 am - 12 pm Tahoe Keys Marina Learn how to identify Tahoe’s various native and invasive aquatic plants, and how to report observations that allow the League and our partners to control new populations of aquatic invaders before they do lasting damage to Lake Tahoe. |
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Tahoe Blue Crew Training June 12 | 4 pm - 5 pm Zoom Join our Tahoe Blue Crew training via Zoom and get started creating a litter-free Tahoe! Learn how to become a Tahoe Blue Crew Leader, adopt a litter hotspot, and collect data for your site. We will also help you develop your personal approach for planning and executing your Blue Crew efforts. |
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