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Lake Tahoe's best summer days are worth protecting. A beach day, trail walk, paddle, or dog-friendly outing all depend on clean beaches, healthy forests, clear water, and shared respect for the places we all love.

Those conditions are shaped by the small choices made before and during your time exploring Tahoe.

• Bring reusables instead of single-use plastics
• Use lake-friendly transportation when you can
• Clean, Drain, Dry gear before it touches the water
• Clean up after your pet so Tahoe's dog-friendly areas stay clean, open, and welcoming. Pick it up, pack it out, and toss it in the trash

This month's Spotlight highlights the everyday choices and dedicated people who help Tahoe stay enjoyable, safe, and protected. From wildfire awareness and aquatic invasive species prevention to the volunteers, Tahoe Blue Crews, and interns working behind the scenes, these efforts are making a difference. Meet the stewards and discover the small actions that add up to a better Tahoe for everyone.  

WE'RE HERE ON THE NORTH SHORE

Keep Tahoe Blue’s North Shore office is open in the Boatworks Mall in Tahoe City. Stop by during our drop-in hours to meet Katie and Belén, ask questions, share a local concern or idea, learn about volunteer opportunities, or connect with our Lake-saving work.

Drop-in hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9 am to 1 pm

No appointment needed for drop-in hours

BE FIRE-SAFE THIS SUMMER

Tahoe is in a hot, dry stretch of summer, and fire-safe recreation matters right now. 

Before you head out, check the current fire restrictions and respect all burn bans in place. Avoid dragging trailer chains, using power tools, or anything that could spark dry grass, brush, or forest litter. One careless ignition can threaten neighborhoods, wildlife habitat, forests, and the Lake. 

Wildfire impacts do not stop when flames are out. Ash, sediment, and nutrients can wash from burned areas into waterways, where they can cloud Tahoe's waters and fuel algae growth. That is why prevention, preparedness, and healthy forests all matter for Lake Tahoe's clarity.

Fire safety is part of caring for Tahoe. Know the rules, stay prepared, and do not be the source of an ignition. 

Pack for safety before you go:

• Follow all fire restrictions and posted closures
• Never leave a fire, grill, or cigarette unattended
• Avoid parking on dry grass or dragging trailer chains
• Report illegal fires or unsafe behavior immediately
• Keep a fire go-bag ready during fire season

CLEAN GEAR PROTECTS CLEAR WATER

Invasive golden mussels are not in Lake Tahoe, and keeping them out is Keep Tahoe Blue's top priority and a shared responsibility. 

Clean, Drain, Dry every vessel, fishing rod, water shoe, floatie, and beach toy before entering a new waterbody. These steps help stop aquatic invasive species from spreading through the gear people bring to beaches, boat ramps, and launch sites. 

Keep Tahoe Blue also needs more help monitoring the water while you enjoy Tahoe. Use the Citizen Science Tahoe web app to report what you see.  

Two upcoming Eyes on the Lake trainings are free and open to the public. They teach volunteers like you how to identify and report aquatic invasive species, so we can keep them in check.

• August 13 at Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge on the West Shore
• September 6 at Echo Lake Chalet 

The Eyes on the Lake x Tahoe Keepers "Chance to Win" contest gives you another reason to take part in protecting the Lake. Become a Tahoe Keeper or submit an Eyes on the Lake survey and be entered for monthly prize giveaways. Get your July entries in as the winner will be announced in a few weeks. 

Your actions and observations help the Lake's experts and scientists understand where resources are needed before small problems grow into big ones. 

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHTS

Regina Thackara has a gift for helping people see themselves as stewards of Lake Tahoe. 

You can find her helping young students connect everyday choices to the health of the Lake, showing up smiling throughout her volunteer work, running a Tahoe Blue Crew, participating in the Eyes on the Lake outreach team, or attending signature events like Snapshot Day, Earth Day Cleanup, and beyond. 

Regina helps people understand that caring for Tahoe is something anyone can practice. Her full spotlight shares how she found her place in Tahoe, why education matters to her, and the simple message she wants every visitor to remember. 

Jennifer Santana's Tahoe Blue Crew zone starts close to work, where everyday trash tells a bigger story. 

Jennifer co-leads the Whole Foods Market Blue Crew, which formed after their team noticed litter from the surrounding business area ending up where it did not belong. Some finds are strange, like a tire or mini alcohol bottles. Others, like a car battery in a meadow, are harder to forget. 

Her full spotlight shares why this work feels personal, what her crew keeps finding, and why she believes small cleanup habits can protect Tahoe for the next generation. 

Anna Foehr is helping make science and conservation more approachable for the people who live, work, and recreate in Tahoe.

Working with Keep Tahoe Blue's community engagement team, Anna supports programs like Eyes on the Lake, where residents and visitors learn how to identify aquatic invasive species and take simple steps to protect the Lake.

As a hiker with a deep interest in Tahoe's wildlife, Anna brings curiosity and care to outreach for Keep Tahoe Blue.

After spending much of her life exploring Tahoe, Payton Runkle joined Keep Tahoe Blue to help tell the stories behind Lake-saving projects and programs.

As Communications Intern, Payton drafts web and blog content, supports media outreach and campaign launches, and helps create multimedia products that connect people to the mission.

Working with the communications team, Payton helps translate science-backed solutions into clear stories that show people how they can support the Lake.

A South Lake Tahoe local and avid rock climber, Aven Keck understands how closely outdoor access and stewardship are connected.

As Sustainable Recreation Intern, Aven helps connect community members with hands-on ways to care for the places they enjoy.

Aven also contributes to GIS mapping projects that help identify areas of need around the Lake, giving the team better tools to understand where recreation, education, and stewardship can make the greatest difference.

Rose Barber-Callicrate is learning how environmental policy moves from ideas to action.

Working with Keep Tahoe Blue's policy team, Rose supports research, outreach, and advocacy efforts that help advance protections for Lake Tahoe in California and Nevada.

Rose's work offers firsthand experience with the advocacy process, bi-state collaboration, and policies that reduce pollution, strengthen stewardship, and support long-term protection for the Lake.

Pack for your next adventure with thoughtful essentials made for days outside.

• Bamboo Utensil Set: This reusable utensil set includes a fork, knife, spoon, chopsticks, and straw made from durable bamboo, all packed in a compact clip-on carrying case. Lightweight, easy to clean, and perfect for meals at work, on the go, or by the Lake.
• Nomadix Aqua Blue Festival Blanket: The sand-resistant top, water-resistant base and anchoring corners make this your go-to blanket for concerts, beach days, picnics and sunsets by the Lake.    

2026 UPCOMING EVENTS

TAHOE IN THE NEWS

• Lake Tahoe advocates call out California over inconsistent golden mussel boat inspections
  FOX26NEWS | July 9, 2026

• Keep Tahoe Blue's Car-Free, Care-Free campaign looks to keep cars off the road
  CBS News | July 11, 2026

• Tahoe expands free transit with ask to stop driving
  SFGATE | July 19, 2026

Keep Tahoe Blue

2877 Lake Tahoe Blvd,

South Lake Tahoe, CA

Kerrigan Family Boutique

Open Thursday–Saturday, 11am–5pm

 Located lower level, street entrance 

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