Travel North Tahoe Nevada (TNTNV) partnered with Tahoe-based nonprofit Clean Up The Lake (CUTL) for an extensive pilot research and cleanup of Marlette Lake on October 24-25, 2024.
After hundreds of successful cleanups from the beaches down into the deep blue depths of Lake Tahoe, Clean Up The Lake (CUTL) has officially expanded its conservation efforts to Marlette Lake, another small lake located in the Tahoe basin with support from Travel North Tahoe Nevada (TNTNV).
“As Tahoe becomes an ever more popular destination, visitors will begin exploring other outdoor recreation areas near our shores,” said Andy Chapman, president and CEO of Travel North Tahoe Nevada. “Conducting extensive lake cleanups in popular outdoor areas in tandem with increased stewardship education in the community will lead to a more sustainable area for both locals and visitors to enjoy.”
Clean Up The Lake conducted the cleanup and aquatic invasive species surveillance project with both professional and volunteer SCUBA divers and free divers. Additional volunteers joined from both Reno and the Bay Area to support in positions such as snorkeling, kayaking and paddleboarding to provide divers with surface support teams and help clean up, record data, ensure safety and fill the needed positions for the volunteer team to complete this pilot research project that included both clean up and surveillance efforts.
“I am always excited when our organization can bring our efforts to another lake in need, especially when it’s within the Tahoe basin,” said Colin West, founder and CEO of Clean Up The Lake. “Our team is excited to partner with and receive funding from Travel North Tahoe Nevada to keep our waters pristine and enjoyable for locals and visitors for years to come.”
The CUTL team is still performing the official data analysis on their findings. Yet in total, the team pulled hundreds of pounds of litter from beneath the surface of Marlette Lake and documented both heavy lift and possible historical items that they will deliver data and GPS locations of to the state. Divers saw only native plants and no aquatic invasive plant species during their dives. The dive team did notice a notorious invasive animal species, the signal crayfish, in the waters of Marlette Lake.
Travel North Tahoe Nevada is dedicating approximately $200,000 a year, 10% of its total annual revenue, to stewardship programs. This includes supporting efforts with Clean Up The Lake, as well as further investment in transportation enhancements and trail snow removal among other stewardship efforts.
To learn more about Travel North Tahoe Nevada and its stewardship initiatives in North Lake Tahoe, visit www.travelnorthtahoenevada.com. To support Clean Up The Lake and future water cleanup efforts, visit www.cleanupthelake.org.
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About Travel North Tahoe Nevada: Travel North Tahoe Nevada (TNTNV) is the public organization responsible for destination management for the North Shore, Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. Its mission is to encourage destination experiences that support a vibrant economy, enhance community character, and foster environmental stewardship. For more information, visit www.travelnorthtahoenevada.com.
