Environmental Stewardship and Tourism Impact Mitigation

Back to Environmental Stewardship and Tourism Impact Mitigation

Deep Dive Pilot Cleanup Project and Litter Education Awareness Program

Partner Agency:

Amount Funded:

$76,454

Funding Committee(s):

Zone 1 Committee

  • Execute a pilot project of deep dives on the Placer County shoreline that would investigate and remove litter accumulations from depths of 35 to 55 feet
  • Test how quickly and safely their divers can move, utilizing their Diver Propulsion Vehicles
  • Document and report any observations of aquatic invasive species (AIS) to the TRPA
  • Use the litter information gathered and confirmed AIS information in their education program lesson plans that would be delivered in Placer County K-12 schools in and around the Tahoe area

RECENT UPDATES:

  • Clean Up The Lake launched the implementation phase of the Lake Tahoe Deep Clean Pilot Project in early 2025, completing over half of the scheduled deep-dive cleanup days along the Placer County shoreline.
  • Completed 1.82 nautical miles of cleanup using Diver Propulsion Vehicles and Nitrox, removing litter from depths of 35–55 feet.
  • Collected 1,176.07 pounds of submerged litter in Q3. All debris was sorted and categorized, providing early data insights on debris type and volume.
  • The project exceeded its educational outreach goals, engaging 294 students through classroom visits, science nights, and hands-on learning activities.
  • Lessons learned this quarter are helping refine dive logistics, safety protocols, and volunteer coordination for future deep-water cleanup efforts.

The TOT-TBID Dollars At Work program is powered by the North Tahoe business community. Thank you to the business owners who created the Tourism Business Improvement District. In partnership with Placer County.