• Program brings together beach managers, businesses, public agencies, and the community to address the impacts of recreation on Tahoe’s most-loved beaches. The program has delivered a 97% reduction in litter weight in South Lake Tahoe 2024 pilots.
• Blue Beaches focus on three key elements: education, enforcement, and engineering. The League works to install infrastructure to manage waste and direct foot-traffic during high-use periods; with local businesses to provide reusable utensils; with beach managers to increase staffing and enforcement; and with Destination Stewardship campaigns to teach the Tahoe way and change user behaviors long-term. 
• At the end of the summer season, learnings are packaged into an adaptive management plan for Kings Beach and California State Parks to use on an ongoing basis and ensure that  sustainability can improve year over year.

Project Completed!

The Kings Beach Blue Beach Pilot wrapped up this past fall, leaving a cleaner, more sustainable beach and stronger community connections. The project advanced environmental stewardship, enhanced visitor experience, and strengthened partnerships with local businesses, volunteers, and California State Parks.

Key Achievements:

Infrastructure and Site Improvements

• Completed planning framework for new infrastructure with California State Parks.
• Enhanced waste management and restroom services, including ordering six new bear-proof bins.
• Installed four additional cigarette waste canisters and four bear-proof trash cans at Kings Beach Recreation Area and nearby businesses.
• Prepared bilingual signage for summer weekends and launched new Tahoe Blue Crew adoptions, including a Northstar Tahoe Blue Crew.
• Completed ArcGIS mapping of all beach facilities and increased frequency of dumpster and restroom servicing.

Community Engagement and Partnerships

• Visited 19 Kings Beach businesses to promote non-plastic/Styrofoam alternatives.
• Engaged eleven businesses on plastic reduction, with two piloting reusable bamboo utensils branded with NTCA and KTB logos.
• Developed summer visitor surveys to gather community feedback and guide future efforts.

Volunteer and Cleanup Events

• Hosted two major cleanups in May and June, drawing volunteers, partners, and media attention.
• On October 1, “I Love Kings Beach Day” launched the first pilot of the Tahoe Blue Beach program on the North Shore, supported by TOT-TBID Dollars at Work, California State Parks, and local volunteers. The day included BEBOT robotic beach cleaning, a volunteer-led litter removal of over 2,000 pieces, and a celebration of program successes.

Media and Outreach

• Maintained a strong media presence with features in Sierra Sun, Carson Now, and other regional outlets.
• Updated web content to highlight program milestones and successes.

The Kings Beach Blue Beach Pilot demonstrates the power of community collaboration, infrastructure improvements, and environmental stewardship, leaving a lasting impact on both residents and visitors and setting the stage for continued sustainability on the North Shore.