Litterbugs at Lake Tahoe: A July 4th Saga
How does anyone litter in Lake Tahoe
Picture this: a pristine lake, placed beautifully in the Sierra Nevada (doesn’t get its nickname “Jewel of the Sierras” for nothing…wink.) where cobalt waters reflect the majesty of the surrounding peaks. Lake Tahoe, a gem of nature's artistry, marred not by time or geological tumult but by a far more insidious force— US.
Yes, folks, we're talking about litter, and how our dear lake, particularly on the 4th of July, turns into a battlefield of trash.
July 5th Keep Tahoe Blue cleanup
Although I am a conscientious steward of the land and pick up trash anywhere it doesn’t belong when I am out in nature, (much to the chagrin of the pockets of my backpack) this was my first year participating in the League to Save Lake Tahoe (Keep Tahoe Blue) July 5th cleanup.
Camp Richardson, July 5th, Lake Tahoe, CA, photo by author
Each Independence Day, as fireworks light up the sky with patriotic fervor, illuminating the lake, a less glamorous spectacle unfolds below:
Plastic cups, beer cans, Red, white & blue paraphernalia (note: the cheap glow in the dark accessories) and discarded wrappers join the sand and lapping waves, adorning the shoreline like unwanted confetti.
It’s as if our celebration of freedom mandates the freedom from picking up after ourselves? How do y'all homes look?
Impact of trash on Lake Tahoe
According to the League to Save Lake Tahoe, lovingly known as Keep Tahoe Blue, an average of 8.4 metric tons of litter is picked up annually from these shores. That's like tossing a full-grown African elephant into the lake every year…except, it's not majestic wildlife but human waste.
And can be entirely avoidable.
We're not talking about a few errant gum wrappers..or I often find a corner wrapper of a granola bar or Kleenex that fell out of someone’s pocket… We're talking about a full-scale-assault-on-our-collective-conscience.
And the cigarette butts! (Ok, I did find a few vapes- i mean we are in the year 2024) Those little small but deadly toxic remnants leaving their chemical footprint long after the last firework fizzles out.
I mean, you really look around at this bounty of nature finishing your cig and consider: yeah, this is fine. Looks like an ashtray to me?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), discarded cigarette butts are not only unsightly but also pose serious environmental risks, as they release toxins that can harm aquatic life and degrade water quality over time.
Some might say, “Hey, it’s just one day. What’s the harm?” Well, dear friends, when you're partying like it's 1776, the mess you leave behind doesn’t vanish with the hangover.
It lingers.
It leaches chemicals into the water, disrupts ecosystems, and, let's be real here: makes the place look like a frat house after a kegger.
Lake Tahoe Fourth of July 2024 trash was less than 2023
Ok, ok. In ALL fairness: this year was WAY better than last year. 2023 was an abomination to the Nth degree. Was it because we were finally free (from sheltering in place with Covid) we just ran like literal feral pigs?
Imagine if every beach day ended with a clean-up crew combing through your mess. [I’ve actually witnessed it on the daily working at Roundhill Pines Beach for a few summers where there are trash receptacles everywhere.]
That’s the reality for Lake Tahoe, where dedicated volunteers (or paid worker on the daily) spend hours rescuing discarded garbage from the brink of environmental catastrophe. It's not pretty. It's not picturesque. It’s revolting.
It's a sobering reminder that our actions…yes, even the drunken ones…have consequences.
And as a reformed partier, I recall many, many a time “rocking the house” out in nature. We always had a trash bag, and we always walked the area (blurried eyed or not) to make sure we weren’t leaving our pristine area trashed.
So, inebriated or not… I-don’t-get-it.
Photo by Marci Brodock on Unsplash
So, as you gear up for your next lakeside revelry, remember this: the lake doesn’t need your empty beer cans as a token of your appreciation.
It needs respect.
It needs stewardship.
And if you can’t manage that, well, maybe stick to celebrating on asphalt in a parking lot of your own hometown. Trash that.
Because nothing says “I love nature” quite like being mindful of your trash that you create as a human instead of leaving it for someone else to clean up.
Let’s keep Lake Tahoe BLUE —not just with all the millions (or more) of photos, but in reality. Our freedom to enjoy this natural wonder comes with the responsibility to protect it.
All you need to do is clean up after yourself 🤷♀️
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Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
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