Massive effort aims to remove trash around all 72-miles of Lake Tahoe

TAHOE CITY, CA (MPG) - Lake Tahoe, long known for its famed clarity and brilliant blue waters has a dirty secret. Beneath the surface, thousands of pounds of trash are breaking apart and impacting the lake’s aquatic habitats. In 2021, an extraordinary effort to remove trash around all 72-miles of Lake Tahoe with a SCUBA dive team of professionals and volunteers will begin. Spearheaded by the nonprofit Clean Up The Lake, the Tahoe Fund has committed to raising funds needed to make it happen. Thanks to this generous partnership with Tahoe Blue Vodka, every dollar contributed to the project fund will be matched up to $100,000.

Last summer, the first phase of the effort resulted in the recovery of over 2,200 pounds of trash from just six miles of Lake Tahoe. Led by Colin West, Clean Up The Lake founder and executive director, the team of divers found everything from tires, golf balls, sunglasses, towels, plastic bottles and aluminum cans to iPhones, boat anchors and pieces of boats. West’s team noticed that trash has been accumulating untouched under the surface of the lake for decades and is committed to doing something about it. Watch the video here.

“We started this project because we wanted to take action before it’s too late,” said West. “Partnering with the Tahoe Fund to generate support for our efforts to clean up the lake has been incredible—particularly because of the contributions they’ve helped us generate from private donors and from local companies like Tahoe Blue Vodka who want to give back.”

With his award-winning vodka made from the pristine waters of Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Blue Vodka’s founder and CEO, Matt Levitt, has never been one to shy away from supporting organizations that help preserve the lake and its surrounding environment.

“From day one we’ve donated a portion of our proceeds to support the ongoing efforts of organizations that work to protect Lake Tahoe,” said Levitt. “When the Tahoe Fund came to us with this opportunity to help clean up the lake, we didn’t hesitate—it’s perfectly aligned with our brand promise and our ongoing commitment to give back to help maintain Lake Tahoe’s clarity.”

“We are thrilled that Tahoe Blue Vodka wanted to help make this project happen,” said Paul Felton, Tahoe Fund board member. “Matt and his team have partnered with us to support a variety of projects over the past eight years that have made a positive environmental impact in the Tahoe Basin. The massive scale of this project and Tahoe Blue Vodka’s tremendous contribution makes this the most significant project we’ve collaborated on to date.”

The estimated project cost to clean up Lake Tahoe is $225,000. Learn more about the project, how to donate, and how to volunteer on dives at www.tahoefund.org.

bout Tahoe Fund

The Tahoe Fund was founded in 2010 to work with the private community to support environmental improvement projects that restore lake clarity, enhance outdoor recreation, promote healthier forests, improve transportation and inspire greater stewardship of the region. Through the generous support of private donors, the Tahoe Fund has leveraged more than $3 million in private funds to secure more than $50 million in public funds for more than 40 environmental projects. The projects include new sections of the Lake Tahoe Bikeway, restoration of watersheds, removal of aquatic invasive species, forest health projects, public beach improvements, and stewardship programs. Learn more at www.tahoefund.org.

About Tahoe Blue Vodka

Founded in 2012 by Matt Levitt, Tahoe Blue Vodka is inspired by and crafted with Lake Tahoe sourced water. Using a unique 3-vodka blend of grapes, corn and sugarcane, this expertly crafted spirit is gluten-free and known for its clean, crisp taste and smooth finish, giving consumers a taste of the Tahoe lifestyle year-round. Originally sold out of the back of Levitt’s car, the brand is now the fastest-growing vodka brand in California. Since its conception, the brand has won numerous spirit competition awards including the 2019 SUNSET International Spirits Competition Best of Class, Gold Award, and also earned a Double Gold Medal in the "Best Domestic Vodka" category by The Fifty Best in 2020. Through its parent company, Tahoe Spirits, Inc., Tahoe Blue Vodka has already donated over $100K of its proceeds to organizations that work to protect Lake Tahoe and its surrounding environment. For more information, visit www.tahoebluevodka.com.

About Clean Up The Lake

Clean Up The Lake is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to fight back against plastic and all forms of pollution in the global environment, both on land and under the surface, starting with Lake Tahoe and the Cayes in Belize. Our flagship project is the first ever man powered circumnavigation of Lake Tahoe using SCUBA. This project, set to commence in spring 2021, will be accompanied by a large-scale trash clean-up of every inch of the 72-mile sub-surface shoreline. Learn more and donate at cleanupthelake.org