Going the Depths for Tahoe: Clean Up the Lake Completes Deep Dive Pilot Project
The nonprofit organization Clean Up The Lake has successfully completed its Tahoe Deep Dive Pilot Project, a major underwater research and cleanup initiative targeting litter buildup and aquatic ecosystem health between 35 and 55 feet below the surface of Lake Tahoe.
Using advanced equipment such as Diver Propulsion Vehicles and Nitrox, the project team explored new approaches to improve diver efficiency and safety. The collected information will help shape future large-scale underwater cleanup strategies.
Project Scope and Effort
Between February and July 2025, the Clean Up The Lake team organized 14 full cleanup days, conducting 29 dives. They involved 26 volunteers who contributed 480 hours through 80 volunteer shifts both underwater and onshore.
- Total litter removed: 1,933 pounds
- Individual items collected: 1,042
- Lakebed distance cleaned: 6.1 miles
- Placer County shoreline cleaned: 4.75 miles
Materials Recovered
- 248 glass bottles
- 21 anchors
- Various metal, plastic, and recreational debris
“If debris levels found in this pilot area are similar across Lake Tahoe, the lake may still contain more than 29,000 pounds of litter and 17,000 items at those depths.”
Data and Environmental Insight
The analysis of collected debris highlights both the extent of underwater pollution and the value of concerted community-led environmental efforts. These findings will guide the next phase of cleanup planning and monitoring to protect Tahoe’s submerged ecosystems.
Author’s summary: The Tahoe Deep Dive Pilot reveals the scale of underwater litter and showcases volunteer-powered innovation for preserving Lake Tahoe’s deep-water environment.