Support Clean Up The Lake directly.
DonateScuba divers pulling submerged litter from freshwater lakes, one piece at a time.
Every dive produces data that guides prevention, from pier signage to policy. Their Environmental Dive Center in Tahoe trains the next generation of conservation divers while the cleanups continue.
Clean Up the Lake, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2018 and based in Incline Village, Nevada. Founder and CEO Colin West leads a team of scuba divers, free divers, kayakers, and surface volunteers.
Underwater and shoreline cleanups of freshwater lakes, with every piece of litter GPS-pinned, categorized, and weighed. They also run aquatic invasive species monitoring and youth education programs.
Active since 2018. Their flagship 72 Mile Cleanup of Lake Tahoe removed 25,281 pounds in 24 dive days. Their official stats page lists 36,177 pounds of litter collected in total since 2018 (checked October 2026).
Source: Clean Up The Lake, Litter Stats
Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada, including Donner Lake, Convict Lake, Twin Lakes, and the Mammoth Lakes Basin, plus pilot projects in Minnesota and beyond.
Most lake litter sinks out of sight, where it leaches fuel, oil, and heavy metals for decades. Removing it protects water quality, wildlife, and the recreation millions depend on.
Support Clean Up The Lake directly.
Donate