Spring in Tahoe can’t quite decide what it wants to be. Are we skiing today or paddling? Should I wear a t-shirt or parka? That’s the beauty of this splendid season – you can have it all. No matter what outdoor pursuit fills your spring days, you’re guaranteed to get a front row seat to Tahoe’s natural grandeur.
That makes this time of year perfect for celebrating the wonders of nature during Earth Day, Earth Week and (yeah, why not) Earth Month! Before your trip to Tahoe, start exercising those environmental muscles, because you’ll have plenty of opportunity to flex this Earth Month April with events and activities to Keep Tahoe Blue.
But first, just a sprinkle of history.
In 1969, a disastrous oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California inspired a movement to protect the natural environment. The first Earth Day was held just 15 months later. It mobilized 20 million Americans and led to the creation of national environmental agencies and laws. Today, Earth Day is celebrated across 190 nations and has sparked thousands of environmental causes.
Lake Tahoe got a head start on environmental preservation. Thirteen years before the first Earth Day, a group of concerned Tahoe-lovers came together to fight a plan that would have changed the Lake forever. It called for encircling the Lake with a high-speed freeway, building a bridge over Emerald Bay, and filling the Basin with casinos, subdivisions and a year-round population to rival San Francisco’s. Can you imagine how differently Tahoe could look today? Thankfully, that proposal was defeated, marking the first victory for the League to Save Lake Tahoe – a.k.a. Keep Tahoe Blue.
Today, the League invites everyone to protect while they play at Tahoe, so this special place is just as beautiful for your family’s next visit, and for generations to come. There’s no better time to get involved than Earth Month. See below to get started, or here for a full list of Tahoe events.
South Shore Earth Day Cleanup
Friday, April 22 | 9 am – noon
Heavenly Village and the Stateline area
As the snow melts, winter litter is exposed. Help us celebrate Earth Day by joining in a good, old-fashioned community cleanup!
South Lake Tahoe Earth Day Celebration
Sunday, April 24 | 10 am – 3 pm
Bijou Community Park, South Lake Tahoe
Join our team at this south shore community gathering to learn how you can Keep Tahoe Blue. Take alternative transportation with three or more friends to win a special prize at our booth! And join us at the Kid Zone to make a fun keepsake to take home.
You love Lake Tahoe and want to protect it, but your free time is scarce. No problem. Whether you have five minutes or five hours, you can Keep Tahoe Blue by becoming a #TahoeBlueGooder. All you need to do is leave Lake Tahoe better than you found it. See a list of convenient but meaningful ways you can do your part. Visit keeptahoeblue.org/tbg or check out #tahoebluegooder on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
With nothing more than your smartphone and a free web app, you can protect Tahoe from pollution, invasive species and other nastiness. While you’re enjoying the outdoors, use the app to report environmental issues you come across. Your data helps scientists and land managers make sure Tahoe is prepared and resilient. Or, go deeper by joining one of the League’s citizen science programs.
While you’re in Tahoe this Earth Month April, be sure to stop, drink in the views, and do at least one thing to Keep Tahoe Blue. It will make your trip that much sweeter.
