'Clean Up The Lake' to launch Environmental Dive Center on Aug 17 to Protect Lake Tahoe

INCLINE VILLAGE – Clean Up The Lake, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization known for their 72 Mile Cleanup project, proudly announces the inauguration of their revolutionary Environmental Dive Center at Lake Tahoe.

The EDC will be a hybrid between a conservation dive school and an environmental
science center located in the heart of Incline Village. This center marks a significant leap in the fight against all litter and aquatic invasive species in and around Lake Tahoe.

"'Clean Up The Lake' is striving to create a more sustainable future not only through cleanup efforts, but also through advocacy & preventative action and most importantly, a transformative educational program based at the environmental dive center," said Founder & CEO Colin West. "The center will be the first of its kind."

With a grand opening date set for Aug. 17, the EDC will include a classroom for all environmental dive courses that will double as a boardroom, a location for environmental film screenings, a space for litter categorization and data collection events. It will also include more opportunity for engaging experiences including an expansion of internship programs and on-site visits for youth groups and classrooms.

“We are taking innovative strides to offer visitors and
locals alike a unique blend of environmental curriculum and traditional SCUBA certifications” said Director of Programs Sadye Easler.

Aspiring divers will receive SCUBA instruction from instructors in the Professional Association of Diving Instructors and will learn about environmental subjects ranging from submerged litter issues freshwater and marine environments, aquatic invasive species and more, both in the classroom and underwater.

These courses will also teach Clean Up The Lake’s submerged litter cleanup methods, AIS survey techniques, and other important approaches the organization uses in their conservation dive programs.

The First Certified Students: The Washoe Tribe of NV & CA

The first certified students of the EDC were members of The Washoe Tribe of NV & CA. The goal of this class was to share with the tribe and their environmental department vital skill sets to safeguard their ancestral homeland and assist wherever possible in bolstering their own environmental programs.

"The Washoe Tribe is working to expand their stewardship and involvement within the Basin to focus on conservation and protection of our cultural and environmental resources ... There are now three Washoe Tribal Members and soon to be five certified divers from the Washoe Tribe who will be working with Clean Up The Lake to identify litter and AIS issues in Lake Tahoe, said Rhiana Jones, Director of Environmental Program for the Washoe Tribe of NV & CA. in a statement attached to the news release regarding the partnership. "This is has been a great partnership thus far, Clean Up The Lake has reached out early and often for Washoe Tribal Participation."

A Hub for Environmental Initiatives: Cleanups, AIS, and the Lake Tahoe Litter Summit

The Environmental Dive Center will serve as the epicenter for all Clean Up The Lake programs. This ranges from lake remediation and cleanup projects in Lake Tahoe & nearby lakes as well as advocacy and litter prevention initiatives such as the 2nd annual Lake Tahoe Litter Summit.The 2024 Litter Summit is now happening in partnership with Lake Tahoe Community College.

LTCC President Jeff Defranco said "LTCC is committed to the goals of environmental sustainability and curbing climate change. We are proud to partner with Clean Up The Lake to work collaboratively on solutions to the litter challenges facing the Tahoe Basin."

The 2nd annual Lake Tahoe Litter Summit will be in May of 2024. In the meantime two committees are in development to tackle issues that were addressed at the inaugural Litter Summit. The 2024 Litter Summit will include an invite-only portion at the Thunderbird-Lodge with community members & leaders in litter management, while South Lake Tahoe will also be set to bring a public portion of the Summit at a location to be announced soon.

The organization is also proud to announce the EDC will host Tahoe Keepers sessions in partnership with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. This program focuses on the mitigation of aquatic invasive species in non motorized vessels, which happens to include SCUBA equipment as well.

In the 2024 calendar year, the EDC will integrate a nationally recognized scientific dive certification program. These dive programs are often used by universities, government and scientific institutions.

A Global Perspective: Sharing Knowledge and Partnerships

The EDC is dedicated to training local volunteers and newcomers and aspires to share knowledge and collaborate with organizations, nonprofits, and dive teams worldwide.

By doing so the non-profit hopes to broaden their impact, allowing their work they perform locally in the Tahoe basin to guide other groups on a global level. Their recent work with the Washoe Tribe of NV & CA represents a first step forward in working to share these skill sets to create a larger impact with other communities. The team is ensuring to act locally, while thinking globally.

Building Partnerships for a Better Future: Generous Donations and Opportunities

Generous donations from esteemed partners, include Boatworks Mall at Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Community College Tahoe Beach Club, and donors Pavel Pravin and Nila Ruslen, have spearheaded the Environmental Dive Center's establishment. With their support, CUTL is now able to match your donations up to $125,000 USD. If you would like to donate, go to www.gofundme.com/f/EDCbyCUTL or www.cleanupthelake.org/donate/.

If you are interested in a larger level of support, there
are naming rights opportunities and founding partnerships available for individual donors and corporate partners alike.

The launch of the EDC would also not be possible without the support of it’s in kind donors like Truckee Tahoe Lumber Company, Truckee Donner Recreation and Park District, Tahoe Table Company and Snowcap Architecture.

The doors will open on Monday Aug. 14, with a Grand Opening Celebration on Aug. 17.

The Environmental Dive Center welcomes all enthusiasts, volunteers, interested divers, and partners during its open hours. Together, the community now has a resource to protect Lake Tahoe’s clarity from microplastics, all litter, aquatic invasive species and more for generations to come.