The melting snow in Lake Tahoe is revealing a lot of garbage left behind by litterbugs.
Locals organized by the League to Save Lake Tahoe have spread across the region's parking lots, roadways, trail heads, sledding spots and popular recreation areas to pick up litter left behind, mostly, they believe, by visitors.
Volunteers have removed 2,732 pounds of litter so far this year, as reported by SFGate. If measured by volume, it adds up to a staggering 5,684 gallons.
The area has been inundated with visitors over the past year.
Chris Joseph is communications manager for the League to Save Lake Tahoe.
"One crew, consisting of a husband, wife and her mother, adopted the sled hill at Spooner Summit and have been cleaning up every Monday and Friday evening," Joseph told the website. "They have some unsavory stories to share about uncovering frozen diapers alongside the usual food waste and plastic sled shrapnel."
A basin-wide effort is now underway called Take Care Tahoe to educate visitors about environmental stewardships, with billboards and signs posted throughout the region.
Next week, Take Care Tahoe will host a weeklong celebration in honor of Earth Day in hopes of driving its message home.
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