In light of growing threats to our nation’s freshwater lakes – ranging from submerged debris to invasive aquatic species to harmful algal blooms – the community of Mammoth Lakes has joined together in a regional partnership to protect the very waters that define the region.

Mammoth Lakes, California (August 21, 2024)—Clean Up The Lake (CUTL) is proud to announce the successful continuation of its efforts in the Mammoth Lakes Basin last month. In July 2024, the nonprofit and its volunteers completed a full cleanup and survey around Lake Mary, the region’s most popular lake. This initiative removed approximately 2,000 pounds of trash from the depths of Lake Mary and confirmed that the plant species observed are native to the area.

In 2022, Mammoth Lakes Tourism (MLT), the regional destination management organization, showed significant support by donating $100,000 to CUTL to raise matching funds for a four-year Mammoth Lakes cleanup project. Building on this momentum, in 2024 CUTL formed several new and impactful partnerships to further advance this mission. The Mammoth Community Water District made a generous donation of $25,000, and the City of Mammoth Lakes began supporting the effort through its Measure U funding. Other partners joining the cause include the Mammoth Mountain Community Foundation (MMCF) and local sporting goods stores, including Sun and Ski Sports and Kittredge Sports. In-kind support from Outbound Mammoth helped house staff and volunteers, while Pokonobe Marina and Distant Brewing provided event space for the project.

Partnerships like these are instrumental in driving meaningful environmental change. Often, nonprofits and government agencies face challenges in taking the necessary actions to protect our natural resources. However, significant progress is being made through this solid and collaborative partnership. Together, the team actively removes trash from various lakes in the Mammoth Lakes Basin, conducts AIS surveys to detect and prevent potential infestations, and supports efforts to monitor water bodies while looking for possible harmful algal blooms. Thanks to special support from MMCF, CUTL was also able to engage three large youth groups of varying ages to educate and raise awareness among local children about preserving the lakes for future generations.

This initiative is the second of four major projects planned over the course of the four-year partnership between MLT and CUTL. “I am thrilled to be working again this summer in the Mammoth Lakes Basin with a community that is deeply committed to protecting its natural environment,” said Colin West, founder and executive director of CUTL. “This year, we continue our efforts to address fundamental issues that have been overlooked in freshwater lakes across the Sierra, if not the world. This partnership and the work we are doing are critical to ensuring the health and protection of these vital resources.”

In total, teams cleaned the entire shoreline of Lake Mary during 13 volunteer dives this year and removed over 865 pounds of trash, including an estimated 1,050 pieces of fishing line. As part of their efforts at Lake George last year, crews removed over 3,000 pounds of trash and an estimated 4,324 pieces of fishing line from Mammoth Lakes. “We are committed to protecting our most precious resources here in Mammoth Lakes,” said MLT Executive Director John Urdi. “This work is critical to the health of our mountain lakes and sets a strong example for locals and visitors to follow our lead.”

As the summer season comes to a close and the lakes freeze over this winter, Clean Up The Lake will continue to plan and prepare for its return to the region when the ice melts in spring 2025.

For more information about Clean Up The Lake, including donation, partnership and volunteer opportunities, visit www.cleanupthelake.org.

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