SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA — Just when you thought spring in the Sierra was warming up, Clean Up The Lake (CUTL) is here to remind us that the waters of Lake Tahoe haven’t gotten the memo yet. This Saturday, May 10th, brave souls from around the basin will gather at Lakeside Beach for a chilly new tradition: the Inaugural Polar Plunge, a fundraiser event in support of CUTL’s underwater clean-up and environmental research efforts.
Hosted by the same non-profit team making headlines with their 72-mile underwater litter clean-up and the insightful “What’s Unseen” YouTube series, this event ditches the wetsuits and SCUBA gear. Instead, participants will leap into the icy waters of Tahoe in nothing but swimwear and sheer determination — all to help protect one of the West’s most iconic alpine lakes.
Clean Up The Lake has already secured a $15,000 donation from a generous anonymous donor, along with a $5,000 matching fund from Lake Tahoe Community College. Their goal? Raise $40,000 through this plunge to support ongoing lake cleanup operations, invasive species surveys, and new initiatives in algae research and surveillance.
If you’ve been following our coverage here at Sierra Rec Magazine, you may recall our March feature on CUTL’s evolving impact, especially the powerful “What’s Lies Unseen” video series led by founder Colin West. It’s inspiring to see the organization blending hands-on action with compelling storytelling — and this weekend’s event offers a chance to be part of that story firsthand.
Event Details:
- 📍 Location: Lakeside Beach, South Lake Tahoe
- 🗓 Date: Saturday, May 10, 2025
- 🕤 Time: 9:30–10:30 AM (Plunge at 10:00 sharp!)
- 🎟 Registration: Sign up online in advance – First 50 participants receive a custom CUTL beach towel.
Whether you’re plunging in or cheering from the shoreline, this is one Lake Tahoe event you won’t want to miss. Bundle up, show up, and help CUTL continue their mission to protect what’s beneath the surface.
Stay tuned for more event updates and behind-the-scenes footage as we hope to join the plunge ourselves this weekend.
