Divers Remove Over 1,500 Pounds of Trash from Donner Lake

A dedicated team of divers has made remarkable progress in the ongoing effort to clean up Donner Lake, despite frigid winter conditions. The Donner Lake Deep Cleaning Project, led by the nonprofit Clean Up The Lake, has successfully removed 1,526 pounds of submerged litter from the lake’s depths—adding to the nearly 14,558 pounds already removed in previous cleanup efforts.

Diving into 36-degree waters, the team has been using dry suits, diver propulsion vehicles, and nitrox gas to extend their time underwater and efficiently navigate the lakebed. These specialized techniques are also being tested for future cleanup operations at Lake Tahoe and beyond.

So far, 18 cleanup dives over 11 days have uncovered significant debris, including 20 large litter items marked for future removal—part of a growing list of 157 heavy items still sitting at the bottom of Donner Lake. The cleanup effort is made possible by a coalition of local partners, including the Town of Truckee, Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, and Martis Fund.

With 33 volunteers contributing nearly 290 hours, the cleanup effort continues this winter. Locals can get involved by taking SCUBA classes or signing up for volunteer opportunities. Follow @cleanupthelake on Instagram and TikTok for updates on the project.