Clean Up the Lake Returns to Mammoth Lakes

July 29, 2025
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Clean Up The Lake's (CUTL) team of scuba divers, free divers, and volunteers have conducted full underwater cleanups all over the Mammoth Lakes Basin and beyond. To date, they’ve completed hand removals of debris along 3.88 miles of shoreline in Lake Mary and Lake George, supported by dedicated surface crews. Every piece of litter is carefully categorized and weighed by CUTL’s data team, helping drive awareness and guide future prevention efforts. This summer, CUTL expands its mission to McLeod Lake and will conduct aquatic invasive species (AIS) monitoring and algae sampling at several other lakes across the region. These efforts have uncovered a sobering truth: even the most pristine-looking alpine lakes bear the burden of decades of pollution.

Mammoth Lakes Tourism (MLT) is proud to continue their long-term partnership with Clean Up The Lake (CUTL), committing to cleaning up our region’s lakes. Every dollar raised through 2026 (up to $100,000) will be matched by MLT to support ongoing stewardship.

Get Involved

Want to show your support? Donations can be made via GoFundMe.

To learn more about Clean Up The Lake and for more information about volunteer opportunities, visit www.cleanupthelake.org.

McLeod Lake: This Year's Focus

From September 15-19, 2025, CUTL will lead a high-alpine cleanup and research mission at McLeod Lake. This crystal-clear glacial lake sits above Horseshoe Lake in the Mammoth Lakes Basin and requires a short but steep hike to reach. This year's mission includes:

  • Removing submerged litter and fishing debris
  • Monitoring for aquatic invasive species (AIS)
  • Testing for signs of potential algal blooms

The team is looking for volunteers to help haul gear up the trail to the lake and assist with shoreline efforts. If you're up for a challenge and want to make a real impact, this is your moment to help protect one of Mammoth Lakes' most scenic alpine lakes!

Interested? Reach out to info@cleanupthelake.org to volunteer.

Who is Clean Up the Lake?

Best known for their 72-mile scuba cleanup of Lake Tahoe - where they removed more than 25,000 pounds of litter - CUTL is a leading nonprofit focused on preserving freshwater ecosystems through science-driven cleanups, education, and community outreach.

Since launching pilot dives in the Mammoth Lakes Basin in 2022, CUTL has worked in Lake George, Lake Mary, Twin Lakes, and Lake Mamie, helping us understand the environmental pressures facing each site - and how to fix them.

After years of work in Sierra lakes, CUTL has reached a sobering conclusion: a widespread litter issue has quietly grown beneath the surface of these iconic waters. From lost fishing gear to submerged plastic and abandoned moorings, many of these pollutants have remained out of sight and out of mind for decades. This work isn’t just cleanup - it’s long-overdue stewardship!

Find a great example of the work CUTL is involved in by viewing their "What Lies Unseen" docuseries trailer below.

"What Lies Unseen" Docuseries

Keeping Mammoth Lakes Clean and Unreal

Over a four-year partnership, CUTL is working alongside MLT to engage with visitors and the local community to increase education and further volunteer efforts towards remediating the issues at hand. Removal of submerged litter, documenting any and all aquatic invasive species threatening the lakes, working to protect animal species both above and below the surface, and prevention of future pollution are key goals of our partnership.

“I couldn’t be more excited to be working in the Mammoth Lakes Basin this fall. There is a widespread litter problem that has been ignored for decades in freshwater lakes all across the Sierra, and action is necessary to ensure the future protection of the region’s most valuable resource.” - Colin West, CUTL Founder & Executive Director

Next up, for the fall of 2025, McLeod Lake will get the cleanup treatment from Sept 15-19th. Expect to see divers and cleanup support teams in and around McLeod Lake during this time, and be sure to give them plenty of space to accomplish their work. During this time, you may elect to visit one of the Lakes Basin's other spectacular lakes!

Clean Up the Lake Reports
CUTL Lake Mary 2025 Report
Final report from the full circumference scuba-powered litter cleanup and data categorization of Lake Mary
Learn More
Clean Up the Lake Reports
CUTL Lake George 2024 Report
Final report from the full circumference scuba-powered litter cleanup and data categorization of Lake George
Learn More
Visit Mammoth
Author
Visit Mammoth
Unreal. There is no better way to describe Mammoth Lakes, California. A place so majestic that breathtaking views surround you in every direction. The staff at Mammoth Lakes Tourism is committed to stewardship, education, providing the ultimate visitor experience, and keeping the Real Unreal.
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