At Clean Up the Lake 501(c)3, we lead both terrestrial and underwater cleanup efforts, collecting critical data to support scientific research and policy development while also running surveillance for aquatic invasive species and reporting observations on algal-blooms for future monitoring. Comprehensive assessments of completed projects are available below, offering detailed insights into our ongoing environmental impact and often providing recommendations for next steps for submerged litter management and aquatic invasive species management.
In 2024 our team performed pilot research for surveillance and reporting on submerged litter issues, aquatic invasive species present and algal bloom observations. Ultimately our team was positively surprised to see no significant signs of submerged litter, with extremely low levels and no invasive species other than the signal crayfish. Full report is available below.
Our team has spent years improving Donner Lake’s environment, progressing through four phases, and now in Phase 5, focusing on litter prevention, education, and awareness efforts
Deeper dives in Donner Lake found significant litter at 35-55 ft. Using nitrox gas & DPVs, divers will cover more ground safely and efficiently in future cleanups.
Our 2nd circumnavigation of Donner Lake, focused on the 0-25 foot zone, and assess data from the 2020 cleanup. Divers explored deeper transects at 45-75 feet to study litter accumulation.
We completed a full shoreline cleanup, removing over 5,151 lbs of debris. We also installed signs on 37 public piers to encourage visitors to pack out what they pack in.
© 2026 Clean Up The Cayes 501(c)3 - [DBA: Clean Up The Lake] - EIN: 82-5280324
