In partnership with Mammoth Lakes Tourism, Clean Up The Lake, an NGO based in the area, will initiate a full-scale cleanup and a survey of aquatic invasive species in Mammoth Lakes region, California.

Together with the nonprofit group Clean Up The Lake (CUTL), Mammoth Lakes Tourism (MLT) has announced a new fundraising initiative to clean up the lakes in the area. Mammoth Lakes Tourism has also committed an investment of USD 100,000 towards this cause, according to a press statement by MLT.

 

Located in California‘s Sierra Nevada mountains, USA, the Mammoth Lakes region is renowned for the ski areas and nearby trails that draws tourists from across the world all year-round, and has thus also resulted in contamination in the region.

“Our investment in this program is a commitment to the natural resources that make this place so special. Not only will this work have an immediate impact on our pristine mountain lakes, but it will also highlight the importance of protecting the places we play, both for visitors, and locals alike. There is a big impact on our environment that is happening just below the surface. Much of this litter is out of sight and therefore, out of mind,” says John Urdi, Executive Director,  of Mammoth Lakes Tourism.

MLT says pilot research dives in four of the lakes in the Mammoth Lakes Basin including Lake George, Twin Lakes, Lake Mary and Lake Mamie over the past year have resulted in a greater understanding of the environmental issues present, and remediation necessary, to ensure the health and future protection of the area’s namesake treasures.

It says that starting this week, volunteers of CUTL will be initiating a full-scale cleanup and aquatic invasive species survey of Lake George’s 3.22 km circumference, working with volunteer scuba divers, free divers and kayakers to remove fishing debris, plastic pollution and understand other threats to the environment.

“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,” says Colin West, Founder & Executive Director of CUTL.

The statement adds that CULT will be working alongside MLT to increase education in the local community and further volunteer efforts over the next four years. Under the project will be 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.