MEASURE U SPOTLIGHT: CLEAN UP THE LAKE
This last year (2023/2024) was the first time that Clean Up The Lake received a Measure U Grant but they have been coming out to the Eastern Sierra since 2022 to do their amazing clean-up of submerged litter - you might remember their visit to June Lake last year.
Check out the full interview below to learn more about the work they do and specifically the work they did at Lake Mary and Lake George this past summer.
Tell us a little about your program/organization.
Clean Up The Lake is a non-profit dedicated to activating local communities to join us in taking action to protect the environment both above and below the surface. Our primary way of doing this is through use of our volunteer environmental dive teams. These teams consist of SCUBA divers, free-divers, snorkelers, kayakers and sometimes boat captains or jet skiers. The group works together to do coordinated cleanups of submerged litter while also surveying for heavy lift litter items, aquatic invasive species, algal blooms, historical artifacts, hot spots and more. While the work we do under the surface is important, just as important is the work we do above the surface which includes detailed scientific analysis of our findings and our data, youth education and advocacy efforts to create awareness of these issues and impact policy changes.
How does your program/organization impact the lives of people in Mammoth Lakes?
Our organization has worked with the Mammoth Lakes Recreation, Town of Mammoth Lakes, Visit Mammoth, the Mammoth Community Water District, other community foundations and local sports shops in order to try to clean up Mammoth Lakes. We have already performed circumnavigated SCUBA cleanups of Lake Mary and Lake George where we have pulled out just under 3,000 pounds of submerged litter. We've worked with over 45 youth to make them aware of the pollution issues under the surface of our local Mammoth Lakes. In addition to this we have assessed the baseline of most aquatic plants seen all around these lakes and sent any concerning plants off for morphological and molecular analysis and confirmed that currently our teams have not seen any aquatic invasive plant species.
Your program/organization is a Measure U grant recipient, can you tell us what you use that funding for in your program/organization?
We used these funds to preform our circumnavigated SCUBA cleanup at Lake Mary and Lake George where we have pulled out just under 3,000 pounds of submerged litter. We've worked with over 45 youth to make them aware of the pollution issues under the surface of our local Mammoth Lakes.
Did the Measure U grant funding make it possible for you to offer programming that would not have been available otherwise?
Absolutely, the funding development for our projects in Mammoth Lakes has been challenging and without the support of Measure U, we would not have been able to accomplish what we have done at Lake Mary. Measure U has not only given us funding, but the partnership has helped us garnish other support in the community by showing the validity of the work we are doing.
How did the Measure U grant funding help your program/organization to provide opportunities for locals to engage with arts/culture/mobility/recreation?
Our program gave locals the opportunity to see their environment in a new way. Locals were able to join us to SCUBA dive, snorkel, kayak, captain boats, do litter sorting and categorizing, and much more. The sorting process also selects litter that is saved for possible art sculptures.
What is the next big thing happening with your organization/program?
Clean Up The Lake will be back in 2025 to take its next steps to "Clean Up Mammoth Lakes". Next targets include a selection of one or more lakes from Horseshoe Lake, Lake Mamie, Twin Lakes, or some of the smaller backcountry lakes located within the Mammoth Lakes Basin. These lakes will see the same work performed on Lake Mary and Lake George including submerged litter cleanup, aquatic invasive species surveillance, algal bloom observations and more.
Do you have any words of advice for other programs/organizations that might be looking at applying for Measure U funding?
For those interested in getting Measure U funding, if your program is approved Mammoth Lakes Recreation and the Town is a great partner to join your effort. They bring not only funds, but a support system and a community who backs your work. It's important to ensure your project that you choose to apply for is fulfilling an environmental or community need.
Photo Credit - Samantha Lindberg (Mammoth Lakes Tourism)
About Mammoth Lakes Recreation
Formed in 2014, Mammoth Lakes Recreation’s mission is to deliver cutting edge sustainable recreation, mobility, and arts & culture opportunities and infrastructure for the benefit of the community and natural environment of Mammoth Lakes. For more information, go to www.mammothlakesrecreation.org.