This summer, 653 volunteers removed 1,375 pounds of trash from Lake Tahoe’s beaches — and that’s something to celebrate. But should it be?

In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, host Charlie Pankey sits down with Marilee Movius, longtime stewardship leader at Keep Tahoe Blue, to explore what’s really happening behind the scenes of Tahoe’s largest cleanup event — and why a 27% drop in post-Fourth of July litter is more than just a statistic.

We talk about:

• How families and visitors are turning beach cleanup into a Tahoe tradition

• The rise of the Tahoe Blue Crew — and how you can adopt your favorite beach or trail

• New tools like beach-cleaning robots and smart signage that are reshaping visitor behavior

• What the Tahoe Blue Beach Program is doing to make "the right choice the easy choice"

• And how a simple water bottle ban in South Lake Tahoe sparked a nationwide conversation

Whether you're a local, a weekend paddler, or a summer visitor, this conversation will open your eyes to the grassroots magic keeping Lake Tahoe clean, blue, and beloved.

Learn more or get involved: https://www.keeptahoeblue.org
Brought to you by Sierra Rec Magazine | https://sierrarecmagazine.com

00:00 – Intro: Can 1,300 pounds of trash be good news?

01:15 – A 12-Year Cleanup Legacy: Celebrating 27% less litter

02:50 – 665 Volunteers and Growing: Tahoe shows up

04:20 – Strange finds and single-use plastics: What we’re still picking up

06:00 – Families making cleanup part of their Tahoe tradition

07:30 – The art of messaging: Behavioral signage and testing awareness

09:30 – Introducing the Tahoe Blue Crew: Adopt your beach or trail

11:45 – The power of data: How litter leads to policy change

13:00 – Zephyr Shoals transformation: TRPA's Blue Crew impact

15:30 – The Tahoe Blue Beach Program: Engineering clean habits

18:15 – Education, infrastructure, and enforcement: The 3 E’s of Blue Beaches

20:00 – Responding to extreme weather and environmental events

22:00 – Invasive species: Keeping Tahoe waters safe and clean

24:00 – Stewardship for paddlers, hikers, and backcountry explorers

26:30 – Marilee’s favorite place in the Sierra: Desolation Wilderness

27:30 – Post-hike hunger: Burritos over burgers?

28:15 – Must-have gear: Why she never hikes without a solar light

29:00 – Final thoughts: Protect where you play

In this episode of Sierra Rec Now, we sit down with Captain Rob Ayers to uncover Lake Almanor’s fishing secrets, light tackle strategies, and inspiring community stories. After losing everything in the Camp Fire, Captain Rob rebuilt his life around Lake Almanor’s legendary brown trout and salmon fishery, sharing how the lake’s 365-day feeding cycle and diverse hatch patterns make it a year-round angler’s paradise.

Discover light tackle fishing techniques like the “naked crawler,” seasonal hatch insights, and tips for fishing Lake Almanor’s clear waters. Rob shares why “the tug is a drug” and how fishing becomes more than a hobby when it connects you with local businesses, veterans’ fishing days, and a supportive mountain community.

Whether you’re planning your first Lake Almanor fishing trip, looking to refine your light tackle skills, or seeking inspiration from Rob’s story of resilience and outdoor passion, this episode is packed with insights for your next Sierra adventure.

• Why Lake Almanor offers year-round fishing opportunities with brown trout and salmon.

• Captain Rob’s light tackle philosophy for more rewarding fishing.

• Seasonal hatch patterns and how to match your technique.

• How the Lake Almanor fishing community supports veterans and local businesses.

• The best times and places to fish Lake Almanor for your next trip.

🎧 Listen now and discover why Lake Almanor is a fisherman’s paradise and a place of healing, adventure, and connection.

#LakeAlmanor #FishingLakeAlmanor #CaptainRob #LightTackleFishing #SierraRecNow #OutdoorAdventures #CaliforniaFishing #FlyFishing

Discover more Sierra at sierrarecmagazine.com

What does it mean to truly find your true nature in the Sierra Nevada? In this conversation, author Lisa Michelle joins Charlie on the Sierra Rec Now Podcast to share her journey from rodeo cowgirl to wilderness writer and the lessons learned along the way in the High Sierra.

Lisa’s new book, True Nature, blends memoir, adventure, and the emotional tug-of-war of sharing hidden places in a landscape that both challenges and heals. We explore what it’s like to paddleboard around Lake Tahoe, how encounters with strangers can change our paths, and why the Sierra continues to shape who we are.

From stories of connection on the trail to lessons about risk and safety, Lisa’s insights will resonate with hikers, writers, and anyone who has ever felt the quiet pull of the mountains. If you love the Sierra, this episode will inspire you to slow down, pay attention, and rediscover the power of wild places to transform your life.

• Lisa’s journey from rodeo to wilderness writing

• Paddleboarding solo around Lake Tahoe

• The challenges of sharing sacred Sierra places

• Connection and community on the trail

• Safety and lessons from close calls in the wilderness

• Finding self-discovery through nature and quiet moments

• Hidden gems and bucket-list dreams in the Sierra

• Why the Sierra matters for future generations

🔗 Get True Nature by Lisa Michelle: LisaMichelleStories.com
🔗 Discover more Sierra adventures: SierraRecMagazine.com

If you enjoy Sierra stories, please follow, rate, and share this episode to help us grow our community of outdoor adventurers and storytellers.