Note: The story was updated with new information regarding the total amount of trash collected following the Fourth of July. The League to Save Lake Tahoe reported volunteers collected 1,240.25 pounds of trash and 9,276 pieces of plastic. In total, 402 people volunteered.

Every year, hordes of people swarm Lake Tahoe for the Fourth of July celebration, and every year, they leave a big mess.

Luckily, there's a group of dedicated volunteers who comb through the shorelines picking up trash. This year, 402 people volunteered for the annual Keep Tahoe Blue cleanup effort, an event organized by the League to Save Lake Tahoe.

Volunteers walked through six different sites around Lake Tahoe on Friday, totaling 10 miles of shoreline, according to chief strategy officer Jesse Patterson.

They picked up a total of 1,240.25 pounds of trash . That amount includes a total of 9,276 individual plastic pieces such as utensils, coffee cup lids, plastic wrappers, bottle caps, and straws.

"All that plastic never biodegrades," Patterson said. "If it doesn't get picked up, it stays at Lake Tahoe forever."

Last year, volunteers picked up 1,473 pounds of trash.

"People need to do better or be more aware of their impact," Patterson said.

A cigarette problem

The League to Save Lake Tahoe also installed several disposal canisters all around the lake where people can toss their cigarette butts. Patterson said he believes that has helped reduce the number of cigarette butts volunteers picked up along the shoreline this year.

"In a few months, we'll know how many have been kept off the beaches because of the canisters," Patterson said.

In total, cleanup crews counted 5,458 cigarette butts during Friday's cleanup efforts.

"This number is already 3,000 less than what we found last year at this event," Patterson said, adding he didn't know for sure if the canisters have helped.

Since 2014, volunteers have collected a total of 96,000 cigarette butts.

"That's unacceptable," Patterson said. "Just because they stand on the beach doesn't mean it's an ashtray. Most of these contain some plastic, and they release toxins in the water and wildlife eat them."

Making a difference

Last year, the group's efforts prompted the City of South Lake Tahoe to pass regulations banning the use of Styrofoam at the lake.

"All our volunteers store and count the types of trash," Patterson said. "It's essential because we want to know what the problem trashes are and where to find it so that we can find solutions.

"Numbers and data help crystalize the problem," he said, adding city officials looked at data the group collected in the past five years. "The government here doesn't want to overstep and make all these rules (without evidence)."

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When asked if the region's booming population has impacted the amount of trash left behind, Patterson said, "In general, more people means more impact to the lake and more trash."

Still, Patterson said the growing number of volunteers gives him hope that there are a lot more people who care. He said education and self-awareness are vital to the organization's efforts.

"Is it going to solve everything?" he said. "I don't think so, but also seeing 300 people come out and pick up trash is encouraging."

Joanna Perez has volunteered in the beach cleanup for two years. She traveled from her home in Reno to Kings Beach to help.

"Last year it just had such a big impact on me as far as the footsteps I leave behind," she said.

Her blue Keep Tahoe Blue bag, issued to the cleanup participants, contained glass bottles, plastic bottles and other small pieces of plastic.

Nicholas McKnight participated in the effort for the first time this year.

"We want to keep Tahoe blue; keep it clean," McKnight said. "We don't want it trashy and disgusting."

Marcella Corona is a breaking news reporter who covers crime and justice in Northern Nevada. Support her work by subscribing to RGJ.com right here.