On August 29th, 2025, Blue Lake Rancheria Tribal Environmental Protection Agency (TEPA) organized a Community Clean Up at Blue Lake Rancheria, funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency Indian Environmental General Assistance Program. The Blue Lake Rancheria Community Clean Up gave Tribal members an opportunity to get rid of large pieces of garbage and appliances, and aimed to make the public aware of illegal dumping and related environmental consequences.
This Community Clean Up demonstrated how individuals can recycle and divert materials from their waste streams by educating the public about the correct methods of disposing waste, from batteries to appliances. Illegal dumping can pose a large risk to communities, being a primary cause for land, water, soil, and air pollution. Chemicals and non-biodegradable materials in waste materials impact environments and waterways by contaminating groundwater and soil.
The TEPA team drove to a few different Tribal member’s homes in order to make dump runs for locals who needed assistance moving some of their garbage. In addition to actively cleaning up the Rancheria, a special collection area was set up for residents to drop off waste. Not only was the clean up a help to our Tribal citizens, it also ensures that any waste is processed accordingly without environmental concerns.
Originally Published: 9/6/2025
