Volunteers pull nearly 5,000 pounds of trash from Upper Twin Lake

In a week-long operation, Clean Up The Lake organized 23 volunteers to dive along 3.89 miles of Upper Twin Lake’s perimeter, completing 18 dives. The team recovered 4,999 items of underwater trash, totaling over 2,400 pounds, including 1,376 beer cans, 24 tires, 31 anchors and two concealed handguns that were handed to local law enforcement. Divers used yellow mesh bags and lift bags to bring up lighter and heavier objects, while kayakers and snorkelers helped transport the material to the dock for sorting and mapping.

Nine large items, such as six-foot metal pipes and chained anchors, required special handling. Two litter “hot spots” were pinpointed near a busy resort road, which officials believe contributes to debris accumulation on the lake’s northwest side.