Retired South Lake Tahoe teacher creates song as plastic water bottle ban goes into effect

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The trash left behind on Lake Tahoe's beaches after the 4th of July last year led retired South Tahoe Middle School Krissi Russell to write the song, Just Drink Tahoe Tap. Now with the plastic water ban going into effect in South Lake Tahoe on April 22, she wanted to share the positive message.

Krissi, a long-time Tahoe local, taught Spanish and English Language Development at the middle school for 28 years. She is a singer/songwriter, an advocate for the lake, and a children's book author. She has created music CDs with picture books in an interactive read-and-sing set in both Spanish and English. Her big hit was In The Meadow (Don't Feed Our Bears).

The City of South Lake Tahoe's ban on single-use plastic water bottles started on Monday, April 22. Stores are no longer able to sell plastic water containers less than one gallon in size.

Plastics, including Polystyrene, damage Lake Tahoe’s sensitive natural habitats and scenic beauty. These materials are not biodegradable, nearly impossible to recycle, and persist for many years in the environment by disintegrating into smaller plastic particles. In October 2022, the city council responded to these challenges by updating its ordinance to minimize the potential for this waste to enter the local ecosystem. At that time they banned single-use water bottles at city events, facilities, and vendors on city property, then the city-wide ban started this Earth Day.

At this time, the ban is not on soda, juice, sparkling, or flavored water in plastic bottles. Empty plastic water bottles were found at many beach cleanups at Lake Tahoe, and with good public water supply, drinking "Tahoe Tap" is promoted and encouraged.

While alternatives to single-use plastic are available and do not violate the ordinance, the City encourages refilling reusable water bottles with the award-winning local tap water.