(KRON) -- In an effort to "Keep Tahoe Blue," crews removed eight miles of lead-sheathed telecommunication cables from below Lake Tahoe’s waters. The League to Save Lake Tahoe said the recently-completed cable removal project was part of a multi-year effort in partnership with AT&T. "This is a major milestone for Lake Tahoe," said Jesse Patterson, the league's chief strategy officer. “We are grateful that AT&T did the right thing for the Lake Tahoe environment." (Photo courtesy the League to Save Lake Tahoe) The cables were first brought to the league’s attention by another environmental nonprofit, Below the Blue. The two organizations worked together to map the extent of the cables running through Lake Tahoe's iconic cobalt  waters. Why is Lake Tahoe’s water so beautifully blue? The project was conducted by AT&T’s specialty marine services contractor. A team of divers, biologists, and archaeologists helped ensure the cables were removed from the lake bottom without disturbing water quality and aquatic life. (Photo courtesy the League to Save Lake Tahoe) The league wrote, "This achievement is a testament to the importance of Lake Tahoe as one of the United States’ most unique natural resources, the second deepest lake in the country, and the third oldest lake in the world." The removed cables are now being transported out of the Tahoe Basin to be recycled.