Entrance to boardwalks off Mt. Rose Highway is temporarily closed

Construction is now underway to build an accessibility ramp in the Tahoe Meadows off Mt. Rose Highway. This new ramp will help everyone, including those with mobility challenges, access more than half a mile of boardwalk trail. 

Crews from Granite Construction will be working in the area for the next few weeks. During this time, the stairs to the boardwalks will be closed. Visitors can still access the Meadows via the Ophir Creek Trail, also known as the Tahoe Rim Trail Connector. 

The Tahoe Fund partnered with the Tahoe Meadows Access Ramp Committee (TMAR) on a fundraising campaign to build an accessibility ramp. The NV Energy Foundation, the Keyser Foundation and dozens of Tahoe Fund donors helped to meet a $75,000 match provided by Steven and Sandy Hardie to make this project happen.

“We’re thrilled to be breaking ground on this major upgrade to such a popular place in this region,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “The outpouring of support we’ve received to bring this project to life is a reflection of how much the community cares about ensuring Tahoe is a place for all to enjoy.”

The Tahoe Rim Trail Association and the US Forest Service, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Carson Ranger District are also working in this area to replace sections of the boardwalks that were due to be decommissioned. Together, these projects mark major improvements in the Tahoe Meadows that will help transform this area into a hub for outdoor accessibility in the Tahoe Basin. 

Learn more about this project at www.tahoefund.org/tahoemeadows. 

On Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, the Tahoe Fund and Restoring the Lake Depths Foundation will livestream an ROV’s journey to the bottom of Lake Tahoe, giving everyone the opportunity to watch in real time as it reaches a depth of 1,570 feet.

“Few people have had the opportunity to explore what’s under the surface of Lake Tahoe, the second deepest lake in the U.S.,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “We partnered with Restoring the Lake Depths Foundation and Martis Camp Foundation to fund a custom ROV capable of live streaming a journey to the bottom, giving people the chance to experience Lake Tahoe in a whole new way.”

Via a livestream that will be broadcast on the Tahoe Fund’s website, follow along as “Deep Emerald,” a custom ROV built by Restoring the Lake Depths, ventures to the bottom of Lake Tahoe. While the ROV descends, Tim Crandle, president of SeaView Systems will share more about the cutting-edge technology that made this journey possible and Sudeep Chandra, foundation professor of limnology at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe and the Tahoe Institute for Global Sustainability will unpack the secrets of why Tahoe’s famed waters are so clear. 

Featuring open-source electronics from Blue Robotics and Mission Robotics software, Deep Emerald was designed for underwater exploration. It is equipped with an 8-thruster system for maneuverability, four LED lights and a 4K Ultra HD camera with low-light sensitivity for high-resolution imaging. In addition to deep water exploration, Deep Emerald has been utilized to remove litter from the lake and help identify aquatic invasive species. 

“Deep Emerald is our flagship ROV, funded by Tahoe Fund and the Martis Camp Foundation and built for advanced underwater exploration,” said Lindsay Kopf, founder and executive director of Restoring the Lake Depths Foundation. “Its 600m fiber optic tether allows for deep-water exploration, making it a rare ROV capable of reaching the depths of Lake Tahoe’s deepest points.”

While Deep Emerald leads the way with its exceptional abilities, Restoring the Lake Depths Foundation’s full fleet of four ROVs, powered by technology from Blue Robotics and Mission Robotics, works in concert to achieve comprehensive lake monitoring and restoration. Each ROV is equipped with advanced cameras, sensors, and deep-water tools, enabling precise data collection, sample retrieval, and debris removal. 

Watch the livestream at www.tahoefund.org/deepdive starting at 9:30 a.m. PT on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.

The Tahoe Fund welcomes Scott Bensing, a U.S. Navy veteran with over 15 years of experience on Capitol Hill, to our Board of Directors. A high-ranking former Republican senior staff member, Bensing’s service has spanned the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and included developing federal policy and navigating legislative and regulatory challenges. As a board member, he will support the Tahoe Fund’s mission of improving the Lake Tahoe environment for all to enjoy.

“Scott’s extensive experience in developing public policy and navigating the legislative process, his passion for Tahoe, and his long-standing commitment to community service make him an outstanding addition to the Tahoe Fund Board,” said Tahoe Fund Board Chair Verdi DiSesa. “We are grateful to work alongside him as we continue to seek out and fund environmental projects that will prevent catastrophic wildfire, improve the health of the Lake, and make it easier for people to get around, enjoy and take care of Tahoe.”

Bensing’s Capitol Hill experience began when he was a naval officer working as a congressional liaison officer to the U.S. Navy Secretary. As a civilian, he worked as Chief of Staff for the U.S. Senator John Ensign, and as Executive Director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, prior to starting SB Strategic Consulting, Inc. in 2009. He was instrumental in developing the legislation that has brought billions in public funding to Tahoe. 

Heavily involved in community efforts throughout his home state of Nevada, Bensing was appointed to serve on the Board of Directors of the Tahoe Transportation District by Governor Joe Lombardo. He is also a past Chairman of the Nevada Military Support Alliance and currently serves on the board of PTSDNOW! and the Military Officers Association of America, Incline Village Chapter.

“The Tahoe Fund has had a tremendous impact as it relates to improving the beauty and experience of Lake Tahoe, and I’m happy to help contribute to its future efforts,” said Bensing. “I look forward to finding opportunities to leverage my professional expertise and passion in conjunction with a prestigious Board to benefit everyone who lives, works and visits this special place.”

Bensing holds a B.S. degree in Political Science from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, and a Masters degree in Public Administration from The American University in Washington, D.C.

See our full Board of Directors here.

New trailhead will help minimize neighborhood impacts and give everyone an easier start on the trails

Tahoe XC has long been a popular recreational hub in the Basin, welcoming over 200,000 visitors on its groomed and multi-use trails year-round. As part of the Tahoe Cross Country Lodge Project, the trailhead is being relocated to improve trail access for everyone, and to minimize neighborhood parking and traffic impacts. To support this effort, the Tahoe Fund is launching a matching campaign with the goal of raising $100,000.

”Tahoe XC has been grooming trails for 50 years and is a beloved hub for cross country skiing and mountain biking in our community,” said Bill Dietz, Tahoe Fund board member. “To celebrate this milestone, we are doubling all donations for this project up to $50,000 until we reach our goal.”

The trailhead relocation will create ADA and beginner-friendly trail access not currently available at the existing trailhead due to its topography. It will also provide walkability and transit options for students thanks to its shared parking with North Tahoe High School, and generate year-round community programming opportunities.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the trailhead relocation effort took place on June 20 at the site of the new lodge and was attended by community members, funding partners for the project, donors, board members and regional representatives. Attendees heard from Tahoe XC Executive Director Ben Grasseschi, Board President of the Tahoe City Public Utility District Judy Friedman, and Placer County Supervisor Cindy Gustafson about the history of Tahoe XC and how partnerships have been the key to bringing the Lodge Project to life. 

“The new Tahoe XC lodge is our opportunity to finally give the Tahoe Cross Country community a true home—a comfortable, safe, and welcoming space that this incredible North Tahoe community deserves. It will establish a lasting legacy that serves and connects for generations to come,” said Jim Robbins, TCCSEA board president and founding member of Tahoe XC.

The Lodge Project will create a functional, sustainable home for Tahoe XC’s growing youth programs and serve as a gathering space for everyone. The new location is a more accessible trailhead to both Tahoe XC’s groomed winter trails and Burton Creek State Park public lands. Once constructed, the new lodge will replace the 50-year-old building that exists today with a new building that will use geothermal heat pumps and solar panels to become a net zero energy commercial building. 

Learn more and donate to the match effort here.

In recognition of Wildfire Awareness Month, a coalition of wildfire experts, technology companies, energy providers, and nonprofits launched a groundbreaking pilot project today aimed at creating the most wildfire-ready community in the Lake Tahoe region. The Incline Fire Smart Community Pilot is taking place in the Tyrolian Village HOA, a neighborhood encompassing 228 homes across 60 acres in Incline Village, Nevada that has been identified as a high priority wildfire area by the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District. 

The pilot is leveraging new technology to identify which mitigations matter the most, while informing insurance outcomes and demonstrating how comprehensive wildfire defense can be implemented and replicated across Tahoe and the West and informing insurance outcomes. During a demonstration today, the public was able to see a remote-operated masticator from BurnBot remove hazardous fuels in the neighborhood up to five feet from homes. Attendees also heard from a panel of experts on how the pilot came to be, and the science and strategy behind it. Watch the panel discussion here.

“We’ve proactively treated thousands of acres in Incline Village and Crystal Bay through hazardous fuels mitigation, including direct collaboration with the Tyrolian Village HOA on their reduction plan,” said North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District Chief Ryan Sommers. “Wildfire risk is always evolving, and this pilot program allows us to enhance our efforts using the latest technology, advanced modeling, and parcel-specific strategies to further strengthen community safety.”

In addition to using BurnBot’s remote-operated technology to safely and efficiently reduce fire-prone vegetation in residential environments, the pilot will make use of data-driven strategies, modeling and insights from Vibrant Planet, Fire Aside and Colorado State University’s Dr. Hussam Mahmoud. The comprehensive nature of the project also includes a series of connected wildfire mitigation efforts across public lands and utility corridors, and a partnership with Wildfire Services Group for the completion of home hardening work based on data from Fire Aside.

“This initiative has the potential to fundamentally change how communities approach wildfire resilience,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund, the project’s convener. “We’re combining cutting-edge modeling and state-of-the-art technology with on-the-ground mitigation on public lands, NV Energy’s utility corridor, and in the neighborhood to create a replicable blueprint that can save lives, protect property, and preserve natural resources, while informing insurance outcomes.”

The pilot includes seven phases, of which the first two are already underway:

1. Baseline Risk Modeling & Assessment: Using advanced modeling tools from Vibrant Planet, Fire Aside, BurnBot, and Colorado State University’s Dr. Hussam Mahmoud, baseline risk and treatment needs are being established at both the community and parcel levels. Additionally, RockRose Risk is assessing insurance-relevant risk metrics.

2. Neighborhood-Scale Vegetation Treatment: BurnBot and the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District are executing prioritized fuels reduction treatments on 35 acres, complementing prior work on 22 acres of hand-thinning already conducted in the HOA.

3. Post-Treatment Risk Assessment: Over the summer, the project team will re-run risk models to quantify how vegetation treatments reduced wildfire risk.

4. Parcel-Level Mitigation & Home Hardening: Using science-backed data and direct engagement with residents, the team will prioritize the most hazardous properties and partner with homeowners to harden their homes against wildfire. Wildfire Services Group will work with the HOA and homeowners to provide expedited contractor services and do the work. 

5. Risk Reduction Measurement & Insurance Engagement: In the fall, the team will re-run models to quantify risk reduction for homeowners, public agencies, and insurers, with the goal of encouraging insurance coverage and incentives tied to mitigation outcomes.

6. Long-term Mitigation & Maintenance Planning: The HOA and project partners will develop a long-term plan to maintain risk reduction and continue mitigation efforts.

7. Model Scaling & Knowledge Sharing: A comprehensive, replicable framework will be developed to help other communities adopt similar strategies across Tahoe and the Western U.S.

“This pilot program will provide critical fire safety benefits and serves as a powerful example of what can be achieved through the collaboration between communities, government agencies, and corporate partners,” said Greg Erfani, Tyrolian Village HOA Board President. “Our goal is to create a fire safety-aware community focused on preparedness and risk reduction. By taking proactive steps, we hope to demonstrate to insurers that communities like ours are effectively mitigating wildfire risk.”

Incline Fire Smart Community Pilot Partners include the Tahoe Fund, North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, the Tyrolian Village Homeowners Association, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), BurnBot, Vibrant Planet, Dr. Hussam Mahmoud, Fire Aside, NV Energy, RockRose Risk, Climate and Wildfire Institute, Wildfire Services Group, and social scientist Natalie Bennett.

Learn more and get started in your community, visit www.tahoefund.org/inclinefiresmartpilot. 

Photos by Jeff Freeman