250 donors can help unlock a $25,000 matching gift from Barton Health for the Upper Truckee Marsh

The Tahoe Fund and Barton Health have launched an exciting new fundraising campaign to help restore the Upper Truckee Marsh South in South Lake Tahoe—the former site of the Motel 6 property. If 250 community members donate $50 or more to the Match for the Marsh campaign by June 30, Barton Health will unlock an incredible $25,000 matching gift. Every donation will help bring this marsh back to life.

“For years, our partners at Barton Health have worked with us to support projects that improve our local environment,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “The public agencies have told us how critical local support is to securing the public funds we need. We hope everyone will jump at the chance to help unlock this generous gift from Barton, because it will have a major impact on one of the most important lake clarity projects in Tahoe.” 

This new opportunity builds on the Tahoe Fund’s recent “Million for the Marsh” campaign, which brought in the first million dollars of private funding to help secure the public funds the California Tahoe Conservancy will need to restore the marsh. After meeting that million dollar goal in under three months, this new campaign provides another chance for the local community to demonstrate how much this project matters to Tahoe. In addition to having a major impact on lake clarity, these restoration efforts will also improve the natural habitat and enhance public access and recreation opportunities.

“At Barton Health, we know a healthy community is directly tied to a healthy environment, and that’s why we care deeply about being good stewards of Lake Tahoe,” said Dr. Clint Purvance, president and CEO of Barton Health. “Restoring this marsh will not only have important benefits to lake clarity, it will also be a space where our local community members can get outside and enjoy Vitamin Nature.” 

Learn more about the benefits of restoring the Upper Truckee Marsh and contribute to the Match for the Marsh campaign today at tahoefund.org/bartonmatch.

Shuttle service to begin mid-June and run daily through Labor Day

With summer right around the corner, Tahoe Transportation District (TTD), in partnership with public transit provider Via, is bringing back the Emerald Bay Shuttle for an expanded second season. Building on a successful 2025 pilot, this service will once again give visitors and residents a safe, affordable way to reach one of Lake Tahoe’s most popular destinations while reducing traffic congestion and protecting the basin’s natural environment.

“The Emerald Bay Shuttle is a key step toward improving access while protecting one of Tahoe’s most visited destinations,” Jim Marino, Executive Director of the Tahoe Transportation District. “By providing an easy alternative to driving, we’re helping ease traffic, enhance safety, and preserve the natural experience for everyone.”

The shuttle will run daily from mid-June (start date TBD) through September 7 along two routes. Riders coming from the North or West Shores can pick up the shuttle at Sugar Pine Point Campground. Riders on the South Shore can pick up the shuttle at the South Tahoe Y Transit Center or get on at Camp Richardson. Both routes stop at the Eagle Falls Trailhead in Emerald Bay. Weekend service begins at 8 a.m., with weekday trips starting at 9 a.m. All routes run until 5 p.m.

Rides are $5 one way or $10 roundtrip. Reduced fares of $2.50 one way and $5 roundtrip are available for children under 12, adults ages 65 and older, veterans, riders with disabilities, and Medicare cardholders.

Parking enforcement will be in place during the duration of the shuttle season. TTD will install nearly 400 feet of temporary barriers to restrict access to illegal and unsafe roadside parking, and California Highway Patrol (CHP) is strictly enforcing parking restrictions throughout the Emerald Bay corridor. During last year’s shuttle season, CHP wrote 248 citations, issued 13 moving violations, and had 10 vehicles towed for illegal parking. 

Both of the Emerald Bay Shuttle’s routes connect with public transit service, making more of Tahoe accessible through lake-friendly, car-free travel. Riders can reach the shuttle from the Stateline casino corridor and much of Tahoe’s South Shore by connecting with Tahoe Transportation District Bus Route 50 at the South Tahoe Y Transit Center. On the West Shore, Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit’s (TART) Mainline Bus Route, as well as on-demand microtransit from TART Connect, link with the shuttle at Sugar Pine Point Campground. Biking — or using a shared e-scooter on the South Shore — is a great way to get to a shuttle stop or connecting bus stop.

Riders will be able to reserve their seats at: www.emeraldbayshuttle.com

Walk-up seats may be available depending on excess capacity.

Th Emerald Bay Shuttle is supported by a project team consisting of transportation planning and implementation experts, local government officials, agencies and organizations including: Keep Tahoe Blue, Tahoe Fund, El Dorado County, Caltrans, California Highway Patrol, California State Parks, Placer County, Tahoe Transportation District, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, City of South Lake Tahoe, Sierra State Parks Foundation, South Shore Transportation Management Association, and Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority.

Key Service Details

Emerald Bay Shuttle

• Season: anticipated to start mid-June – September 7, 2026
• Weekday hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Monday – Thursday)
• Weekend and holiday hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Friday – Sunday)
• Fare: $5 one way / $10 roundtrip
• Reduced fare: $2.50 one way / $5 roundtrip for children under 12, adults ages 65+, veterans, riders with disabilities, and Medicare cardholders
• Routes: West Shore Route (from Sugar Pine Point); South Shore Route (from Y Transit Center, with a stop at Camp Richardson)
• Transit connections: TTD Bus Route 50 at the South Y Transit Center. TART Mainline Bus Route and TART Connect Microtransit service at Sugar Pine Point State Park
• Other connections: Bike or ride a shared e-scooter to the South Y Transit Center or Camp Richardson on the South Shore. Bike or walk to the Tahoe City Transit Center or Homewood to catch the TART Mainline.
• Parking: On the South Shore, keep your car parked where you are staying or park at a paid lot along Lake Tahoe Boulevard, at Lake Tahoe Community College, or Camp Richardson. On the north or west shore, park at the Tahoe City Transit Center, Homewood, or Sugar Pine State Park Campground.
• How to book: Reservations will be available at: www.emeraldbayshuttle.com

The first million dollars of private funding to help restore the former Motel 6 site has been raised by Tahoe Fund donors as part of the “Million for the Marsh” campaign. Launched in November, the campaign set out to raise the first $1 million of private funds to help secure the public funds the California Tahoe Conservancy will need to restore the Upper Truckee Marsh in South Lake Tahoe. 

“We were absolutely blown away by our donors who helped us meet this challenge, further reinforcing how important the restoration of this marsh is to Lake Tahoe’s clarity and the community,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “We are committed to helping the Conservancy bring this marsh back to life with the support of philanthropic dollars and stand ready to call on our community for any additional support we may need to make this project happen.” 

In addition to the “Million for the Marsh” campaign, the Tahoe Fund also provided funding for initial acquisition of the former Motel 6 property alongside a number of other partners including the Conservancy, the California Wildlife Conservation Board, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the League to Save Lake Tahoe. Last year, contributions from Tahoe Fund donors and major gifts from the Latrobe Foundation and the Robert S & Dorothy J Keyser Foundation brought in over $200,000 to support the demolition of the buildings on site. 

“We are grateful for the Tahoe Fund donors’ support for this important project,” said Jason Vasques, executive director of the California Tahoe Conservancy. “We look forward to working with our partners as we continue planning the restoration for the southern end of the Upper Truckee Marsh, which is so important for habitat, watershed resilience, and Lake Tahoe.”

In addition to restoring the watershed and the native habitat, this project further advances the 2012 Lake Tahoe Regional Plan and Environmental Improvement Program by removing aging development from sensitive land and retiring or transferring development rights to town centers.

There is still time for you to provide your feedback with the Conservancy on concepts for the proposed project. Visit tahoe.ca.gov/survey.

Learn more and contribute to the project today at tahoefund.org/millionforthemarsh.