Nonprofit seeks projects that will improve the Lake Tahoe environment for all to enjoy

The Tahoe Fund today announced the opening of its annual call for projects. The nonprofit is seeking projects for its 2023 portfolio that will increase the pace and scale of forest restoration, improve lake clarity, expand sustainable recreation, provide innovative solutions to transportation challenges and create more stewards of Lake Tahoe. Priority projects will also break down barriers to access and increase inclusion for underserved communities in Tahoe.

Since its inception, the Tahoe Fund has supported more than 80 impactful projects in the Lake Tahoe Basin working with more than 30 partners. Projects submitted for consideration may receive immediate funding or be selected for a Tahoe Fund project campaign in 2023. 

“Our annual call for projects is an opportunity for innovative thinkers and organizations to secure the funding they need to bring their projects to life,” said Cory Ritchie, Tahoe Fund Board Chair. “This year, we are excited to see how our partners are expanding access and building inclusion as they work to improve the Lake Tahoe environment for all to enjoy.” 

Public agencies and nonprofits are invited to submit proposals for projects that require $5,000 to $1,000,000 in funding. Projects with the ability to leverage additional public funding as a result of Tahoe Fund support will be prioritized.

“In our last fiscal year, we funded 42 different projects – more than ever before,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “The generosity of our donors enabled us to distribute over $1 million in grants to our partner organizations, supporting incredible projects like the scuba cleanup of Lake Tahoe’s shoreline, the restoration of our trails destroyed during the Caldor Fire, and new technology to map forest health projects in Tahoe.” 

Previous and current projects are varied and benefit diverse users and goals in the Basin. They include the building of the Meeks Ridge Trail on Tahoe’s West Shore, support for free microtransit services offered by TART Connect, scholarships for the Lake Tahoe Community College Forestry program, “Tahoe’s Nature for All” programming for underserved community members offered by the Tahoe Institute of Natural Science, and EarthViews’ new Lake Tahoe shoreline mapping tool.

All submissions will be reviewed by the Tahoe Fund Board of Directors, which is tasked with developing the Tahoe Fund’s Signature and Premier Projects Portfolio. 

Project submissions are due by January 31, 2023. Guidelines and the request for project submission form can be found here.

Old logging roads above Incline Village, NV transformed into a new singletrack trail designed by freeride mountain bike athlete Cam Zink’s trail building nonprofit

The Upper Tyrolian Trail, North Lake Tahoe’s newest singletrack mountain bike trail featuring berms, jumps and other interesting natural features is now open above Incline Village, Nevada. The project was spearheaded by the Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association (TAMBA) with a $60,000 grant from the Tahoe Fund. Its completion was celebrated today by the volunteers, supporters and donors who made it possible.

Together with the U.S. Forest Service and Sensus R.A.D. Trails, a trail building nonprofit by local freeride mountain bike athlete Cam Zink, TAMBA converted old logging roads into nearly two miles of sustainable singletrack trail that connects Tahoe Meadows off Mount Rose Highway to the existing Tyrolian Downhill Trail. The new upper section of the trail provides an official start trailhead with improved signage, and was designed to reduce mountain bike traffic on the Tahoe Rim Trail. 

“This trail project was a long time coming, and we’re thrilled to be officially turning it over to the public to enjoy,” said Patrick Parsel, TAMBA trails director. “Building sustainable trails in the Tahoe Basin is our priority, and we couldn’t do it without the support of partners like the Tahoe Fund and the U.S. Forest Service.”

The first part of the Upper Tyrolian Trail was built as a flowy singletrack trail that incorporates natural features to enhance the rider experience. After 0.75 miles, the trail transitions to one with professionally designed and built rollovers, tabletops, step-ups, step-downs and triple-option jumps that provide a unique and challenging experience for riders to practice and build their skills. 

The second element of the project was to decommission miles of eroded logging roads in the area where the Upper Tyrolian Trail begins. These dirt roads were used extensively by logging operations and were not designed to manage stormwater. Decommissioning included scarifying compacted areas, naturalizing the soil surface with pine duff, and incorporating erosion control features to reduce sediment runoff into creeks that flow into Lake Tahoe.

“TAMBA’s commitment to building trails that provide sustainable recreation throughout Tahoe are unparalleled, and partnering with them to complete this trail aligned perfectly with the Tahoe Fund’s mission,” said Caroline Waldman, sustainable recreation program director for the Tahoe Fund. “We’re proud to have contributed to this effort.”

Learn more about the Upper Tyrolian Trail project here.

Interactive Map Offers 360-degree Views and Underwater Images of Lake Tahoe

Today, the Tahoe Fund and EarthViews Conservation Society released the first-ever “Street View” style map of all 72 miles of Lake Tahoe’s shoreline. This new, interactive Lake Tahoe ShoreView Map offers a 360-degree view of the shoreline, as well as underwater views and water quality data. 

“This map allows people to see Tahoe like never before,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. “You can tour Emerald Bay, ‘paddle’ through the iconic rocks of Sand Harbor, or explore the hidden beaches along the East Shore with just the click of a button. Best of all, this new tool is bringing a wealth of data and information to scientists and conservation organizations working to improve the health of the Lake.” 

According to UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, conditions differ widely around the Lake’s nearshore — or the area ranging about 350 feet from the shoreline — due to variations in temperature, stormwater flow and runoff, aquatic invasive species, the effects of recreation, and fluctuation in lake levels. With these factors impacting water quality and the Lake’s iconic clarity, it’s critical to closely monitor the conditions on the shoreline. 

“This comprehensive look at today’s conditions will serve as a significant historical marker,” explained Brian Footen, president and co-founder of EarthViews Conservation Society. “Scientists will be able to look back 5, 10, or 50 years from now and understand how water quality and the physical shoreline have changed over time.” 

To create this map, Footen spent seven days circumnavigating the Lake in a kayak, with cameras and water quality measurement tools strapped to the vessel. Using mobile mapping technology, Footen was able to capture synchronized imagery and data every ten seconds as he navigated along the nearshore. This information was then published online as a “street view” like experience letting the user explore the shoreline from their desktop or mobile device.

For the past year, Footen has been conducting several conservation-minded waterway mapping projects for EarthViews Conservation Society, most notably the Puget Sound in Washington and the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Recently, he presented his findings from the Lake Tahoe ShoreView Map to the Tahoe Science Advisory Council to help inform on-going research and data collection in Lake Tahoe. 

The Tahoe Fund, a nonprofit organization that supports environmental improvement projects around the Tahoe Basin, provided the funding for the Lake Tahoe ShoreView Map. The organization works to improve lake clarity through funding initiatives like the 72-mile scuba clean up of Lake Tahoe and the Taylor-Tallac aquatic invasive species removal project. 

“This new tool is an opportunity to inspire learning and showcase the beauty and breadth of this Lake,” said Berry. “But don’t just take our word for it, go see it first-hand.” 

Explore the Lake Tahoe ShoreView Map here.