Popular engraved bears have already raised more than $100,000 for North Lake Tahoe Trails

Twenty-five new engraved bears are now hanging from the railings in Tahoe City’s Heritage Plaza through a partnership with the Tahoe Fund, Placer County and the Tahoe City Public Utility District to raise money for trails in North Lake Tahoe. Since launching the new program this fall, more than $100,000 has been raised for trails through the generosity of private donors. 

“The Tahoe City Bears program offers donors a unique opportunity to contribute to trails in North Lake Tahoe while leaving a visual reminder of their lasting legacy,” said Karolina Hedman, chief operations officer for the Tahoe Fund. “We’re thrilled with the success of the program and want people to know there are still opportunities to purchase and personalize their own bear plaque.”

The engraved bears, originally available along the popular Tahoe East Shore Trail, have been embraced by those who love Tahoe and want a way to memorialize their investment and commitment to improving the Tahoe environment for all to enjoy. Bears were chosen for this location to celebrate the proximity to the iconic Penny Bear statue in Heritage Plaza.

“Partnerships like this with the Tahoe Fund not only help bring important trail projects to fruition, they demonstrate the value our community places on projects that enhance the Tahoe experience for all,” said Cindy Gustafson, Placer County District 5 Supervisor.

The bear plaques are available in two sizes. For $5,000, the Mama Bear plaque measures 13” tall x 20” wide and has space for a 40-45 character message. For $2,500, the Baby Bear plaque measures 8” tall x 12” wide and has space for a 20-25 character message. 

For more information and to purchase a Tahoe City bear plaque, visit https://www.tahoefund.org/projects/active-projects/tahoe-city-bear-plaques/.

The Tahoe Fund also offers engraved trout plaques and bear pavers along the East Shore Trail, a three-mile paved path from Incline Village to Sand Harbor. To learn more, visit https://www.tahoefund.org/projects/active-projects/tahoe-east-shore-trail/.

The Tahoe Fund is powered by philanthropy—your philanthropy. Your generosity made a
tremendous impact this past fiscal year, which came to a close on March 31, 2024.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our Stewardship Circle members and more than 1,500
donors, we awarded nearly $1.4 million to 50-plus projects, and helped leverage $40 million
in public funds. Together with over 30 partners, we made significant progress on improving
the Lake Tahoe environment for all to enjoy.

In March, we joined forces with a handful of other Tahoe organizations to provide critical
funding for the California Tahoe Conservancy’s acquisition of the Motel 6 property and
surrounding 31 acres within the Upper Truckee River watershed. This made way for what
will become one of the most important restoration projects in Lake Tahoe’s history.

In December, we celebrated the opening of the new sawmill in Carson City, alongside Tahoe
Forest Products and the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California. Through a grant from our
Smartest Forest Fund and support from key public and private partners, we introduced the
Tahoe-Truckee region to BurnBot’s suite of remote-operated tools that will help remove
excess fuel from our forests.

Construction has begun on new parking lots along State Route 28, marking the first step toward
expanding the East Shore Trail. Over the next several years, we will be working with our partners
to design, fund and build more off-highway parking and the next eight miles of path.

These are just some of the game-changing projects that are powered by your philanthropy.

As you read this project portfolio, know that all of this work was possible because of you.

Read our FY 2023-24 Project Portfolio.

Dear Friends,

We are writing today with monumental news! With support from the Tahoe Fund and the League to Save Lake Tahoe, the California Tahoe Conservancy is purchasing the Motel 6 property and surrounding 31 acres that sit within the Upper Truckee River watershed next to Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe.

Long before environmental regulations were created to avoid such travesties, the motel was built in the middle of Tahoe’s largest marsh ecosystem, grossly impacting the native habitat and clarity of the Lake. It has long been a goal of both of our organizations and many agencies in the Basin to see this development removed from these sensitive lands and the wetlands restored to their function as a natural pollution filter for the Lake.

The property is being purchased with funding from the Conservancy, the California Wildlife Conservation Board, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and our two organizations. 

The first step will be to secure the property and prepare for removal of the motel. Over the next few years, planning work will commence on the restoration of the lands. 

As California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot noted, “This environmental acquisition may be the most important in a generation to protect Lake Tahoe. By reconnecting the most important wetland that filters water flowing into the Lake, this investment protects the Lake’s precious water quality and also provides an important corridor for local wildlife.”

In addition to restoring the watershed and the native habitat, the acquisition 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.

The land protected by this acquisition is part of the homeland of the waší∙šiw (Washoe people—the people from here). The waší∙šiw are the aboriginal stewards of the land in and around the Lake Tahoe Basin. As a sovereign nation the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, as it is known today, continues to advocate for the protection and preservation of waší∙šiw ɁítdeɁ (the Washoe people’s homelands).

As this acquisition came together, the Tahoe Fund and the League to Save Lake Tahoe worked in tandem to support the Conservancy’s offer. We are delighted that we could help the Conservancy acquire the property and set it on a course to revitalization. 

“Protecting and restoring this property is such an important priority for all our Basin partners,” said Jason Vasques, executive director for the Conservancy. “We’re grateful to the Tahoe Fund and League to Save Lake Tahoe for playing an essential role in pursuing this historic acquisition.” 

Aiding this important acquisition continues a long-running trend of support by the Tahoe Fund and League, contributing in distinct and complementary ways to a common goal. 

For decades, the League has taken part in collaborative efforts to restore and improve the Upper Truckee Marsh and river habitat using citizen science, public education, and hands-on volunteer projects. Their team has also consistently advocated to decision makers in Sacramento to ensure this acquisition remains a priority for the State. 

The restoration of the Upper Truckee River has long been a major strategic initiative of the Tahoe Fund. In 2019, they played an instrumental role in the public acquisition of the 206-acre Johnson Meadow property immediately to the south of the Motel 6 in the heart of the Upper Truckee River Watershed, another major milestone in the restoration of the river.  

Together, our two organizations will continue to work alongside the Conservancy and partners to return these sensitive lands back to a healthy functioning wetland, improve the Lake’s water quality and clarity, and balance public access with the needs of our environment. 

In partnership for the Lake,

Cory Ritchie, Tahoe Fund Board Chair
Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO

Steve Spurlock, League to Save Lake Tahoe Board Chair
Dr. Darcie Goodman Collins, League to Save Lake Tahoe CEO

Main image by California Tahoe Conservancy