Nonprofit raised $19,000 in support of campaign to plant 10,000 seedlings in the Tahoe Basin, teach more volunteers about forest health

TAHOE CITY, Calif. (April 2, 2019) – The nonprofit Tahoe Fund announced today it has surpassed its goal to raise $15,000 in support of the Sugar Pine Foundation’s campaign to plant 10,000 seedlings in the Tahoe Basin and teach more volunteers about the sugar pine species and forest health. Thanks to its generous donors, the Tahoe Fund will contribute $19,000, or 4,000 seedlings, to the cause, joining the Bently Foundation, Patagonia, Rose Foundation and the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation in supporting this program.

“Healthy trees are critical to healthy forests, and historically, sugar pines have made up 25 percent of the forest around Tahoe based on logging receipts from the 1800s. Today they make up less than 5 percent,” said Katy Simon Holland, Tahoe Fund Chair. “The importance of this program is not just in planting the trees, but in getting the community involved in the actual tree plantings so they can learn about the benefits of heathy forests and become better stewards of Tahoe’s forests.”

Tahoe’s beloved pines have been decimated by a combination of historic logging, fire suppression which favors other species, and native and non-native growth. The Sugar Pine Foundation is dedicated to saving Lake Tahoe’s beloved sugar pines and other white pines from blister rust by educating and involving Tahoe area students and community members of all ages in forest health initiatives.

“The Sugar Pine Foundation is extremely grateful to the Tahoe Fund for raising almost $20,000 to support the planting of sugar pines,” said Sugar Pine Foundation Executive Director Maria Mircheva. “We are so happy to create life in the forest by planting tree seedlings in fire scars and other restoration projects. Furthermore, we are excited to plant seeds in people’s minds about the health, beauty and importance of our local forests by involving community volunteers and school groups in our work. These funds will not only support work on the ground, but also developing future stewards of the forest.”

The Sugar Pine Foundation’s goal is to plant 10,000 new seedlings in the next two years with the help of the local community of residents, visitors, school children and service organizations. Volunteer plantings will be scheduled at the Emerald Fire and Angora Fire scars, as well as at Spooner Summit, Sand Harbor, Tahoe Vista, and along the new Incline Village bike path. Community members who participate in these efforts will learn the importance of conserving native species and the role we can have on enhancing forest health.

“On behalf of the Tahoe Fund and our generous donors, I’m thrilled that we were able to exceed our fundraising goal and contribute to such a worthy initiative. Healthy forests are diverse in their species composition and this effort will help put our forests in a better position,” continued Simon Holland.

About Tahoe Fund

The Tahoe Fund was founded in 2010 to work with the private community to support environmental improvement projects that restore lake clarity, enhance outdoor recreation, promote healthier forests, improve transportation and inspire greater stewardship of the region. Through the generous support of private donors, the Tahoe Fund has leveraged more than $2 million in private funds to secure more than $40 million in public funds for more than 30 environmental projects. The projects include new sections of the Lake Tahoe Bikeway, restoration of watersheds, removal of aquatic invasive species, forest health projects, public beach improvements, and stewardship programs. Learn more at www.tahoefund.org.

 About the Sugar Pine Foundation

The Sugar Pine Foundation was founded in 2004 as a grassroots effort to restore sugar pines and other white pines in the Lake Tahoe region. White pines are being decimated by a non-native invasive pathogen called white pine blister rust. The Sugar Pine Foundation identifies seed trees naturally resistant to the pathogen and plants their progeny. By involving volunteers in tree planting, SPF educates them about the importance of conserving native species and people’s role in enhancing forest health. Over the past 10 years, the Sugar Pine Foundation has planted over 100,000 tree seedlings with the help of over 7000 volunteers. Learn more at http://www.sugarpinefoundation.org

Media Contact:

Jess Weaver, JVP Communications for Tahoe Fund

(530) 448-6981 or jessica@jvpcommunications.com

Funds to Support Youth and Volunteer Trail Crews Performing the Improvements to the Most Heavily Damaged Sections of Trail

TAHOE CITY, Calif. (Jan. 14, 2019) – Thanks to the generous contributions of private donors, the nonprofit Tahoe Fund has achieved its $40,000 fundraising match goal to allow further restoration of the Tahoe Rim Trail within the Desolation Wilderness, meaning $80,000 in total will be contributed. One of the most scenic hiking, horseback riding, and backpacking sections of the Tahoe Rim Trail, the section of trail in Desolation Wilderness has been significantly degraded over time. This is due to increased use combined with extreme weather events impacting safety, recreational experience and water quality.

“We accomplished a lot in the last year, and over the next three years we plan to continue to improve the most heavily damaged portions of the trail in northern Desolation Wilderness,” said Chris Binder, director of trail operations for the Tahoe Rim Trail Association. “The funds generated by the Tahoe Fund will be of significant help and will support youth and volunteer trail crews performing the trail work.”

In 2018, a youth trail crew from American Conservation Experience (ACE) and a Tahoe Rim Trail Association (TRTA) volunteer trail crew each worked on the trail over the summer. Over 500 hours were spent building stone steps, armoring drains, brushing back encroaching vegetation, and replacing a failed bridge with step stones.

Over the next three years, the plan is to have two TRTA volunteer trail crews and one ACE crew work on the trail each summer. Plans also include replacing all of the signposts along the co-located Pacific Crest Trail and Tahoe Rim Trail in Desolation Wilderness, approximately 20 posts. The fundraising efforts of the Tahoe Fund and the private donors who contributed to the match will be specifically put to use for food, tools, crew gear and equipment, vehicle fuel and maintenance, and staff time to recruit, manage and lead the trail crews.

“We are grateful to the private donors who have helped make this project possible. The Tahoe Rim Trail and Desolation Wilderness are incredibly special, well-loved destinations for many outdoor enthusiasts,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. “Every dollar that was contributed has been matched, for a total of $80,000 to prevent erosion and improve usability for all to enjoy through all seasons.”

The Tahoe Rim Trail Association will begin recruitment for Desolation volunteer trail crew members on February 15, 2019 via its website. Youth crew members will be recruited through ACE, with most of their recruiting done online at usaconservation.org. Space is limited due to United States Forest Service group size requirements.

The Tahoe Fund was created to be a major source of private funding for environmental projects around the Lake Tahoe Basin with an emphasis on lake clarity, outdoor recreation, stewardship, forest health and transportation. Learn more at www.tahoefund.org.

About Tahoe Fund

The Tahoe Fund was founded in 2010 to work with the private community to support environmental improvement projects that restore lake clarity, enhance outdoor recreation, promote healthier forests, improve transportation and inspire greater stewardship of the region. Through the generous support of private donors, the Tahoe Fund has leveraged more than $2 million in private funds to secure more than $40 million in public funds for more than 25 environmental projects. The projects include new sections of the Lake Tahoe Bikeway, restoration of watersheds, removal of aquatic invasive species, forest health projects, public beach improvements, and stewardship programs. Learn more at www.tahoefund.org.

Media Contact:

Jess Weaver, JVP Communications for Tahoe Fund

(530) 448-6981 or jessica@jvpcommunications.com

The Tahoe Fund is committed to improving Lake Tahoe for future generations.

In 2018 we made a lot of progress toward our goal.

BECAUSE OF YOU!

We would also like to thank and acknowledge the great work of our many many partners who work so hard to make these great projects happen.

2018 Highlights Include:
• The acquisition of Johnson Meadow
• 15,000 new trees were planted at the site of the Emerald Fire
• Construction is now 85% complete on the East Shore Tahoe Trail (formerly named Incline to Sand Harbor Bike Path)
• Sugar pine cones collected last year are now growing healthy and strong
• A beautiful section of trail in Desolation Wilderness is being improved
• Hundreds of bike racks were installed around Lake Tahoe
• The Incline Flume Trail was restored and reopened
• The Dollar Creek Shared Use Path opened, adding 2.2 more miles of trail around the Lake
• Benches on the newly re-routed Lighthouse Trail were installed at a beautiful vista point
• The Take Care website launched
• More Bottom Barriers were installed to help improve Lake clarity
• $29M in public funding was secured through CA Prop 68