What runs deeper than Lake Tahoe? Our desire to preserve it.
Tahoe receives an average of just 0.23 inches of precipitation in August. The only month with a lower average precipitation is July with the average of 0.18 inches. With all these storms lately, you may be surprised to find out that this month’s precipitation to date is only 45% of the average.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. (Aug. 11, 2020) – A $45,000 grant from the Tahoe Fund has allowed the nonprofit Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA) to begin a trail improvement project that will reconstruct sections of the Upper Tyrolian Trail in Incline Village. The project is designed to enhance the user experience, make critical trail connections, rehabilitate and restore old logging roads to reduce erosion and improve lake clarity. It is expected to be completed by the end of October 2020
In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, TAMBA’s intention is to improve the existing trail conditions and establish a dedicated mountain-bike focused connection to the Tyrolian Downhill Trail. TAMBA has contracted with local professional freeride mountain bike athlete Cam Zink’s nonprofit trail building company, Sensus R.A.D. Trails, to convert old logging roads into nearly two miles of sustainable singletrack trail that will connect the existing Tyrolian Downhill Trail to the Mount Rose Highway at Tahoe Meadows.
A new upper section of the trail will provide an official start trailhead with improved signage, and reduce mountain bike traffic on the Tahoe Rim Trail. The current Tyrolian Downhill Trail will not be closed during construction. To avoid slowing construction down, TAMBA asks that rider stay off the new trail until it has been completed.
“TAMBA has established themselves as an organization committed to building sustainable trails in the Tahoe Basin,” said Allen Biaggi, Tahoe Fund board chair. “This project supports our effort to create expanded opportunities for sustainable recreation, while balancing the environmental initiatives of our region”.
“The support provided by the Tahoe Fund is what has allowed this trail project with tremendous environmental benefits to move forward,” said Ben Fish, TAMBA president and board chair. “This project is a long time coming, and the Tahoe Fund’s mission is well-aligned with ours. Their contribution made it possible to bring a professional trail contractor to build the flow style upper trail, and decommission and restore the logging roads.”
The first part of the Upper Tyrolian Trail will be built as a flowy singletrack trail that incorporates natural features to enhance the rider experience. After 0.75 miles, the trail will transition to one with professionally designed and built rollover, tabletops, step-ups, step-downs, and triple-options jumps that provide a unique and challenging experience for riders to practice and increase their skills.
The second connection to be made is a 0.4-mile long realignment of the existing trail known as the Tyrolian Connector Trail that connects the Tahoe Rim Trail to the Upper Tyrolian Trail. A low-angle singletrack traverse will be created to join the proposed alignment of the new Upper Tyrolian Trail. The realignment will have beautiful panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and will avoid old, eroded, fall-line dirt roads.
The trail project is still in need of $15,000 to be completed this year. Donors interested in supporting the project can contribute at tahoefund.org or tamba.org. Learn more about the Upper Tyrolian Trail project here.
Since 2008, the Tahoe Resource Conservation District and the TRPA have run the Lake Tahoe Watercraft Inspection Program. This is no small feat, having inspected over 80,000 boats so far. Because of their hard work, no new aquatic invasive species have entered Lake Tahoe in this 12 year span. Check out the watercraft inspection web page for more information and remember to always arrive clean, drained, and dry!
| Join us for the first-ever virtual and 24th annual Lake Tahoe Summit on August 25, 2020 hosted by Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. The theme for this year’s Summit is “Resilient Tahoe” reflecting the legacy of 50 years of bi-state cooperation through the interstate compact and 24 years of bipartisan collaboration at the Summit while looking ahead to future environmental, infrastructure and economic challenges. You can register for the Summit here. |
| INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – The Tahoe East Shore Trail will be temporarily closed to public access between the Tunnel Creek Café and Sand Harbor on Tuesday, August 4 (all day), and Wednesday, August 5 through Friday, August 7 (after 8:00 p.m.) for the initial phase of a community mural art project. The Tahoe Fund, Tahoe Public Art and Nevada State Parks collaborated to commission the mural to augment the natural beauty of the Tahoe East Shore Trail and transform a utilitarian tunnel into a community-involved, relevant art experience. “We are excited to be adding a community art project to one of Nevada’s most iconic State Parks,” said Robert Mergell, administrator for Nevada State Parks. “Our hope is that this unique art installation will inspire and connect with locals and visitors for generations to come.” In response to the call for artists earlier this year, 34 artists submitted proposals for the chance to paint the mural. The project scope required artists to involve local youth in the creation of the project and ensure its completion could be accomplished with minimal closure of the tunnel and trail. Submissions came from as far as the UK and Canada with the majority coming from local and regional artists. Tyler Rivenbark and Frida Ticehurst-Rivenbark, a husband and wife art and design duo based in North Lake Tahoe, were selected to paint their mural concept by a panel of judges. Raley’s is providing a $5,000 stipend to the artists and Kelly Brothers Painting will donate all of the paint required for the mural. “Our intent with this art piece is to convey the natural beauty of this region,” said Tyler and Frida. “We want to remind people of the gift we all share by living in or visiting this region, amplifying the sense of belonging, and encouraging participation in keeping this place beautiful and full of enjoyment.” A physically distanced ribbon-cutting celebration is planned for when the tunnel art project is complete, which is anticipated to be sometime in mid August. Please note that access to Sand Harbor via the Tahoe East Shore Trail remains closed until further notice for COVID-19 health and safety precautions. |
