Skyler Monaghan, Author at Tahoe Fund

Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition and Tahoe Fund Team up to Extend ‘Bike Racks for Tahoe’ Program

July 7, 2020 by Skyler Monaghan

Town Center Destinations in the Lake Tahoe Basin invited to apply until July 31 for low or no-cost bike racks; first two phases of program successfully encouraging more people to ride instead of drive

TAHOE CITY, Calif. (July 7, 2020) – Following two successful phases of the “Bike Racks for Tahoe” program that was introduced to public agencies and businesses in 2018 and 2019, the nonprofit Tahoe Fund will continue its partnership with the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition to offer low or no-cost bike racks to interested centrally-located Town Center locations in the Tahoe Basin. The program is designed to encourage locals and visitors to ride their bikes around lakeside communities instead of drive.

“Increasing secure bicycle parking reduces the rate of bicycle theft, improves the recreational and travel experience, and ultimately makes our community more vibrant,” said Chris Mertens, Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition board secretary. “In the last two years, together with the Tahoe Fund we helped install 340 bike racks with room for over 700 bikes at popular destinations throughout the Basin. Because the bike racks have been so well used, with the Tahoe Fund’s support, we’re excited to be able to expand the program to any organization located in centrally-located Town Centers.”

Grant funding provided by the Tahoe Fund will also be used to support the Bike Coalition’s mobile bike racks, known as “bike valets,” at events around the Basin. Bike valets offer free, safe bike parking to event-goers to encourage them to ride—instead of drive—to concerts, festivals and more.

“Encouraging bicycle transportation has the potential to reduce vehicle emissions and fine-sediment that can affect Lake Tahoe’s famed water clarity,” said Allen Biaggi, Tahoe Fund board chair. “The Tahoe Fund is committed to helping increase the availability of bicycle parking because it both aligns with our mission and has proven to have a positive impact.”

Public facilities, businesses, schools, or other organizations located within 0.5 miles of designated Town Centers interested in bike racks are invited to check their eligibility and apply by July 31, 2020 online at www.tahoebike.org/racks. Two bike rack options are available, each with a bolt-down or free-standing version. Interested organizations will be selected by the Bike Coalition based on criteria that includes their ability to provide matching funds, experienced or projected bike rack use, and community benefit based on surrounding businesses or services.

The Bike Coalition will be responsible for all ordering, shipping and professional installation of the bike racks on behalf of the selected businesses, with installations expected mid-September 2020.

Learn more at www.tahoebike.org or by emailing racks@tahoebike.org.

Lake Tahoe Fun Fact: Where Trout Spawn

June 25, 2020 by Skyler Monaghan

This week we’re getting a look inside the Marlette Lake Fish Hatchery, thanks to our friends at the Nevada Department of Wildlife. In this short video, fish biologist Chris Crookshanks will teach us about the hatchery, spawning station and how they catch the fish. You’ll even learn why the Lahontan Cutthroat trout gets its name.

Click on the video below to watch.

The Perfect Father’s Day Gift

June 18, 2020 by Skyler Monaghan

Father’s Day is upon us. So what’s a better present to give Dad than the gift of an inscribed bear, trout, or his name on the donor wall of the East Shore Trail? It’s not too late to order yours. A new donor wall and bear plaques are being put in at Hidden Beach, along with more trout along the scenic bridge. Click here or on the picture below to find out more!

Lake Tahoe Fun Fact: Glacial Lakes

June 10, 2020 by Skyler Monaghan

Ever noticed lakes throughout the Tahoe area are similar looking? Thousands of years ago, the world went through glacial periods in which ice plowed down from the mountain tops above and created many of the lakes we love today.

Here is some more information on the formation of three bodies of water formed by glaciers.

Fallen Leaf Lake

Fallen Leaf Lake is the product of not one, but two glaciers colliding and traveling north down the Glen Alpine Valley and finally coming to a stop before reaching Lake Tahoe. On the northeastern side of the lake a terminal moraine can be seen. Moraines are large deposits of rocks and debris carried down by the glacier. In this case, the moraine signifies the end of the glacier, acting as a natural dam.^[1][5]

Emerald Bay

Emerald Bay was formed during the last glacial episode which started about 110,000 years ago and ended about 15,000 years ago.^[2] The four-mile-long glacier that contributed to the Emerald Bay formation started on the north slopes of Dicks peak and pushed its way down Eagle Creek moving towards the lake until the two met.^[2]When the glacier entered the lake it began to melt, leaving the debris along the lake’s shore creating lateral moraines on the north and south sides and leaving a recessional moraine at the mouth of the bay.

Donner Lake

Thousands of years ago, a large glacier flowed down the Eastern Slope of Donner Pass carving a path along a rock fault.^[3] As the glacier eventually retreated, it left two lateral moraines on the sides and a terminal moraine of large rocks, gravel and loose soil that blocked the creek resulting in the formation of Donner Lake.^[4] For this reason, Donner lake is classified as a moraine-dammed lake. These long, finger-shaped lakes are also referred to as ribbon lakes, which you can see clearly from the pictures of Donner and Fallen Leaf Lake.

Sources:

[1]: “National Snow and Ice Data Center.” All About Glaciers | National Snow and Ice Data Center, 16 Mar. 2020, nsidc.org/cryosphere/glaciers/.

[2]: Fuller, M, et al. “Emerald Bay State Park: National Natural Landmark 1969.” California Parks, California Geological Survey, Department of Conservation, 2015, www.parks.ca.gov/pages/734/files/GeoGem%20Note%2034%20Emerald%20Bay%20State%20Park.pdf.

[3]: “Docent Manual Chapter 5 – AdditionalResources .” Tahoe UC Davis, UC Davis, 2016, tahoe.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk4286/files/inline-files/Docent%20Manual%20Chapter%205%20-%20AdditionalResources.pdf.

[4]: “History & Natural History – Donner Memorial State Park.” Sierra State Parks Foundation, sierrastateparks.org/donner-memorial-state-park/history-natural-history/.

[5]: Fallen Leaf Lake

Award-winning documentary “Wilder than Wild: Fire, Forests, and the Future” to screen virtually through Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema

June 9, 2020 by Skyler Monaghan

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. (June 9, 2020) – The Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities (Tahoe Network), with generous support from the Tahoe Fund, is hosting a free virtual screening of the award-winning documentary Wilder than Wild: Fire, Forests, and the Future through the Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema from June 5^th– June 11^th, 2020.

Wilder than Wild is a one-hour documentary that reveals how fire suppression and climate change have exposed Western landscapes to large, high-intensity wildfires. The film goes on to explore strategies that are being developed to help mitigate the impact of these fires.

The screening at Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema is part of a larger effort to engage communities in conversations about the future of wildfire. An online Q&A panel featuring both a local fire district representative and forest management expert will follow the screening on June 11^th at 5pm.

The Tahoe Network recognizes the importance of building community awareness about mitigation strategies in this new age of wildfire and strives to prepare people and property for wildfire by coordinating efforts on a neighborhood scale.

“Unfortunately, living in a forest like we do in Tahoe means living with the threat of catastrophic wildfire,” said Tahoe Fund CEO Amy Berry. “We are so excited to make this terrific film available for everyone to watch for free to learn more about the history of wildfire. It is definitely worth an hour of your time.”

Screening Date: June 5^th– June 11^th 2020

Screening Location: Online through Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema

Watch the film here.

This event is open to the public and is free thanks to sponsorship from the Tahoe Fund.