Tahoe Fund

What runs deeper than Lake Tahoe? Our desire to preserve it.

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Lake Tahoe Fun Fact: 750,000

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Lake Tahoe Fun Fact: 750,000

As a result of forest treatments to help reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfire, there are now more than 750,000 burn piles in the Tahoe Basin waiting to be burned or transported to a mill or biomass facility. With wildfire intensity growing every year, it is important to understand wildfire and how you can be prepared. The Tahoe Fund has partnered with the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team to bring you a free virtual screening of the film “Wilder Than Wild: Fire, Forests, and the Future” from June 5th through June 11th. Join us for a Q&A session with the director and members of our fire districts at 5pm on June 11th.

Click on the link to access the movie through Tahoe ArtHaus: http://ow.ly/9nC250zYbq3

Lake Tahoe Fun Facts: 82 Degrees

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It’s warming up! Today’s forecasted high air temperature is 82 degrees. This is only 2 degrees below the previous record of 84 degrees set on May 28, 2003. This data comes from the South Lake Tahoe airport, which has been recording data as an official climate station dating back to May 1,1968. It snowed over a foot this same week last year.

Tahoe East Shore Trail Extension

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Frequently Asked Questions

Last year we celebrated the opening of the new Tahoe East Shore Trail, a path that received over 1,000 visitors a day in the following months. With unrivaled views, an 810-foot long bridge, and beautiful vista points, it quickly became a highlight for many visitors and residents. The trail has been successful in providing safe access to the east shore with an accessible trail that provides exercise and enjoyment of the Lake to a diverse group of users.

Plans are now underway for the next phase of the Tahoe East Shore Trail, extending from Sand Harbor to Spooner Summit. Project partners at the Tahoe Transportation District, Nevada Department of Transportation, and the US Forest Service, are finalizing the environmental approvals and preliminary construction schedule for the next segment.

This next phase will expand the Highway 28 safety improvements, shared-use path, parking, transit stops, emergency pullouts, visitor amenities, and other environmental improvements.

We know there are a lot of questions about this next section. Here are some answers to the ones we hear the most frequently:

When Will Construction Start on the New Section of the East Shore Trail?

  • The current impact of Covid-19 may delay grant requests. Right now the agencies are hoping to begin construction on the path in the spring of 2022. Construction will likely take place over 5 construction seasons, ending in 2026.

Is IVGID’s Effluent Pipeline Replacement Part of the Project?

  • Yes, if the IVGID Board of Trustees approves and if timing aligns, the environmental analysis would allow the co-location of IVGID’s pipeline replacement. IVGID’s current pipeline runs under Highway 28 and in some area is more than 50 years old. It often requires emergency maintenance that is expensive and requires closure of Highway 28. Doing the projects together should save on construction timing and costs.
  • The new pipeline will run in conjunction with the path for the majority of the alignment, transporting treated wastewater from the District’s water resource recovery facility to the disposal point at the wetlands in the East Carson Valley.  The project partners have developed project timelines that match IVGID’s priorities for replacement of the pipeline.

What About Parking?

  • In addition to the 91 parking spots now at the North end of the trail, the Tahoe Transportation District has applied for a grant to complete approximately 90 additional parking spaces along Highway 28 in Incline Village. Tahoe Transportation District should be informed about the grant in Summer 2020. If the grant is approved, construction would be scheduled to begin Summer 2021.
  • There are plans for a new parking lot across from the Spooner Lake State Park entrance that will hold approximately 250 vehicles. Construction is estimated to begin in 2023 pending funding.
  • Plans also include a new parking lot at Skunk Harbor with an estimated 40 new parking spaces.  Construction is estimated to begin in 2023 pending funding.
  • The current parking at Secret Harbor and Chimney Beach will be expanded with approximately 105 and 140 new spaces respectively. Construction is estimated to take place in 2024-2026 pending funding.
  • In total, there will be approximately 535 new parking spaces in the corridor from Sand Harbor to Spooner Summit. During peak periods, there are currently more cars parking on the shoulder than the amount of spaces that can be provided due to the physical constraints within the corridor. The plan is to provide transit stops at each of these locations to fill the gap during peak periods. This is to meet existing visitor recreation access and not to encourage greater access to the beaches and coves.

How Long Will the New Section of Trail Be?

  • The new section of the East Shore Trail will run from Sand Harbor to Spooner Summit and will be 8 miles long. Adding to the existing 3 miles of trail that currently runs from Incline to Sand Harbor, the trail will be a total of 11 miles when complete.
  • The new section of the trail from Sand Harbor to Spooner Summit will be on the lake side of the highway and will follow the route of the highway and not the edge of the shoreline.

What About the Boat Inspection Station at Spooner Summit?

  • The project will provide a permanent Aquatic Invasive Species boat inspection station location near Hwy 50.

Will There be Donor Recognition Opportunities?

  • In short, you bet!
  • The new section of the path will feature more trout, more bears, and more vista points, giving donors the opportunity to once again leave their legacy on the trail in a unique and inspirational way.
  • Tahoe Fund will announce new vista point opportunities in 2021. If you are interested in reserving a vista, please email Karolina at khedman@tahoefund.org.

What About the Next Sections of the Trail?

  • The goal is to one day circumnavigate Lake Tahoe with the Tahoe Trail. As of today, 35 miles are complete.
  • On the Nevada side, the Tahoe Transportation District is working at both the north and south ends of the Nevada section. On the south end, the Tahoe Transportation District is working on a ½ mile connection from the casino resort core to the existing Rabe Meadow trail,  as well as a 3 mile extension of the trail from the U.S. Forest Service’s Round Hill Pines Historic Resort north to the Zephyr Cove Resort & Beach.
  • In addition, on the north end the Tahoe Transportation District is currently seeking grant funding to complete the 3 mile segment from Crystal Bay to Incline Village. The Environmental Analysis and 30% preliminary engineering for this segment of trail is planned to begin in 2021. As with all aspects of the trail plans, the impacts of Covid-19 may delay Tahoe Transportation District’s ability to access grant funds.   
  • The Tahoe Trail continues to be a lakewide effort involving many interests and jurisdictions around the Tahoe Basin.

How Can I Find out More?

Recently the US Forest Service released the Environmental Assessment on the proposed section of trail from Sand Harbor to Spooner Lake. You can also visit Tahoe Transportation District website at www.tahoetransportation.org

Lake Tahoe Fun Fact: Tahoe Boat Ramps

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After a delay due to COVID-19, select Tahoe boat ramps and marinas are starting to open exclusively to boats with an intact Lake Tahoe inspection seal. No uninspected vessels from outside the Tahoe Region will be able to get on the water until travel restrictions and shelter-in-place orders to help slow the spread of the coronavirus are further relaxed. Watercraft inspection stations for the detection and prevention of aquatic invasive species will remain closed to boaters until further notice. For a full list of boat ramp and marina opening dates and to learn more about preparing your boat visit Ready to Launch.

TAHOE EAST SHORE TRAIL TRANSFORMED INTO AN INTERPRETIVE TRAIL

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NV Energy Foundation partners with the Tahoe Fund on 23 new educational signs designed to enhance the visitor experience and encourage stewardship

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. (May 12, 2020) – The Tahoe East Shore Trail that runs between Incline Village and Sand Harbor State Park has become an interpretive trail following the installation of 23 new educational signs offering users information on regional history, the environment, and local wildlife. The signs, which are located at various vista points along the popular paved trail, were funded by the NV Energy Foundation.

“The Tahoe East Shore Trail has been a collaborative effort since its inception. We’re thrilled that NV Energy recognized the value in adding these interpretive signs to enhance the visitor experience and we 

are so grateful for their contribution,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. “The team at Fallon Multimedia did a tremendous job creating them, and we hope they will inspire trail users to become stewards of Lake Tahoe.”

“Lake Tahoe is the crown jewel of our state and our community, and the NV Energy Foundation is proud to help bring the unique history and features of this stunning trail to light for all who visit it,” said Tony Sanchez, Executive Vice President of Business Development and External Relations for NV Energy. “The work of the Tahoe Fund to improve and preserve this beautiful area aligns with our own commitment to environmental sustainability.”

Trail users can expect to find visually stunning signage that in both words and pictures tell the stories of Incline Village and Sand Harbor, Tahoe’s Earth history and ecology, and how to keep the region’s black bears wild. Explanation of Tahoe’s famed water clarity and how to preserve it, how the significant waves on Lake Tahoe are formed, the implications of invasive species and other topics are also highlighted.

What was once deemed “impossible,” the Tahoe East Shore Trail came to fruition thanks to the hard work and extensive collaboration of 13 public and private agencies. Last summer, the Tahoe East Shore Trail made its debut, offering pedestrians and cyclists a safe, scenic route to travel between Incline Village and Sand Harbor.

The 3-mile stretch of trail, starting along the mountainside before tunneling under the highway to follow the rugged, rocky shoreline is arguably considered one of the world’s most beautiful trails. Those who use the trail should check State of Nevada guidelines in advance for possible trail closures and other guidelines, including physical distancing requirements that encourage users to maintain at least 6-feet between themselves and others.  

Learn more about the Tahoe East Shore Trail and how you can still leave your legacy on the trail with a trout, bear or your name on the new donor wall at tahoefund.org.


PO Box 7124  |   Tahoe City, CA 96145  |   775.298.0035