Homewood Marina partners with the Tahoe Fund and Superior Boat Repair & Sales to expand zero emission watersports on Lake Tahoe with eFoil charging

HOMEWOOD, Calif. (Aug. 2, 2021) – Environmental stewardship is at the heart of Homewood Resort Marina’s operations, with the Marina and its management company JMA Ventures, LLC continuing their commitment to leading the transition to zero emission watersports at Lake Tahoe. In partnership with the Tahoe Fund and Superior Boat Repair & Sales, the Homewood Marina announced today that it has installed the first eFoil charging network at Lake Tahoe. The charging stations are now available for public use.

“Expanding our footprint in electric watersports is a priority of our company because it aligns with our commitment to finding innovative ways to help protect Lake Tahoe for current and future generations,” said Kevin Mitchell, Homewood Resort general manager. “The popularity of eFoiling on Lake Tahoe continues to grow, and we’re thrilled to offer the ability to quickly recharge them at the Marina. In fact, eFoil users can make an experience of it and enjoy a great lunch at West Shore Cafe while they wait for their foil to charge.”

Free to use for eFoil owners, the chargers will be able to fully recharge an eFoil in one to three hours. The chargers build on the Homewood Marina’s electric watersports charging infrastructure, with the Marina recently becoming the first on Lake Tahoe to install Electric Boat (EB) charging stations.

“We’re thrilled to support Homewood Marina’s efforts to continue to expand its electric watersports charging capabilities,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “Innovative, forward-thinking initiatives like this aid in the effort to preserve Lake Tahoe’s famed water clarity while continuing to give people fun ways to experience the lake.”

Superior Boat Repair & Sales, located at the Homewood Marina has Lift eFoil boards available for sale. The original electric hydrofoil surfboard and the world’s smallest personal watercraft, Lift eFoil boards make it possible to fly over water with no wind or waves.

“We are excited to add to our electric watersports charging program,” said David Topol, Homewood Marina director. “This program began with on-water electric boat charging for the Nautique GS22E and we are happy to add to it with the Lift eFoil charging stations. The growth and interest of the technology over the last few years has been significant and we look forward to seeing offerings expand in Lake Tahoe.”

Bently Nevada, a Baker Hughes business, supports the nonprofit’s environmental initiatives with a $10,000 contribution and employee volunteers

INCLINE VILLAGE and MINDEN, Nev. (July 21, 2021) – The Tahoe Fund announced today that Bently Nevada, a Baker Hughes business and Nevada-based company with a range of wind and hydro technologies, has become its newest corporate community partner. Bently Nevada has made a $10,000 contribution to the nonprofit in support of Tahoe Fund’s environmental projects and will share Tahoe Fund-sponsored volunteer opportunities with employees interested in contributing their own time to environmental stewardship projects.

“We are honored to have Bently Nevada join us as a corporate partner knowing its commitment to sustainability and a goal of achieving net-zero emissions across its operations,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “Tahoe Fund’s work is amplified when global companies take an interest in their local communities and immediate environment. With a record high in tourism over the past year, we continue to be committed to finding ways to preserve Lake Tahoe for generations to come. Partnerships like what we’ve established with Bently Nevada allow us to do that.” 

Launched in 2010, the Tahoe Fund has been a leader and convener in the completion of key environmental projects, such as the acquisition of Johnson Meadow and the Tahoe East Shore Trail, which aims to reduce automobile traffic on Tahoe’s East Shore and offer expanded access to recreational experiences. The Tahoe Fund is focused on projects that will restore the forest, improve Tahoe’s famed lake clarity, support more sustainable outdoor recreation, solve transportation issues, and create more stewards of the Tahoe environment.

“The Tahoe Fund has made a tremendous impact throughout the Tahoe Basin over the past decade, and we are confident that together we will accomplish even more,” said Ed J. Boufarah, vice president of Bently Nevada at Baker Hughes. “We are proud to support its work and to give our employees opportunities to volunteer to help with projects that are making a difference and enhancing the sustainability of the Lake Tahoe region for everyone to enjoy.”   

Baker Hughes and its businesses, like Bently Nevada, are committed to achieving net zero emissions from their operation by 2050 and to supporting sustainable communities where its employees live and work through direct corporate contributions and Baker Hughes Foundation grants for environmental, educational, and health and safety programs globally. During 2020, the company and its foundation reported financial and in-kind contributions of $119 million, and Baker Hughes employees volunteered 7,100 hours, despite pandemic restrictions on gatherings.  

New facility made possible by Tahoe Fund donors offers public access to select Tahoe area rehabilitated wildlife for the first time

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (July 16, 2021) – Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (LTWC) celebrated the opening of their Outdoor Learning Center today, the first public component of their new $6 million campus. Thanks to a $30,000 contribution from Tahoe Fund donors including the Mathman Family and a $15,000 match from Tahoe Blue Vodka, the public will now have the opportunity to see and learn about some of the animals in LTWC’s care. A porcupine, an eagle, Kestrels and owls are a few of the animals the center will use for educational purposes. 

“Thanks to this support from the Tahoe Fund, we now have an outdoor amphitheater that allows us to share some of what we do with the public,” said Bruce Richards, LTWC capital projects director. “The Outdoor Learning Center provides a new opportunity to educate visitors about our efforts and how they can help.” 

“People are more inclined to protect what they understand, so we are happy that visitors will have the unique opportunity to learn about and connect with local wildlife,” said Cory Ritchie, Tahoe Fund vice chair. “The work the team at LTWC does to rescue, rehabilitate and release animals back into the wild is well aligned with the Tahoe Fund’s mission.”

Since 1978, Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care (LTWC) has rescued, rehabilitated and released over 17,000 orphaned and injured wild birds and animals back into the wild. After outgrowing their original property in the founder’s backyard, through donations and fundraising efforts LTWC purchased its current 27-acre property in South Lake Tahoe in 2015. Seven buildings have been built since, quadrupling the space to care for wild animals.

“Since day one, Tahoe Blue Vodka has committed to giving back to local organizations that are making a difference for Lake Tahoe,” said Matt Levitt, Tahoe Blue Vodka founder and CEO. “Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care has been such a tremendous asset to injured Tahoe wildlife that setting up a matching donation to help create the Outdoor Learning Center just made sense. We’re so excited to see the facility come to fruition and know it will be a great resource in the effort to help educate visitors and residents about the important work LTWC does.”

LTWC will offer seasonal “Wildlife Wednesdays,” educational talks at the Outdoor Learning Center beginning July 21. The free, hour-long presentations will be offered through September by advance reservation only and will feature a rotating schedule of topics and expert presentations. All will include information about what to do if you encounter a bear, and what to do if you come across an orphaned or injured wild animal. Space at each event will be limited and schedules and sign-ups will be available on the LTWC website. 

New multi-use trail provides access to Fallen Leaf Lake and Desolation Wilderness for non-motorized users

Tahoe’s newest trail, sure to become one of the region’s most iconic, is now open thanks to nearly 4,000 volunteer trail building hours and generous contributions from Tahoe Fund donors including the Mathman family and a triple match from Vail Resorts’ EpicPromise guest donation program at Northstar, Heavenly and Kirkwood. The new 2.1-mile multi-use Lily Lake Trail has been completed by the US Forest Service (USFS) and the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA) and offers new access to Fallen Leaf Lake and Desolation Wilderness for non-motorized users including hikers and experienced  mountain bikers. The trail partners gathered for an official opening on June 30th. 

“The opening of the Lily Lake Trail has been a long time coming, and we are so grateful to all of our partners — including the Tahoe Fund, USFS and TRPA staff — as well as the crew leaders and volunteers who helped make it happen. It truly wouldn’t have been possible otherwise,” said Patrick Parsel, TAMBA Trails Director. “As we work toward our goal of building trail connections around the lake, the partnerships involved in this project demonstrate what can be accomplished when we work together.”

Designed to connect to the newly built trail system on Angora Ridge, the Lily Lake Trail offers stunning, unmatched views of Desolation Wilderness, Fallen Leaf Lake and Lake Tahoe. The trail was created to reduce traffic on narrow roads and offer new access to hikers and mountain bikers who want a car-free way to enjoy Fallen Leaf Lake, Glen Alpine Springs and Desolation Wilderness. The Lily Lake trail has an elevation change of 800 feet and features mosaic-like rock work, including aspects unique to the Tahoe trail repertoire — slickrock, boulder traverses, and an expansive view of Fallen Leaf Lake on the edge of a 75-foot cliff.

Construction started in 2018, however due to the challenges of building through dense vegetation and unforgiving talus, professional engineering and building crews were required to complete the work. The USFS cut the top quarter mile of trail through a scree field, and TAMBA crews and volunteers, led by crew leader Scott Brown, were responsible for the intricate, technical rock work that was required. Crews removed approximately nine tons of rock from the trail, and moved roughly three tons of rock to make tread. The trail features some of the only slick rock riding in Tahoe to create a technical, physical ride with some of the best views around the lake.

“On behalf of the Tahoe Fund, we are thrilled to have been part of this project by bringing together partners who bridged the $75,000 funding gap required to build this gorgeous trail,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “The Lily Lake Trail is part of the larger vision the USFS and TAMBA have long held to create non-motorized regional connectivity, and it’s exciting that it’s now open for people to enjoy.”

“At Vail Resorts, we’re proud to partner with organizations like Tahoe Fund through the Vail Resorts EpicPromise community investment program,” said Deirdra Walsh, vice president and general manager of Northstar California Resort. “Their focus on sustainable recreation allows the region’s unparalleled trail systems to expand, and we can enjoy new adventures on the Lily Lake Trail for the days to come.”