Private donations helped repair broken glass to ensure popular facility reopened to the public

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (June 10, 2019) – During the average school year, Taylor Creek Visitor Center hosts over 150 students per day to connect classroom curriculum with direct experience with the local aquatic life. One of the highlights of the experience is the Taylor Creek Stream Profile Chamber. When the glass of this underwater viewing chamber broke during routine cleaning last year, staff worried that this educational tool would be lost. Fortunately, help from the nonprofit Tahoe Fund and Tahoe Blue Vodka ensured its replacement.

“For decades, students and families have come from all over to connect with Taylor Creek,” said Jerry Keir, Executive Director of the Great Basin Institute and the Interpretative Association for the Taylor Creek Visitor Center, a USDA Forest Service facility. “The stream profile chamber has been an essential first-hand learning opportunity for the K-12 community, and we’re so thankful this grant from the Tahoe Fund and Tahoe Blue Vodka restored it.”

The glass broke last May, and, unable to secure funding for replacement, the staff at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center had been forced to close the stream profile chamber for the year. The Institute requested assistance from the Tahoe Fund for the repair, and the nonprofit stepped in to solve the problem with support from Tahoe Blue Vodka. Funding for the glass replacement came from this partnership, a joint effort that also provided a large part of the funding needed for the recently completed viewing platform, the Taylor Creek Overlook.

The Taylor Creek Steam Profile Chamber allows visitors to get an up-close underwater view of the spawning Kokanee salmon each year. “This is a beloved facility,” said Jeff Marsolais, Forest Supervisor for the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. “Without the shared stewardship by our partners, we simply could not re-open the Stream Profile Chamber last year.”

“Taylor Creek continues to be a special part of the Tahoe community and an important piece of wildlife education in the South Lake community,” Tahoe Blue Vodka Founder Matt Levitt said. “We’re excited to help get the chamber back up and operational so that visitors can continue to learn about what’s happening not only above the water, but below it, too.”

With help from these partners, the glass has been installed and once again the doors are open. This year the Chamber celebrates its 50th anniversary with a variety of guided hikes, special events, and educational programs. Under a USFS cooperative agreement, the Great Basin Institute operates the Visitor Center to advance its mission of environmental research, education, and service.

The Visitor Center is open from Memorial Day weekend through October. To learn more about activities, visit the LTBMU website, www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/ltbmu or call the Center at (530) 543-2674.

TahoePublicBeaches.org guides visitors and locals to over 40 public beaches in the Tahoe Basin

TAHOE CITY, Calif. (June 4, 2019) – In partnership with eight agencies that manage Lake Tahoe’s public beaches, the nonprofit Tahoe Fund has launched a new website designed to serve as a guide to visitors and locals interested in exploring over 40 beaches that surround the iconic shores of Lake Tahoe. From frequented hotspots to little known hidden gems, the website offers information about how to get to each beach, where to park, hours of operation, what amenities and services are offered if any. The website also details other helpful information beachgoers might be interested in.

“For the most part, when people visit Tahoe, they often frequent the same 5-10 beaches. With the new Tahoe Public Beaches website, our intention is to help educate people about the 40+ public beaches that surround the lake so people can experience more of what Tahoe has to offer,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “Whether you’re looking for dog friendly beaches, places where you can BBQ, rent paddleboards, boats or find shade, TahoePublicBeaches.org was designed to be the singular place to learn what each beach offers and how to get there.”

In addition to information about each beach and the facilities available, TahoePublicBeaches.org offers information about the Lake Tahoe Water Trail, convenient transportation options, and how to take care of Lake Tahoe.

The Tahoe Public Beaches website was developed by the Tahoe Fund and co-funded by the California Tahoe Conservancy through the Lake Tahoe License Plate Program. Eight public agencies collaborated to develop the site, seamlessly integrating public beach information across their organizations to get information to their users. The partners include: California Tahoe Conservancy, California State Parks, City of South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City Public Utility District, North Tahoe Public Utility District, Nevada Division of State Parks, the U.S. Forest Service, and Tahoe Transportation District.

“Everyone who enjoys the lake should have a Tahoe plate,” said Patrick Wright, the Conservancy’s Executive Director. “They look cool on your car, show your love for Lake Tahoe, and fund important recreation projects like this new website, which makes it easier for you to find a public beach at Lake Tahoe.”

Visitors and Lake Tahoe area residents are encouraged to bookmark the mobile-friendly website and use it to plan their next trip to one of Tahoe’s public beaches. Learn more at TahoePublicBeaches.org. Learn more about Lake Tahoe license plates at tahoeplates.org.

Skiers and snowboarders are invited to celebrate spring on the slopes at Squaw Valley with $5 lift tickets on Fridays in June.

All proceeds from advanced online lift ticket sales on Friday June 7, 14, 21 and 28 will support the Tahoe Fund’s goal of raising $35,000 to assist the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition in providing “Bike Racks for Basin Businesses.” Through this program, the Tahoe Fund and Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition will provide low or no cost bike racks to businesses in the Lake Tahoe Basin to encourage locals and visitors to ride instead of drive.

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows has committed to matching ticket sales with an additional donation of up to $10,000.

Lift tickets must be purchased online or through the Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows app more than 48 hours in advance. Lift tickets purchased on-site on Fridays or online within 48 hours will be priced at $39 (all ages, four and under are free) and will not include a donation to the Tahoe Fund. The $5 lift ticket is not valid for use on the Tram.

To purchase your ticket, please click here.

Crowley brings extensive experience developing partnerships and building consensus

TAHOE CITY, Calif. (May 7, 2019) – The nonprofit Tahoe Fund today announced that Stacey Crowley, vice president of external and customer affairs for the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) has joined its Board of Directors. As a board member, Crowley will provide support, leadership and inspiration to the organization whose purpose is to improve the Tahoe environment by ensuring the completion of more environmental improvement projects with the support of the private community.

“We’re thrilled to have Stacey join the Tahoe Fund Board of Directors,” said Katy Simon Holland, Tahoe Fund board chair. “Her experience and strength in developing partnerships and consensus in California, Nevada and throughout the West will be a tremendous asset to our organization as we continue to work toward restoring and enhancing Lake Tahoe for current and future generations.”

In her current professional role, Crowley oversees all aspects of customer support, communications, government relations and external policy activities. She also works closely with the CAISO’s Board of Governors and its committees on a variety of western energy issues. Prior to joining CAISO, Crowley was the Director of the Nevada State Office of Energy and advisor to Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval. She has managed Nevada’s federal grant programs and economic incentive regulations for clean energy projects and served as Chair of the Western Interstate Energy Board and on the board of the National Association of State Energy Officials.

“As someone who is passionate about the outdoors and specifically the Lake Tahoe region, I’m excited to join the Tahoe Fund Board of Directors,” said Crowley. “I look forward to bringing my professional experience and passion for the environment to the organization, and to contribute to projects the Tahoe Fund supports that will help restore and improve the Tahoe Basin.”