Blog - Tahoe Fund

Tahoe Fund Partners with Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition to Boost Basin Bike Racks

August 24, 2018 by Rachel Horton

Tahoe Fund Partners with Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition to Boost Basin Bike Racks

More than 200 New Racks Will Create Safe Parking for 400 Bikes at Tahoe Recreation Sites

South Lake Tahoe, CA and Incline Village, NV—August 21, 2018—Thanks to a grant from the Tahoe Fund, the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition is distributing 215 free bicycle racks throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin through September, creating secure parking for 430 bicycles at key public destinations.

The Tahoe Fund contributed $35,000 in grant funding for the bike rack effort along with $10,000 from the Nevada Commission on Tourism. Supported by additional in-kind support from the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, the nonprofit Bike Coalition is distributing the high-quality bike racks to Tahoe’s local jurisdictions and government agencies. Each of the two types of racks being distributed can park two bicycles. The racks are being installed at bike paths, parks, trailheads, beaches and other community gathering places and recreation hotspots.

“We’re excited to partner with the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition to get more folks out of their cars and enjoying Tahoe on bikes,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. “Improving transportation is a critical need in the Basin, so racks that allow people to safely store and lock up their bikes is a win-win.”

“We’re excited that people seeking secure bike parking at destinations around Lake Tahoe will have an easier time after this week,” said Gavin Feiger, the president of the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition. “This is all part of our mission to make Tahoe more bicycle friendly.”

Jurisdictions and agencies receiving racks include Douglas County, El Dorado County, Placer County, Washoe County, Incline Village General Improvement District, North Tahoe Public Utility District, Tahoe City Public Utility District, California State Parks, the California Tahoe Conservancy, Nevada State Parks, and the U.S. Forest Service – Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.

Volunteers with the Bike Coalition assisted Sacramento-based Ground Control Systems with delivery of the racks on August 16 and 17. Along with the racks, the Bike Coalition is also distributing four public “fix-it” stations, where people riding bikes can use tools and a pump to address minor bicycle repair issues for free.

“One of the most common concerns we hear from people, visitors and residents alike, is that they wish there were more secure places to park bikes at Tahoe,” said Feiger. “We’re grateful to our funders with the Tahoe Fund and Nevada Commission on Tourism for helping us address this critical need.”

The Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization with a mission to make Tahoe more bicycle friendly. LTBC promotes opportunities for more people to ride bikes in Tahoe, produces the most comprehensive printed and online bicycle maps for the Tahoe region, co-hosts the annual Lake Tahoe Bicycle Challenge each June, and advocates for bicycle safety. Learn more at tahoebike.org.

Tahoe Fund and Tahoe Rim Trail Association Need Your Help to Secure Matching Grant

July 31, 2018 by Rachel Horton

Tahoe Fund and Tahoe Rim Trail Association Need Your Help to Secure Matching Grant

Desolation Wilderness efforts will rehabilitate trail in the backcountry

South Lake Tahoe, Calif.—July 31, 2018—On the western shore of Lake Tahoe, Desolation Wilderness is one of the most scenic hiking and backpacking destinations on the Tahoe Rim Trail. Increased use combined with extreme weather events have significantly degraded a popular section of trail, impacting safety, recreational experience and water quality.

With the support of a $40,000 matching grant from the Tahoe Fund, the Tahoe Rim Trail Association is engaging backcountry trail crew volunteers to rehabilitate this section of trail. Volunteers and youth crews are working to improve safety for trail users, reducing the flow of sediment into alpine lakes and streams and reducing overall impact on alpine vegetation.

“Our goal is to improve access for folks to be able to safely enjoy one of the most beautiful and scenic areas in the country,” said Chris Binder, Director of Trail Operations at the Tahoe Rim Trail Association. “It’s an honor to get to be out here working on these overnight trips with so many passionate volunteers.”

Joining the Tahoe Fund and the Tahoe Rim Trail Association in the restoration efforts are the Backcountry Horsemen of California, Motherlode Unit, the Pacific Crest Trail Association, El Dorado National Forest and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.

“The Tahoe Fund is honored to support the hard work being done in Desolation Wilderness, and it’s exciting to see the project come to life with the incredible opportunity of the matching grant,” said Tahoe Fund Board Chair Katy Simon Holland.

Every dollar contributed to this unique project will be matched by the Tahoe Fund up to $40,000 through the end of 2018. With the support of the community, we can help restore a wonderful section of trail for all to enjoy.

Learn more or donate directly to the campaign.

Tahoe Fund Announces 2018 Signature Projects

July 6, 2018 by Rachel Horton

Projects include Desolation Wilderness Trail Restoration, Kings Beach Trail Transformation & Sugar Pine Plantings

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. And TAHOE CITY, Calif. – July 6, 2018 – The Tahoe Fund is kicking off its 2018 fundraising season with the announcement of three new Signature Projects that will help improve outdoor recreation in the Basin while restoring Tahoe’s environment. The projects include Tahoe Rim Trail restoration in Desolation Wilderness that will improve usability and safety; transformation of the Kings Beach Trail into a multi-feature trail; and the planting of 10,000 sugar pine seedlings around Lake Tahoe.

“It’s never been more critical to help fund key environmental projects that have a real impact on the Basin,” said Tahoe Fund Board Chair Katy Simon Holland. “It’s exciting to see these projects come to life through the passion and support of people who care deeply about this area.”

Desolation Wilderness, one of the most scenic hiking and backpacking destinations on the Tahoe Rim Trail, has been severely impacted from increased use combined with extreme weather events. Donations to this Tahoe Fund project will benefit the Tahoe Rim Trail Association to rehabilitate a section of the trail, improve safety for trail users and reduce the flow of sediment into alpine lakes and streams. Every dollar given to this unique project will be matched up to $40,000 through the end of 2018.

The Tahoe Fund has a goal to raise $15,000 to benefit the Kings Beach Trail project, which aims to transform a current Off-Highway Vehicle trail with major erosion issues into a multi-feature trail for use by mountain bikes, motorbikes, hikers and equestrians. In partnership with the Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association, the U.S. Forest Service, the Truckee Tahoe Airport and the North Tahoe Public Utility District, the newly designed trail will help prevent the flow of sediment from the eroding trail into Griff Creek and Lake Tahoe.

The Tahoe Fund’s third Signature Project will help bring new life to the forest, with a goal of raising $15,000 for the Sugar Pine Foundation in an effort to plant 10,000 sugar pine seedlings around the Basin. Volunteer plantings are scheduled at the Emerald Fire and Angora Fire scars as well as Spooner Summit, Sand Harbor, Tahoe Vista and along the new Incline Village bike path.

To learn more about the Tahoe Fund and how you can get involved in their projects, please visit tahoefund.org.

2018 Lake Tahoe Summit

June 28, 2018 by Rachel Horton

Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Sand Harbor State Park, Nevada

10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Join us at the 22nd Annual Lake Tahoe Summit

Hosted by Senator Dean Heller

This year we will gather on Tuesday, Aug. 7 at Sand Harbor State Park on Lake Tahoe’s East Shore in Nevada. Day-of registration will begin at 9 a.m., and the main program will start at 10 a.m.

Shuttles to the event will be provided to Sand Harbor State Park. Please note that daily operations at Sand Harbor will be closed until 1 p.m. on August 7 to accommodate the Summit.

The event is free. Registration for the event is now closed, but you can register on-site on the day of the event. Find more information here.

Event contact: info@tahoefund.org

Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows Dollar Donations Pile Up

June 7, 2018 by Amy Berry

Guests of Squaw Valley | Alpine Meadows Donate $43,235 to Watershed Health and Lake Clarity with Green Bucks
$1 donations from guests add up in support of Tahoe Fund and Truckee River Watershed

[Olympic Valley, Calif.]—June 7, 2018—Thanks to the outstanding generosity of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows’ guests, the ski resort recently donated $43,235 to the Tahoe Fund and the Truckee River Watershed Council. This donation came from individual dollar donations that guests added to lift ticket and season pass sales during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. These donations—called “Green Bucks”— have helped in funding projects such as the restoration of the Truckee River from Tahoe City to Alpine Meadows and removing aquatic invasive weeds from Lake Tahoe.

Green Bucks is a partner program between the Tahoe Fund and the Truckee River Watershed Council that aims to harness the passion of visitors and residents to help care for our extraordinary mountain environment. Through Green Bucks, local businesses across the area allow guests to add donations to lift tickets, hotel rooms, golf rounds and meals.

“A huge thank-you to all of the guests of Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows for helping to support our efforts to preserve the Tahoe environment,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. “It is simply amazing to see how these dollar donations add up to a huge amount of support.”

“Thanks to the business community and their guests, conservation groups will be able to protect and restore more meadows and forests, and provide more recreation access,” said Lisa Wallace, Executive Director of the Truckee River Watershed Council.

Together with the resort, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows guests give $40,000 annually to restore lakes and streams in the local area through these two critical organizations. To learn more about what Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows guests make possible, visit squawalpine.com/community.