TAHOE CITY, Calif. and INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – November 1, 2016  The popular “Plates for Powder” program is back and once again offers individuals who purchase a new Lake Tahoe license plate in either California or Nevada two free lift tickets to one of 10 Tahoe resorts participating in the program. With ski resorts opening in less than two weeks, now is the time to buy a Tahoe license plate so you can ski for free in Tahoe.

“The mountains are covered in white from this weekend’s storm signaling that ski season is almost here,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. “Get ready to ski at one of the 10 resorts in Tahoe who generously support this great program by purchasing your new California or Nevada Tahoe plate today.”

Plate sales and renewal fees generate proceeds that go directly to the California Tahoe Conservancy and Nevada Division of State Lands to fund hiking and biking trails and watershed restoration projects. The Tahoe Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to raising money for environmental improvement projects that support lake clarity, recreation and stewardship in the Tahoe Basin, is organizing the program on behalf of the public agencies.

“Powder hounds are getting a screaming deal, but we all benefit from the trails, lakefront parks, and other outdoor projects funded by Tahoe plates,” said Patrick Wright, Executive Director of the CA Tahoe Conservancy. “And thanks to the resorts for making this deal – and these projects – an annual event.”

Administrator of the Nevada Division of State Lands Charlie Donohue encourages participation in the Plates for Powder program, ”Funds raised by the purchase of Tahoe license plates have made many significant environmental projects possible.”

The resorts participating in the promotion include Diamond Peak, Heavenly Valley, Homewood Mountain Resort, Kirkwood Mountain Resort, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, Northstar California, Sierra at Tahoe, Squaw Valley|Alpine Meadows, Tahoe Cross Country, and Tahoe City Winter Sports Park.

Information on how to purchase a plate and redeem free tickets is available at http://www.tahoeplates.org. The promotion is available from now until April 1. Some restrictions apply.

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. and TAHOE CITY, Calif. – October 18, 2016 – The Tahoe Fund’s plans to bring innovation to the environmental challenges facing Lake Tahoe just got a big boost from the Robert and Dorothy Keyser Foundation with a $50,000 matching grant.   The matching grant is for the Tahoe Fund’s new Environmental Venture Trust, a program designed to provide early stage seed funding to innovative projects around the Tahoe Basin.

Tahoe Fund is now actively seeking donations to secure the full matching grant so it can begin soliciting ideas for innovative pilot projects. The focus will be on the areas of highest concern in Tahoe, including the recent announcement of 66 million dead trees in the Sierra Nevada forests, the expansion of aquatic invasive species throughout the watershed, the continued challenge to maintain and improve the Lake’s famed water clarity, transportation challenges, outdoor recreation expansion and stewardship.

“The private sector can play a key role in driving innovation in any industry,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “With this amazing support from the Keyser Foundation, we will be able to work with our donors to kick start our efforts to bring innovation and new solutions to the challenges facing Tahoe’s environment.”

“The Tahoe Fund has done a wonderful job of inspiring the private community to join in the environmental restoration of Lake Tahoe in a very short timeframe,” said Blake Smith, Trustee of the Robert and Dorothy Keyser Foundation. “We are pleased to partner with them yet again on this new initiative to encourage new thinking and introduce the effort to new supporters.”

The Tahoe Fund launched the Environmental Venture Trust with a $5,000 grant to the Tahoe Resource Conservation District for a pilot project that will analyze the use of UV light to kill aquatic invasive weeds in Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe Fund’s grant will help the Tahoe Resource Conservation District secure more than $350,000 in public funding for the project. If successful, the technique could be deployed around Lake Tahoe and beyond.

Through the generosity of private donors, the Tahoe Fund has supported 18 projects in the Tahoe Basin since 2011, including more than $1 million for a new bike path from Incline to Sand Harbor that recently broke ground. For more information about how you can contribute to the Environmental Venture Trust to help meet the Keyser Foundation match, please visit www.tahoefund.org.

The UV light structure that will be used in the pilot project to eliminate aquatic invasive weeds.

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. and TAHOE CITY, Calif.  – August 22, 2016 – In an effort to spur innovation in Tahoe, the Tahoe Fund announced that it is providing the initial funds for a project that will evaluate UV light as a new method to remove aquatic invasive weeds.  This innovative approach that will be used in a pilot program at Lakeside Marina and Beach could change the way aquatic invasive weeds are controlled in Tahoe’s watershed and beyond if successful.

The $5,000 grant to the Tahoe Resource Conservation District from the Tahoe Fund’s Environmental Venture Trust will help secure more than $350,000 in public and private funds to help get the project started this year.

“We launched the Environmental Venture Trust to get innovative projects just like this off the ground,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “It is amazing to see how a $5,000 grant can really get things going. We are excited for what this new venture can mean for Tahoe.”

“We have been working with the UV light company and public funders for a while to find a way to get this pilot project launched in Tahoe, but we kept running into the roadblock of funding the very early stage work,” said Kim Boyd of the Tahoe Resource Conservation District. “With this grant from the Tahoe Fund we were able to unlock significant public funds so we can get started.”

The Tahoe Fund is currently seeking donors for the Environmental Venture Trust who are interested in using philanthropic dollars to help drive innovative solutions to Tahoe’s core environmental challenges.  Once the initial campaign goal of $100,000 is reached, the Tahoe Fund will request project ideas that are in need of early-stage funding to get started.

The Tahoe Resource Conservation District has partnered with Inventive Resources, Inc. to develop a pilot project to explore the feasibility of using UV light technology to treat and control aquatic invasive plant infestations.  New research, conducted by Inventive Resources, Inc., including bench-tested technology in a laboratory setting, indicates that UV light (a high frequency light wave) damages the DNA and cellular structure of aquatic plants and their fragments.  If determined to be feasible, UV treatment could avoid the need to use chemical herbicides to treat aquatic invasive weeds in the Tahoe Keys, which are of great concern to drinking water suppliers.  The Tahoe Fund grant will unlock funds from the California Tahoe Conservancy’s SB 630 program and potentially additional funds in the future from the US EPA.

Through the generosity of private donors, the Tahoe Fund has supported 15 projects in the Tahoe Basin since 2011, including more than one million dollars for a new bike path from Incline to Sand Harbor that recently broke ground. For more information about how you can contribute to the Environmental Venture Trust or other Tahoe Fund projects, please visit www.tahoefund.org.