Blog - Tahoe Fund

Tahoe Fund Launches “Venture Philanthropy” Effort to Tackle Climate Change Adaptation

August 16, 2017 by Amy Berry

Tahoe Fund Launches “Venture Philanthropy” Effort to Tackle Climate Change Adaptation

“A new type of philanthropy to invest in game-changing, climate change adaptation solutions.”

INCLINE VILLAGE Nev. (8/16/2017) —Today, the Tahoe Fund announced the Environmental Venture Trust, a new “venture philanthropy” approach to climate change adaptation in Tahoe. While much of traditional philanthropy is focused on established solutions, the Venture Trust will help fill a critical funding gap. Like a venture capital fund, the Venture Trust will support innovative, early-stage projects—but in this case projects that tackle the challenges associated with global warming facing Lake Tahoe. Risk is inherent to venture funding, but the rewards can be dramatic. And the easy solutions to Tahoe’s environmental challenges are gone. By providing early stage seed capital, the Tahoe Fund will kick start innovative projects to improve lake clarity, outdoor recreation, transportation and forest health—projects that would otherwise not receive funding.

The Tahoe Fund recently began the first pilot program funded by the Enviornmental Venture Trust. The pilot tests the use of UV light to fight aquatic invasive weeds in Lake Tahoe, weeds that are the result of a warming lake. A UV light boat has now been deployed near the Lakeside Marina and the surrounding waters in South Lake Tahoe. The boat has begun using UV light that is completely safe to most life forms, but lethal to aquatic invasive weeds. Within the first week of the pilot study, the boat destroyed half of the weeds in the Marina.

Click here to watch a brief video of the dramatic results.

If proven successful, the light can be deployed in other infested areas of Lake Tahoe and lakes around the world. “By providing early stage funding through our Environmental Venture Trust, the Tahoe Fund was able to help secure more than $260,000 in public funds to jumpstart this project. This is just the first of many venture stage environmental improvement projects around the Lake that the Tahoe Fund can help kick-start,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO.

The Tahoe Fund seeks solicitations from organizations and individuals with proposals for suitable, Venture Trust projects to environmental challenges in Lake Tahoe.

The Venture Trust was launched with the support of a $50,000 matching grant from the Robert and Dorothy Keyser Foundation. The UV Light Pilot Project is a partnership among Tahoe Resource Conservation District, Inventive Resources, Inc., The California Tahoe Conservancy and the Tahoe Fund.

2017 Lake Tahoe Summit

July 13, 2017 by sdbx

Save the Date
2017 Lake Tahoe Summit hosted by Senator Dianne Feinstein
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Valhalla Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe

Please save the date for the 2017 Lake Tahoe Summit hosted by Senator Dianne Feinstein on Tuesday, August 22nd at Valhalla Tahoe in South Lake Tahoe. The event is free to the public, but we ask you to please register by clicking here.

Public shuttles will be available to the event site as parking is limited.

Registration opens at 9am and the event will begin at 10am.

Agenda and event details to follow.

For questions, please contact Senator Feinstein’s office at 415-393-0707.

Thanks, NDOT!

May 31, 2017 by Jacob Johnson

WE SURVIVED SNOWMAGGEDON 2017

What a winter! Thanks to the tireless work of the team at the Nevada Department of Transportation, we all made it through Snowmaggeddon 2017. When the rest of us were stuck inside as the snow fell, the hard-working members of NDOT were out on the roads making sure we would be able to get over the mountain passes, off to the ski slopes, or arrive safely at home.

To show our appreciation, we are throwing the NDOT snow crew an appreciation BBQ at Sand Harbor at 11am on Tuesday, June 27th. If you would like to chip in or make a special contribution to the festivities, donations can be made online at tahoefund.org or dropped off at BarJay’s Gourmet Diner next to T’s Rotisserie in Incline Village. Anyone who donates $50 or more will receive a wristband to attend the BBQ. Unfortunately, we aren’t able to open this event to the general public due to space constraints.

Catering provided by BarJay’s Gourmet Diner

Ten Things to Do in Tahoe When Your Favorite Beach is M.I.A.

May 22, 2017 by Jacob Johnson

The only thing that runs deeper than Tahoe is our desire to preserve it all, so you can enjoy it all. After a record-breaking winter, there is now more water in Tahoe to enjoy than we have had in years. This is great news for boaters, who watched as piers sat dry for the past few seasons. This also means that the beaches you’ve grown to enjoy are now gone. Yes, gone. The spot where you regularly placed your towel is now in five feet of water.

To help you navigate a Tahoe without beaches, we have put together a list of ten other things to do.

Try a Paddle Sport – If you have wanted to try paddle-boarding or kayaking, this is the year to do it. There really is no better way to experience the shoreline of Tahoe than on the water. You can rent from many businesses around the Lake, who can also help you find a good launching spot. Check out laketahoewatertrail.org for more info to get started.
Rent a Boat – A great way to experience Tahoe is floating out in the middle of the Lake. You can launch a boat from one of the many boat ramps or rent boats by the day or hour from marinas on the North, West and South Shores. These folks are are knowledgeable about where to venture once you cast off from the dock. If you do bring your boat to tahoe, don’t forget to arrive clean, drained and dry at the watercraft inspection stations.
Go For a Hike – Tahoe is home to some of the most beautiful hikes in the world. The famous Rim Trail has 12 segments that let you explore a variety of terrain and views from high above the Lake. Not ready for such a big adventure? Check out shorter trails at the local state parks on both sides of the state lines. Bliss State Park on the gorgeous West Shore offers the Rubicon Trail or Lighthouse Trail. Van Sickle Bi-State Park is right out the casino corridor in South Lake and offers a quick hike up to beautiful views. Burton State Park, outside of Tahoe City, offers miles of great trails with access to beautiful wildflowers.
Ride a Bike – Tahoe now has more than 30 miles of paved bike paths all around Tahoe. The Truckee River Bike path offers family friendly fun from Tahoe City down to Squaw. You can stop at River Ranch for ice cream or a cold beverage. The newly restored bike path on the South Shore is another family friendly trail that runs for miles and includes beaches and ice cream shops along the way.
Try Mountain Biking – Thanks to an army of amazing trail building volunteers, Tahoe has never had more accessible mountain biking trails to suit all levels and ages. Beginners and kids love the Corral Trail in South Lake Tahoe, while more advanced riders will want to check the Flume Trail ride off their bucket list. Burton State Park also offers miles of single-track in a more moderate setting. Stop in a bike shop to get the scoop on where the locals are riding for the best conditions.
Hit the links – If you are a scratch golfer, or just looking for an excuse to spend time out on the green grass, there is a golf course in Tahoe for you. Edgewood Tahoe is host to the annual celebrity tournament each July. Old Brockway is nine holes of fun on an Audobon rated course that was once home to Bing Crosby’s celebrity event. Tahoe City Golf Course is another family-friendly option on the North Shore. Course listing and details.
Disc Golf – Looking for something a little more adventurous than chasing a tiny white ball around the lawn? Try disc golf. It is like golf, but it includes specially crafted “frisbees” that fly through the air with speed and distance and you sink them in a big basket instead of a tiny hole. Free public Disc Golf courses are in Incline Village, Tahoe Vista and Bijou Park in South Lake Tahoe.
Go Climb a Rock – Tahoe has some the best moderate rock climbing in the country. There are over 100 climbing and bouldering areas within 30 minutes of the Lake ranging from the 600-foot-tall Lover’s Leap to smaller boulders on the beaches. Search the internet for “Tahoe climbing guides” to get started.
Hit the Trail on a Horse. – A great way to experience the trails and see some of Tahoe’s backcountry is by horse. A unique and family-friendly experience, horse back riding in Tahoe harkens back to the old days of the Comstock era. Many sections of the Tahoe Rim Trail are horse friendly. You can sign-up for horse riding at Zephyr Cove stables, Camp Richardson Corral or Alpine Meadows stable.
Ride a Gondola – Gondolas are not just for ski season anymore. You can have an “epic” day atop Heavenly riding the mountain coaster, flying through the air on zip lines, or testing your meddle on ropes courses. Squaw Valley offers tram rides up to High Camp where you can take in the views, swim in the pool, or enjoy a hike around the wildflowers.

Of course you will still want to make your way to the Lake to swim into that clear blue water. Please remember to stay in designated areas, and be mindful of sensitive vegetation along the beaches. A reminder, private property in California begins at the high water mark, and at the low water mark in Nevada.

The Tahoe Fund is dedicated to restoring and improving the Tahoe environment to ensure a balance between the human and natural environments. Through the generosity of our donors, we have helped complete more than 25 environmental projects that are improving lake clarity, expanding outdoor recreation, and inspiring stewardship of Tahoe. To learn more, please visit tahoefund.org.

Tahoe Fund Secures $50,000 Matching Grant from Robert and Dorothy Keyser Foundation

February 27, 2017 by diana

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. and TAHOE CITY, Calif. – January 9, 2017 – Private donors to the non-profit Tahoe Fund have met a $50,000 matching grant from the Robert and Dorothy Keyser Foundation in support of the Tahoe Fund’s new Environmental Venture Trust, a program designed to provide early stage seed funding to innovative projects around the Tahoe Basin.

The Tahoe Fund will begin soliciting ideas for innovative pilot projects later this winter. The focus will be on the areas of highest concern in Tahoe, including tree mortality, 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 enhancement and stewardship.

“We are so thankful for the wonderful generosity of the Keyser Foundation and our many donors who stepped up to meet the match,” said Tahoe Fund Board Chair Art Chapman. “Our board is working hard to bring innovative solutions to the environmental challenges facing Tahoe, and this will give our efforts a much needed boost.”

“We love matching grants because it helps drive more interest and more funding from donors to the nonprofits we support,” said Blake Smith, Trustee of the Robert and Dorothy Keyser Foundation. “We are delighted to see the Tahoe Fund’s donors meet our matching grant and will be anxious to see the great work that comes from this program.”

The Tahoe Fund launched the Environmental Venture Trust with a $5,000 grant to the Tahoe Resource Conservation District (TRCD) for a pilot project that will analyze the use of UV light tokill aquatic invasive weeds in Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe Fund’s grant will help the TRCD 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 more than 20 projects in the Tahoe Basin since 2011, including more than $1 million for a new bike path from Incline Village to Sand Harbor that broke ground in 2016. For more information about the Tahoe Fund, please visit www.tahoefund.org.