INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. and TAHOE CITY, Calif.  – December 13, 2016 – Every fall at South Lake Tahoe’s Taylor Creek, the salmon arrive to spawn. Not far behind are the people and the bears and inevitable conflicts. Thanks to the makers of Tahoe Blue Vodka, things are going to get a lot better for everyone.  The spirits company is offering a dollar for dollar matching grant through the Tahoe Fund for every dollar that is donated to a new overlook that will create a safe experience for the thousands of visitors that come to see the spawning Kokanee Salmon and the nearby feasting bears each fall. The Tahoe Fund is seeking $28,000 in donations to help the US Forest Service build the overlook next year.

“Tahoe Blue Vodka is a terrific small business success story from right here in Lake Tahoe,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “We are thankful for this matching donation and hope the local community will help us reach this goal.”

“Preserving Tahoe is at the heart of our brand,” said Tahoe Blue Vodka Founder Matt Levitt. “We donate thousands of dollars to environmental projects in Tahoe. Having visited Taylor Creek many times with my kids, I want to do something special to make sure generations to come can experience the excitement of the salmon.”

The Tahoe Fund is a nonprofit dedicated to restoring lake clarity, enhancing outdoor recreation, and inspiring greater stewardship of the natural environment. Through the generosity of private donors, the Tahoe Fund has supported more than 20 projects in the Tahoe Basin, including watershed restorations, new bike trails, removal of aquatic invasive species and stewardship programs. The organization is also working on restoration of the Lighthouse trail section of the famed Rubicon hiking trail on the West Shore, and an innovative new program called the Environmental Venture Trust.

Organizations invited to submit project ideas online

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. and Nev. – November 17, 2016 – The Tahoe Fund has opened its online project submission portal for environmental organizations that would like to partner with the Tahoe Fund to help solve environmental challenges at Lake Tahoe. Organizations are invited to submit project ideas by January 29, 2017 at http://www.tahoefund.org/submit-a-project/.

The Tahoe Fund is seeking projects for its 2017 Signature and Premier Project Portfolios. These are late-stage projects that will improve Lake Tahoe’s environment by enhancing the water quality of the Lake, restoring watersheds, providing healthier forests, improving transportation and fostering outdoor recreation. The organization also seeks projects to build a greater sense of stewardship in the Tahoe Basin.

“We want to continue to help solve the environmental challenges at Tahoe with the great support of the private community,” said Tahoe Fund Projects Committee Co-Chair, Jim Lawrence. “We are looking for project ideas that need our support to be completed.”

Since 2010, the Tahoe Fund has raised funds from private donors for more than 20 environmental improvement projects including new bike paths, watershed restorations, removal of aquatic invasive species and environmental stewardship programs. The organization is actively raising funds for two 2016 Signature Projects: the new Taylor Creek Overlook that will improve the visitor experience for the people and bears at the Basin’s most popular visitor center; and the Rubicon/Lighthouse Trail Restoration at Bliss State Park.

Eligible projects must be able to demonstrate that all environmental permits will be obtained, enjoy strong community support, and have other sources of funding identified. Further details can be found at http://www.tahoefund.org/submit-a-project/.

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.