Funds generated by the ‘Plates for Powder’ license plate program in California and Nevada protect and enhance Tahoe’s extraordinary natural resources

Right on the heels of this weekend’s dusting, ‘Plates for Powder,’ the program that offers free skiing and riding opportunities to those who purchase a Lake Tahoe license plate, returns for the 2024-25 winter season. Proceeds from plate sales and renewals support environmental improvement projects in the Lake Tahoe Basin and help protect Tahoe’s clear blue waters, mountain forests, world-class recreation, and public beaches.

“Revenue from Lake Tahoe license plates has long been an important funding source for our work to restore and enhance Tahoe’s natural and recreational resources,” said Jason Vasques, Executive Director of the California Tahoe Conservancy. “We are grateful to the contributing ski areas, and we hope the skiers and snowboarders who participate in ‘Plates for Powder’ have a great time on the mountain.”

Through the Plates for Powder program, California and Nevada drivers who buy a new Lake Tahoe license plate before April 1, 2025 receive a free lift ticket or trail pass valid at one of 11 Tahoe-area resorts, while supplies last. The ticket must be used during the 2024-25 winter season (some restrictions apply). Participating resorts include: Boreal, Diamond Peak, Heavenly, Kirkwood, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, Northstar California, Palisades Tahoe, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Tahoe City Winter Sports Park, Tahoe Donner XC, and Tahoe XC. 

The Tahoe Fund has organized the Plates for Powder program on behalf of the California Tahoe Conservancy and Nevada Division of State Lands for more than a decade. Over 96% of the funds generated by plate sales and renewals go directly back to projects aimed at protecting Lake Tahoe for future generations.

“For years, the Plates for Powder program has been an easy, effective way for California and Nevada residents to give back to Tahoe,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “With the ongoing support of our local ski areas, there’s added incentive to buy a Tahoe license plate this winter and enjoy a day of skiing or riding in the mountains.”

New Tahoe license plates cost $50 in California, with a $40 annual renewal fee, and $61 in Nevada with a $30 renewal fee. Personalized plates are also available for an additional fee. Find information on how to purchase a plate and redeem the free lift ticket at tahoeplates.com.

The NV Energy Foundation is making a major investment in the health of Tahoe’s forests with a $250,000 grant to the Tahoe Fund’s Smartest Forest Fund. This significant contribution will help increase the pace and scale of forest restoration efforts and better prepare Lake Tahoe communities for wildfire. 

“In Lake Tahoe, catastrophic wildfire is not just a threat, it’s our reality,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “Thanks to the NV Energy Foundation, we will be able to invest in more game-changing solutions and innovations to reduce excess fuels in our forests and better prepare them to withstand fire.” 

The Smartest Forest Fund was launched in 2019 to use philanthropy to drive innovation through seed funding and de-risk opportunities for the Tahoe Fund’s public agency partners. Already, more than $1 million has been committed to over 25 projects and helped to secure over $27 million in public funding.

Innovative projects that have received funding through the Smartest Forest Fund include BurnBot’s remote operated machinery that speeds up fuels reduction by 10x; a software platform called LandTender that uses high-definition imagining and artificial intelligence to map landscapes for forest health treatments; and scholarships for students in Lake Tahoe Community College’s Forestry Program.

“This project will support the important work being done in and around Lake Tahoe to ensure the health of this incredible natural resource and protect the surrounding communities,” said NV Energy President and CEO Doug Cannon. “The Tahoe Fund drives outcomes in innovative, creative ways through collaboration and bringing the right partners to the table. I can’t think of a more deserving organization or better partner to collaborate with on this project.”

The NV Energy Foundation is committed to connecting with the community through philanthropic efforts, including civic leadership, financial contributions and volunteerism. Doing so makes our communities better places to live and work, which makes them better places to do business. We measure our success through the eyes of our employees, stakeholders, customers, business partners and neighbors. Learn more about the NV Energy Foundation’s grant cycle and funding priorities at nvenergy.com/foundation. 

Learn more about the Tahoe Fund, the Smartest Forest Fund and the initiatives it has helped support at www.tahoefund.org.

Photos by Hannah Pence, HPM Photography

Are you curious to learn more about the status of Lake Tahoe’s famed clarity? In partnership with TEDxReno, we have gathered a panel of experts for an in depth discussion on Lake Tahoe’s famed clarity. 

Is the Lake headed in the right direction? We’ll explore the big questions to get crystal clear on what’s ahead and how we can have an impact.

This event will take place from 6pm – 8pm on Tuesday, August 20 in Duffield Hall at the Lake Tahoe School in Incline Village. You can join us in person at the Lake Tahoe School or via livestream. Register using one of the buttons below.

New murals celebrate Tahoe’s natural landscapes to inspire greater stewardship

Visitors to four popular recreation sites managed by the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) will be greeted with a surprise when they step into the restroom facilities. Instead of blank walls inside the vault toilets, people will find beautiful murals painted by local artists through a project led by the LTBMU and the Tahoe Fund. 

“We are so lucky to have such talented artists in our local community and great partners at the Forest Service to be able to do something like this,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “Our hope is that when people see these stunningly beautiful murals they’ll be inspired to do their part to leave Tahoe better than they found it.”

Earlier this year, the LTBMU and the Tahoe Fund put out a public call for artists in the California and Nevada area to “beautify” the blank interiors of these restrooms. Five local artists were selected based on the creativity of their submissions and tasked with painting murals that establish a ‘sense of place’ in four different National Forest restroom facilities in the Lake Tahoe Basin. 

Stateline Lookout, Crystal Bay, NV

Created by North Lake Tahoe resident and full-time artist Ian Scott, the artwork in each of the two Stateline Lookout restrooms was created to depict a “room with a view.” The scenery within each restroom reflects the scenery that can be seen outside, however they differ in design by time of day and season they represent.

Logan Shoals Vista Point, East Shore, NV

South Lake Tahoe resident and classically trained artist Talia Koval’s design “Nature Sings,” was selected for the Logan Shoals Vista Point restroom as it illustrates the breathtaking landscape of Lake Tahoe as seen from the East Shore. At the forefront of the mural are vibrant pine trees, with the focal point of the mural its majestic sunset, with warm hues casting a radiant glow over the mountains in the distance. Koval painted the mural alongside her partner Michael Passaretti. 

Big Meadow Trailhead, South Lake Tahoe, CA

Two artists were selected to paint two restroom stalls at the Big Meadow Trailhead. Cyan Samone’s mural takes viewers inside the habitats of local Tahoe wildlife that appear larger than life. The concept of being surrounded by their environments is intended to give viewers a deeper sense of connection with nature and invoke a desire to protect it. 

Alyssa Cumpton’s mural was designed to inspire and educate visitors about some of the native animals in the Tahoe region, including Steller’s Jays, American Black Bears and the endangered Sierra Nevada Red Fox.

Sawmill Pond, Meyers, CA

Charlotte Castillo, a fine artist and art teacher at Tahoe Valley Elementary School was selected to paint murals in the two restrooms at Sawmill Pond. Her designs depict humanity’s relationship with nature, showcasing the experience and visual wonder of the region.

“Based on the response we received from interested local artists and the incredible quality of their work, we hope to continue this project in the future by expanding it to other sites,” said Daniel Cressy, public services staff officer, LTBMU. “In the meantime, we’re excited to see how people respond to the new murals and hope that transforming these spaces will motivate our visitors and residents alike to become better stewards of the environment.”

Paint for the murals was generously supplied by Kelly Brothers Painting. Visit www.tahoefund.org to learn more about this project or to contribute to projects that support the Tahoe environment.