You showed up and we listened! The incredible outpouring of support for the work going on in the Basin has been huge. We kicked things off with the Sweet Sixteen, featuring standout projects from some of the most dedicated organizations working to make a difference for the Lake we all love. Every matchup was a nail-biter, and it’s all led to this: The Wildfire Showdown! 

Will Caldor Fire Reforestation with the Sugar Pine Foundation take the crown? Or will the Wildfire Alert Camera from the Tahoe Prosperity Center come out on top?

The number one priority of the Tahoe Fund is to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. It is no surprise that two wildfire projects are the finalists, but the choice is yours.

Championship voting is open for just 24 hours and will close at 4 PM PDT on April 7. Help decide which project takes home an extra $10,000!

	Caldor Fire Reforestation Help The Sugar Pine Foundation reforest 100 acres within the Caldor Fire burn scar by planting 10,000 native pine trees along heavily used mountain biking and hiking corridors near South Lake Tahoe.
	Wildfire Alert Camera Early detection stops small fires before they become catastrophic. More than 100 Tahoe fires have been contained under one acre thanks to the ALERTWildfire camera network! Help cover blind spots in the network with another camera.

We’re down to the FINAL FOUR of Tahoe Project Madness! Thanks to your votes, we’ve narrowed the field to four outstanding projects and we’re officially in the home stretch.

Will you support TAMBA’s trail crews as they clear and improve your favorite trails, or help the Sugar Pine Foundation plant native pine trees in the Caldor Fire burn area? Will you bring another watchful eye to detect wildfires early with Tahoe Prosperity Center’s wildfire alert camera, or help prevent the introduction and spread of invasive species like the Golden Mussel with TRPA’s aquatic invasive species prevention stations?

The competition is tighter than ever, and every vote truly counts. The winners of this round will advance to the Championship Round, where the final two projects will go head-to-head for the extra $10,000.

Learn more about each project and cast your vote below!

	Caldor Fire Reforestation Help The Sugar Pine Foundation reforest 100 acres within the Caldor Fire burn scar by planting 10,000 native pine trees along heavily used mountain biking and hiking corridors near South Lake Tahoe.
	Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention To help keep aquatic invasive species at bay, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency is installing three new “Clean, Drain, and Dry” roadside units to make it easier for people to clean their paddle boards, kayaks, floaties and more. Help prevent the spread of invasive species like the Golden Mussel by supporting more units.
	TAMBA Trail Crew Give the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association’s trail crew the boost they need to get your favorite trails ready to ride this season. This crew will be clearing downed trees, improving drainage, restoring trail tread, and enhancing sight lines to ensure safe, accessible trails throughout the Tahoe Basin.
	Wildfire Alert Camera Early detection stops small fires before they become catastrophic. More than 100 Tahoe fires have been contained under one acre thanks to the ALERTWildfire camera network! Help cover blind spots in the network with another camera.

The first million dollars of private funding to help restore the former Motel 6 site has been raised by Tahoe Fund donors as part of the “Million for the Marsh” campaign. Launched in November, the campaign set out to raise the first $1 million of private funds to help secure the public funds the California Tahoe Conservancy will need to restore the Upper Truckee Marsh in South Lake Tahoe. 

“We were absolutely blown away by our donors who helped us meet this challenge, further reinforcing how important the restoration of this marsh is to Lake Tahoe’s clarity and the community,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “We are committed to helping the Conservancy bring this marsh back to life with the support of philanthropic dollars and stand ready to call on our community for any additional support we may need to make this project happen.” 

In addition to the “Million for the Marsh” campaign, the Tahoe Fund also provided funding for initial acquisition of the former Motel 6 property alongside a number of other partners including the Conservancy, the California Wildlife Conservation Board, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the League to Save Lake Tahoe. Last year, contributions from Tahoe Fund donors and major gifts from the Latrobe Foundation and the Robert S & Dorothy J Keyser Foundation brought in over $200,000 to support the demolition of the buildings on site. 

“We are grateful for the Tahoe Fund donors’ support for this important project,” said Jason Vasques, executive director of the California Tahoe Conservancy. “We look forward to working with our partners as we continue planning the restoration for the southern end of the Upper Truckee Marsh, which is so important for habitat, watershed resilience, and Lake Tahoe.”

In addition to restoring the watershed and the native habitat, this project further advances the 2012 Lake Tahoe Regional Plan and Environmental Improvement Program by removing aging development from sensitive land and retiring or transferring development rights to town centers.

There is still time for you to provide your feedback with the Conservancy on concepts for the proposed project. Visit tahoe.ca.gov/survey.

Learn more and contribute to the project today at tahoefund.org/millionforthemarsh.