What runs deeper than Lake Tahoe? Our desire to preserve it.
“Since its inception amid a contentious era in the Tahoe Basin, the Tahoe Fund has served as a unifying force in its ongoing effort to restore and preserve a national treasure.”
We are thrilled to share a beautiful article from the summer issue of Tahoe Quarterly on the first 10 years of the Tahoe Fund and all that your support has made possible.
Click below to read the full article.
Town Center Destinations in the Lake Tahoe Basin invited to apply until July 31 for low or no-cost bike racks; first two phases of program successfully encouraging more people to ride instead of drive
TAHOE CITY, Calif. (July 7, 2020) – Following two successful phases of the “Bike Racks for Tahoe” program that was introduced to public agencies and businesses in 2018 and 2019, the nonprofit Tahoe Fund will continue its partnership with the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition to offer low or no-cost bike racks to interested centrally-located Town Center locations in the Tahoe Basin. The program is designed to encourage locals and visitors to ride their bikes around lakeside communities instead of drive.
“Increasing secure bicycle parking reduces the rate of bicycle theft, improves the recreational and travel experience, and ultimately makes our community more vibrant,” said Chris Mertens, Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition board secretary. “In the last two years, together with the Tahoe Fund we helped install 340 bike racks with room for over 700 bikes at popular destinations throughout the Basin. Because the bike racks have been so well used, with the Tahoe Fund’s support, we’re excited to be able to expand the program to any organization located in centrally-located Town Centers.”
Grant funding provided by the Tahoe Fund will also be used to support the Bike Coalition’s mobile bike racks, known as “bike valets,” at events around the Basin. Bike valets offer free, safe bike parking to event-goers to encourage them to ride—instead of drive—to concerts, festivals and more.
“Encouraging bicycle transportation has the potential to reduce vehicle emissions and fine-sediment that can affect Lake Tahoe’s famed water clarity,” said Allen Biaggi, Tahoe Fund board chair. “The Tahoe Fund is committed to helping increase the availability of bicycle parking because it both aligns with our mission and has proven to have a positive impact.”
Public facilities, businesses, schools, or other organizations located within 0.5 miles of designated Town Centers interested in bike racks are invited to check their eligibility and apply by July 31, 2020 online at www.tahoebike.org/racks. Two bike rack options are available, each with a bolt-down or free-standing version. Interested organizations will be selected by the Bike Coalition based on criteria that includes their ability to provide matching funds, experienced or projected bike rack use, and community benefit based on surrounding businesses or services.
The Bike Coalition will be responsible for all ordering, shipping and professional installation of the bike racks on behalf of the selected businesses, with installations expected mid-September 2020.
Learn more at www.tahoebike.org or by emailing racks@tahoebike.org.
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. (June 9, 2020) – The Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities (Tahoe Network), with generous support from the Tahoe Fund, is hosting a free virtual screening of the award-winning documentary Wilder than Wild: Fire, Forests, and the Future through the Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema from June 5th – June 11th, 2020.
Wilder than Wild is a one-hour documentary that reveals how fire suppression and climate change have exposed Western landscapes to large, high-intensity wildfires. The film goes on to explore strategies that are being developed to help mitigate the impact of these fires.
The screening at Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema is part of a larger effort to engage communities in conversations about the future of wildfire. An online Q&A panel featuring both a local fire district representative and forest management expert will follow the screening on June 11th at 5pm.
The Tahoe Network recognizes the importance of building community awareness about mitigation strategies in this new age of wildfire and strives to prepare people and property for wildfire by coordinating efforts on a neighborhood scale.
“Unfortunately, living in a forest like we do in Tahoe means living with the threat of catastrophic wildfire,” said Tahoe Fund CEO Amy Berry. “We are so excited to make this terrific film available for everyone to watch for free to learn more about the history of wildfire. It is definitely worth an hour of your time.”
Screening Date: June 5th – June 11th 2020
Screening Location: Online through Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema
Register for the Q&A panel here.
This event is open to the public and is free thanks to sponsorship from the Tahoe Fund.
NV Energy Foundation partners with the Tahoe Fund on 23 new educational signs designed to enhance the visitor experience and encourage stewardship
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. (May 12, 2020) – The Tahoe East Shore Trail that runs between Incline Village and Sand Harbor State Park has become an interpretive trail following the installation of 23 new educational signs offering users information on regional history, the environment, and local wildlife. The signs, which are located at various vista points along the popular paved trail, were funded by the NV Energy Foundation.
“The Tahoe East Shore Trail has been a collaborative effort since its inception. We’re thrilled that NV Energy recognized the value in adding these interpretive signs to enhance the visitor experience and we
are so grateful for their contribution,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. “The team at Fallon Multimedia did a tremendous job creating them, and we hope they will inspire trail users to become stewards of Lake Tahoe.”
“Lake Tahoe is the crown jewel of our state and our community, and the NV Energy Foundation is proud to help bring the unique history and features of this stunning trail to light for all who visit it,” said Tony Sanchez, Executive Vice President of Business Development and External Relations for NV Energy. “The work of the Tahoe Fund to improve and preserve this beautiful area aligns with our own commitment to environmental sustainability.”
Trail users can expect to find visually stunning signage that in both words and pictures tell the stories of Incline Village and Sand Harbor, Tahoe’s Earth history and ecology, and how to keep the region’s black bears wild. Explanation of Tahoe’s famed water clarity and how to preserve it, how the significant waves on Lake Tahoe are formed, the implications of invasive species and other topics are also highlighted.
What was once deemed “impossible,” the Tahoe East Shore Trail came to fruition thanks to the hard work and extensive collaboration of 13 public and private agencies. Last summer, the Tahoe East Shore Trail made its debut, offering pedestrians and cyclists a safe, scenic route to travel between Incline Village and Sand Harbor.
The 3-mile stretch of trail, starting along the mountainside before tunneling under the highway to follow the rugged, rocky shoreline is arguably considered one of the world’s most beautiful trails. Those who use the trail should check State of Nevada guidelines in advance for possible trail closures and other guidelines, including physical distancing requirements that encourage users to maintain at least 6-feet between themselves and others.
Learn more about the Tahoe East Shore Trail and how you can still leave your legacy on the trail with a trout, bear or your name on the new donor wall at tahoefund.org.
Local nonprofits, private sector and government agencies collaborated to name winning artists after 34 responded to the public call for artists
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. (March 31, 2020) – In response to the Tahoe Fund and Tahoe Public Art’s call for artists earlier this year, 34 artists submitted proposals for the chance to paint the mural that will complete the tunnel on the new Tahoe East Shore Trail. Tyler Rivenbark and Frida Ticehurst-Rivenbark, a husband and wife art and design duo based in North Lake Tahoe, were selected to paint their mural concept by a panel of judges composed of representatives from the Tahoe Fund, Tahoe Public Art, Nevada State Parks, Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), Raley’s, and Kelly Brothers Painting. Raley’s is providing a $5,000 stipend to the artists and Kelly Brothers Painting will donate all of the paint required for the mural.
Submissions came from as far as the UK and Canada with the majority coming from local and regional artists. “Our partners and sponsors held two panel meetings in February to determine the top three artists,” said Marina Lowe, program administrator for Tahoe Public Art. “Factors we considered included the artists’ concepts for community involvement, overall design, budget and maintenance.”
Artists were encouraged to focus the theme of their submissions on community and the surrounding environment. Requirements of the project asked artists to depict local life, involve local youth in the creation of the mural, and ensure its completion could be accomplished with minimal closure of the tunnel and trail.
Most of Tyler’s work involves mixed media. Frida’s art practice focuses on sustainable and regenerative systems for creative expression. “Our intent with this art piece is to convey the natural beauty of this region,” said Tyler and Frida. “We want to remind people of the gift we all share by living or visiting this region, amplifying the sense of belonging, and encouraging participation in keeping this place beautiful and full of enjoyment.”
Painting of the mural begins later this spring following NDOT approval of the permitting process. Local youth involvement is also expected, pending the status of government regulations related to COVID-19. When painting is underway, the Tahoe East Shore Trail will be closed for 2-3 days by NDOT and Nevada State Parks. Trail closure details will be announced in advance through local media and postings at the trailheads and @nevadadot and State Parks social media.
The Tahoe East Shore Trail connecting Incline Village to Sand Harbor State Park quickly became an attraction for both residents and visitors interested in exploring Tahoe’s famed East Shore on foot or by bicycle since it opened in June 2019. The Tahoe Fund and Tahoe Public Art joined together to commission the mural to augment the natural beauty of the immediate surroundings and transform a utilitarian tunnel into an enjoyable, relevant art experience.
