News Archives - Page 47 of 64

Tahoe Fund Accepts Challenge to Help Snuff Out Aquatic Invasive Weeds in the Lake

: Crew removes bottom barrier mats

INCLINE VILLAGE Nev. (Tuesday, June 27, 2017)— Tahoe Fund announced today that it has accepted a challenge issued by the Tahoe Water Suppliers Association to raise over $26,000 to help purchase 175 bottom barrier mats that will be used to kill aquatic invasive weeds around the Lake. The current inventory of bottom barriers is 1.6 acres short of the maximum 5 acres of coverage permitted for Tahoe. Every dollar the Tahoe Fund raises will be matched by the Tahoe Water Suppliers Association.

“We’ve seen the impact these mats have on aquatic invasive weeds. In Emerald Bay, the mats led to complete eradication,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “We are dedicated to doing all we can to support projects like this that have long-lasting positive impacts on the Lake we love. With this match, our donors’ generosity will have twice the impact.”

Aquatic invasive plants negatively impact the water quality around the shoreline of Lake Tahoe. Through a well-coordinated program, the Tahoe Resource Conservation District has been able to remove aquatic invasive weeds with the use of bottom barriers and diver-assisted hand pulling. The Tahoe Water Suppliers Association has issued a matching challenge to help ensure the remaining bottom barriers can be purchased. With the full inventory of mats, more aquatic invasive weeds will be removed from the Lake and the water quality will be improved.

The AIS Bottom Barriers Challenge is one of Tahoe Fund’s Signature Projects for 2017. Fundraising is expected to continue through the summer. Donations in support of this and other environmental improvement projects around the Lake can be made at tahoefund.org/donate.

Tahoe Fund Secures $130,000 Grant to Upgrade the “Other Flume Trail”

INCLINE VILLAGE Nev. (Monday, June 12, 2017) –The Tahoe Fund announced today that it has secured a $130,000 Recreation Trails Program grant to restore the Incline Flume Trail, also known as the “other flume trail.” To be eligible for the grant, the Tahoe Fund partnered with Friends of Incline Trails to provide funding for the environmental permitting to have the trail adopted by the Forest Service. The new designation as an official Forest Service trail was received in May, paving the way for this important grant that will help improve the trail, build a retaining wall in a particularly erosive area, and install interpretive and way-finding signage. It will also help fund the transfer of the historic bull wheel (located nearby the trail) from the Nevada Land Trust to the US Forest Service.

The Incline Flume Trail, known as the most family-friendly trail in the Tahoe Basin for its flat terrain and beautiful lake views, runs for 7 miles from Mt. Rose Highway across Diamond Peak Ski Resort to Tunnel Creek Road. It is the site of a former flume system that operated in the Comstock Era.

“This has been a favorite family trail for years, but improvements couldn’t be made until it was in the Forest Service Trail System,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “Thanks to very generous donors and a terrific partnership with Friends of Incline Trails, the Forest Service, Nevada State Parks, Nevada Land Trust, Washoe County and Incline General Improvement District, we were able to get the private and public funds necessary to have the Forest Service adopt it and improve it.”

The restoration work will be led by the Friends of Incline Trails in partnership with the Forest Service, the Tahoe Rim Trail Association and the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA). Trail days are scheduled for June 15-17, July 21-23, August 12, and September 26, 28 & 30.

“It has been a dream of many to see this trail opened up and restored,” said Friends of Incline Trails President Sue Hughes. “This is proof that when a community comes together we can accomplish great things. We look forward to getting to work on the trail!”

“The Forest Service is so appreciative of the great partnership between the community and the public agencies that formed to make this happen.” Said Jacob Quinn, Trails Engineer, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. “We look forward to seeing this trail restored and improved to expand safe outdoor recreation areas in our public forests.”

In December 2015, David and Cheryl Duffield donated 18.6 acres of land along the trail, including the historic bull wheel, to Nevada Land Trust, a nationally-accredited nonprofit conservation land trust based in Reno whose work includes a portion of the Tahoe Basin. Volunteers from TAMBA, the Tahoe Rim Trail Association, and Friends of Incline Trails built the missing link of the trail through that section of property last fall, opening the trail from Mt. Rose Highway all the way to the Tunnel Creek Trail. The land will be transferred from the Nevada Land Trust to the Forest Service later this year, putting the entire trail in public hands for the first time in decades.

For more information on the project or to volunteer for a trail building day, please email info@tahoefund.org.

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.

Tahoe Blue Vodka will Double All Donations to Tahoe Fund for Taylor Creek Overlook Project

December 14, 2016 by diana

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.