Businesses in the Lake Tahoe Basin invited to apply until June 7 for low or no-cost bike racks; program designed to encourage more people to ride instead of drive

TAHOE CITY, Calif. (May 20, 2019) – Following the successful first phase of the “Bike Racks for Businesses” program that was introduced to agencies in 2018, the nonprofit Tahoe Fund will continue its partnership with the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition to offer low or no-cost bike racks to interested businesses in the Tahoe Basin. The program is designed to encourage locals and visitors to ride their bikes around lakeside communities instead of drive.

“Increasing bicycle parking supports a vibrant community by providing much needed amenities, reducing the rate of bicycle theft, and improving the recreational and travel experience,” said Chris Mertens, Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition board secretary. “In 2018, together with the Tahoe Fund we helped install 215 bike racks with room for 430 bikes for use by local agencies. The bike racks were well received and well used, prompting us to extend the program to businesses and expand it Basin-wide with the Tahoe Fund’s support.

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.

“Reducing vehicle traffic has the potential to reduce emissions and fine-sediment—significant factors in air pollution and water clarity,” said Katy Simon Holland, Tahoe Fund board chair. “Bicycle parking has been shown to increase visitation at local businesses and is a visual representation of the region’s emphasis on sustainability. The Tahoe Fund is pleased to continue to support these efforts Basin-wide.”

Businesses interested in bike racks are invited to apply until June 7, 2019 online at www.tahoebike.org/racks. Two bike rack options are available, each with a bolt-down or free-standing version. Interested businesses 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-July 2019.

Learn more at www.tahoebike.org or by emailing racks@tahoebike.org.

About Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition

The Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition is a volunteer nonprofit organization with a mission to make Tahoe more bicycle friendly. The Bike Coalition promotes opportunities for more people to ride bikes in Tahoe, produces the most comprehensive printed and online bicycle maps for the Tahoe region, co-hosts the annual Lake Tahoe Bicycle Challenge each June and advocates for bicycle safety. Learn more at www.tahoebike.org.

About Tahoe Fund

The Tahoe Fund was founded in 2010 to work with the private community to support environmental improvement projects that restore lake clarity, enhance outdoor recreation, promote healthier forests, improve transportation and inspire greater stewardship of the region. Through the generous support of private donors, the Tahoe Fund has leveraged more than $2 million in private funds to secure more than $40 million in public funds for more than 30 environmental projects. The projects include new sections of the Lake Tahoe Bikeway, restoration of watersheds, removal of aquatic invasive species, forest health projects, public beach improvements, and stewardship programs. Learn more at www.tahoefund.org.

###

Media Contacts:

Chris Mertens or Gavin Feiger, Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition

racks@tahoebike.org or (775) 298-0273

Jess Weaver, JVP Communications for Tahoe Fund

(530) 448-6981 or Jessica@jvpcommunications.com

Tahoe Fund’s Environmental Venture Trust provided seed funding for innovative environmental project benefitting Lake Tahoe and its famed clarity

TAHOE CITY, Calif. (Feb. 26, 2019) – According to a new report released by the Tahoe Resource Conservation District (Tahoe RCD), an ultraviolet (UV) light project designed to combat aquatic invasive weeds in Lake Tahoe has proven successful. Results of the pilot project, the first to be supported by the Tahoe Fund’s Environmental Venture Trust, found that most of the plants treated with UV light exhibited signs of deterioration or complete collapse within seven to 10 days following treatment.

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) pose a serious threat to the recreational and natural resources of the Lake Tahoe watershed as they compete with native species and can increase algae growth that contributes to the decline of Lake Tahoe’s famous water clarity. Thick aquatic vegetation also provides an unnatural habitat that allows other non-native species to establish.

“Our first investment through the Tahoe Fund Environmental Venture Trust was to provide seed funding for the UV light pilot project to test a new treatment of aquatic invasive weeds in Lake Tahoe,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. “We are excited to see that the pilot was a success and there will now be a new way to treat aquatic invasive weeds in Tahoe.”

The initiative was led by the Tahoe RCD in collaboration with Inventive Resources, Inc., and was made possible thanks to a Lake Tahoe Science and Lake Improvement Account grant from the California Tahoe Conservancy and private contributions from the Tahoe Fund. Tahoe RCD is currently working on an environmental document analysis that expands available methods and techniques to implement lake-wide control methods for treatment of aquatic invasive plants at Lake Tahoe.

“Invasive plant populations can be reduced, and with continued treatments and a combination of tools available, we will be better equipped to manage populations around the lake in the future,” said Nicole Cartwright, executive director for Tahoe RCD. “We are encouraged by the results and look forward to additional UV-C light treatment projects to explore the full potential of this new tool.”

The Tahoe Fund Environmental Venture Trust funds innovative early-stage projects that benefit environmental initiatives affecting Lake Tahoe and was launched with the support of a $25,000 matching grant from the Robert and Dorothy Keyser Foundation. The intention of the trust is to support projects deemed to have good potential, but no other source of early-stage funding.

The Tahoe Fund was created to be a major source of private funding for environmental projects around the Lake Tahoe Basin with an emphasis on lake clarity, outdoor recreation, stewardship, forest health and transportation. Learn more at www.tahoefund.org.

About Tahoe Fund

The Tahoe Fund was founded in 2010 to work with the private community to support environmental improvement projects that restore lake clarity, enhance outdoor recreation, promote healthier forests, improve transportation and inspire greater stewardship of the region. Through the generous support of private donors, the Tahoe Fund has leveraged more than $2 million in private funds to secure more than $40 million in public funds for more than 30 environmental projects. The projects include new sections of the Lake Tahoe Bikeway, restoration of watersheds, removal of aquatic invasive species, forest health projects, public beach improvements, and stewardship programs. Learn more at www.tahoefund.org.

Media Contact:

Jess Weaver, JVP Communications for Tahoe Fund

(530) 448-6981 or jessica@jvpcommunications.com

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. and TAHOE CITY, Calif.  – May 1, 2018 – The nonprofit Tahoe Fund announced the appointments of Verdi DiSesa, Mike Goar and Stephanie Tyler to the Tahoe Fund Board of Directors. DiSesa, a Vice President and Client Advisor with J.P. Morgan’s Private Bank in San Francisco; Goar, COO of Heavenly Ski Resort and VP of Vail Resort’s Tahoe operations; and Tyler, President of AT&T Nevada, will focus their efforts on expanding the reach and impact of the Tahoe Fund’s mission to complete more environmental improvement projects at Lake Tahoe.

“It is an honor to welcome Mike, Stephanie and Verdi to the Tahoe Fund board,” said newly elected Board Chair, Katy Simon Holland. “Mike will be a great champion in the South Shore community, Verdi will help our efforts to connect with the San Francisco community of strong Tahoe supporters and Stephanie will bring incredible Nevada leadership to our organization.”

 “I’m excited to take a more active role in the Tahoe Fund and help further the great work we’re already doing to improve Lake Tahoe and the Basin,” said DiSesa. “I look forward to working with the rest of the board to bring more ideas and innovation to the Lake, as well as raise awareness in the Bay Area about what we’re doing to preserve this special place.”

“Vail Resorts has been a strong supporter of the Tahoe Fund since its founding,” said Goar. “I am inspired to join this strong group of leaders as we continue to leverage the private community’s support of this beautiful place.”

“Tahoe has been an important part of my life since I was a young girl, said Tyler. “It is a great honor to join this organization’s board after supporting it from its very early days.”

About Tahoe Fund

The Tahoe Fund was founded in 2010 to work with the private community to support environmental improvement projects that restore lake clarity, enhance outdoor recreation, promote healthier forests, improve transportation and inspire greater stewardship of the region. Through the generous support of private donors, the Tahoe Fund has leveraged more than $2 million in private funds to secure more than $40 million in public funds for more than 25 environmental projects. The projects include new sections of the Lake Tahoe Bikeway, restoration of watersheds, removal of aquatic invasive species, forest health projects, public beach improvements, and stewardship programs.

Organizations invited to submit project ideas online

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. and Nev. – November 7, 2017 – The Tahoe Fund has opened its online project submission portal for projects that will help solve the environmental challenges facing Lake Tahoe. Organizations are invited to submit project ideas by January 31, 2018 at http://www.tahoefund.org/our-projects/submit-a-project/.

The Tahoe Fund seeks projects for its 2018 Signature and Premier Project Portfolios that will improve Lake Tahoe’s environment, reduce the risk of wildfire, and address climate change by enhancing water quality, restoring watersheds, creating healthier forests, improving transportation and fostering outdoor recreation.  The Tahoe Fund also seeks to build a greater sense of stewardship in the Tahoe Basin.

“The Tahoe Fund is looking for ideas and projects that will have a real impact on the Basin’s environment,” said Tahoe Fund Projects Committee Member and Clear Capital President, Kevin Marshall. “With the support of the private community, the Tahoe Fund has the passion and ability to get high return projects done.”

Since 2010, the Tahoe Fund has raised funds from private donors for more than 25 environmental improvement projects including new bike paths, watershed restorations, removal of aquatic invasive species and environmental stewardship programs. The Tahoe Fund is actively raising funds for two 2017 Signature Projects: the Sugar Pine Reforestation project and the Aquatic Invasive Species Bottom Barrier Challenge.

Eligible projects must be able to demonstrate that any necessary 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/our-projects/submit-a-project/