Lake Tahoe Archives - Tahoe Fund

Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan Introduced to Address Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Challenges

June 20, 2023 by Caroline Waldman

An unprecedented group of Lake Tahoe destination management, land management, and non-profit organizations, including the Tahoe Fund, launched the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan today with the signing of an agreement to create the first destination stewardship council for the greater Tahoe region. The plan outlines a comprehensive framework and sets in motion action priorities to better manage outdoor recreation and tourism and ensure the sustainability and preservation of an iconic natural treasure and its local community.

Today’s event capped an extensive stakeholder engagement and community visioning process that began in 2022 after the community felt immense challenges initially brought on by COVID. The plan’s vision and actions were developed in collaboration with 17 regional organizations and participation of over 3,000 residents, visitors, and businesses through surveys, interviews, and workshops.

The Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan establishes a shared vision for the region’s recreation and tourism system: A cherished place, welcoming to all, where people, communities, and nature benefit from a thriving tourism and outdoor recreation economy. The plan identifies 32 actions across four strategic pillars:

Foster a tourism economy that gives back
Turn a shared vision into shared action
Advance a culture of caring for the greater Lake Tahoe region
Improve the Tahoe experience for all

By implementing this plan, member organizations, and Lake Tahoe communities will reinforce their commitment to responsible recreation and tourism practices, ensuring the continued enjoyment of this national treasure for generations to come.

“At its heart, this plan is about taking care of Tahoe for generations to come,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. “With the entire region putting this strategy into action, we will be able to build a sustainable future for the Lake Tahoe environment that everyone can enjoy.”

“The launch of the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan represents a significant step forward in preserving the natural beauty and cultural heritage of this beloved destination,” said Tony Karwowski, President and CEO of the North Tahoe Community Alliance. “It demonstrates the commitment and partnership of the local community, government agencies, and tourism industry to safeguard Lake Tahoe’s future.”

“This plan responds to the need to balance a robust tourism economy, a fragile environment and thriving local communities,” said Carol Chaplin, President and CEO of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. “And the collaboration and commitment by our lakewide partners to achieve that balance is extraordinary and powerful towards achieving our shared vision.”

“As the Tahoe region’s primary economic engine, tourism must be nurtured and shaped to support the wellbeing of its communities, visitors, businesses, natural environment, and cultures,” said Erick Walker, Forest Supervisor of the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Forest. “It is everyone’s responsibility to safeguard and improve Lake Tahoe and its surrounding lands, tributaries and forests. To protect the quality of the Tahoe experience, it is vital to manage use while providing opportunities for all to enjoy it.”

“The culmination of this plan and creation of Tahoe’s first destination stewardship council underscore the commitment we all share to a brighter future where the lake, our communities and visitors, and the backbone of our regional economy can thrive together,” Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Executive Director Julie Regan said. “The diverse makeup of our region has put Lake Tahoe on the forefront of collaborative conservation and today that spirit of partnership is taking us forward to be a model for sustainable recreation and tourism as well.”

Action Priorities

To implement the plan, partners agreed today to establish a Lake Tahoe Stewardship Council that will actively engage with stakeholders, residents, and visitors to foster a collective sense of responsibility towards the destination’s sustainability. The plan will be continuously reviewed, updated, and adapted to address emerging challenges and opportunities.

This summer, visitors and residents at Tahoe will see destination stewardship programs already working. Key programs include Take Care Ambassadors at recreation sites and trailheads, expanded litter clean ups, solar compacting trash cans, and coordinated stewardship education campaigns focused on visitors and outdoor recreation users.

For more information about the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan and to access the full plan document, please visit www.stewardshiptahoe.org.

The public can learn more about the plan at an upcoming online webinar on July 10 from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. or by signing up for the eNews at www.stewardshiptahoe.org.

The plan was developed in collaboration with 17 regional organizations including the California Tahoe Conservancy, City of South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado County, Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce, Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation, North Tahoe Community Alliance, Placer County, Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority, Tahoe Fund, Tahoe Prosperity Center, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Travel North Tahoe Nevada, USDA Forest Service – Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Visit Truckee-Tahoe, Washoe County, Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California.

As Mosquito Fire Burns, Forest Health Partners Deploy New Technology to Help Reduce Wildfire Threats Across 1.5M acres in the Tahoe Region

September 22, 2022 by Caroline Waldman

Land Tender™ uses high resolution imaging and artificial intelligence to modernize planning for forest health treatments

As the Mosquito fire burns, and one year after the Caldor fire burned into the Lake Tahoe Basin, the Tahoe Fund and Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation announced the deployment of Land Tender™, a powerful new software tool developed by Vibrant Planet, that will allow land managers to collaboratively address wildfire threats and plan forest health and restoration treatments. Land Tender will be used in the Tahoe Basin and surrounding critical watersheds covering 1.5 million acres, making this the largest deployment to date of this new system.

Land Tender, also jointly funded by California Tahoe Conservancy, is the leading community wildfire resilience and wildland health decision support system in the United States. The platform will be deployed across the Lake Tahoe Basin, the Middle Truckee River, American River, Bear River, Feather River, and Yuba River watersheds. Much of that area is either burning, under high wildfire threat, or in need of reforestation, fueling the need for faster, more informed wildfire resilience and restoration planning and monitoring.

“Traditional solutions are inadequate with the rate of change and severe impacts we’re seeing in this new age of ‘megafire’,” explained Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. “Vibrant Planet’s software allows us to speed up the timeline of critical community protection and forest health, while at the same time giving us more information than ever before to do what’s best for the environment. It’s a powerful complement to other recent Tahoe Fund initiatives, including a new sawmill in Carson City and scholarships for the new forestry program at Lake Tahoe Community College.”

Land Tender will provide granular-level detail on dozens of key forest health metrics in the region, including tree densities and potential mortality; vulnerability of endangered species habitats, recreational trails, and waterways. From there, Land Tender enables land managers to collaboratively create forest treatment plans based on a number of desired outcomes, such as reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire, or maximizing water quality or protecting recreational opportunities.

Demonstration of fire hazard in Land Tender platform

Land Tender also estimates the cost of such treatments, and allows land managers to monitor and report on project progress, shift priorities and resources based on evolving conditions and threats, and gain insights into the effectiveness of different techniques. Ultimately, workflows done by these groups in Land Tender will reduce multi-year planning processes to weeks, allowing managers to rapidly develop community wildfire protection plans and proactively address forest health challenges.

“Historically, public and private landowners created and executed land management plans independently,” explained Allison Wolff, CEO of Vibrant Planet. “In the face of catastrophic wildfire and other climate change driven impacts, we’re excited to offer a solution that can help land managers come together across jurisdictions to more rapidly map, model and get funding for forest health treatments that meet the goals of all affected parties, both within and downstream from multi-jurisdictional landscapes.”

“Collaboration is challenging when stakeholders with different points of view on what they value in a landscape, or their backyard, cannot see each others’ perspectives or how different scenarios might play out in the future,“ said Stacy Caldwell, CEO of Tahoe Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation. “Vibrant Planet’s software allows landowners and other stakeholders to develop scenarios that meet their objectives, then share their scenarios with each other to drive to alignment so that we can get more protective and restorative work done faster.”

CHECK TAHOE PUBLIC BEACHES WEBSITE BEFORE YOU GO TO THE BEACH THIS SUMMER

June 23, 2022 by Caroline Waldman

As the summer season gets underway, the Tahoe Fund and agencies that manage Lake Tahoe’s public beaches have updated TahoePublicBeaches.org to help improve the recreation experience for residents and visitors. Designed as a resource guide to over 40 beaches that surround the iconic shores of Lake Tahoe, the site offers information about frequented hotspots and lesser known locations. Users will find helpful information about how to get to each beach, where to park, hours of operation, and what amenities and services are offered, if any.

“With the low lake level, the beaches that surround Lake Tahoe will be larger than usual, and are likely to be very busy,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “As people seek out places to access the lake and recreate on the beach or in the water on kayaks or paddle boards, TahoePublicBeaches.org is a tremendous resource to help people decide where they want to spend their day.”

TahoePublicBeaches.org offers information on each beach, including what facilities are available, which beaches are dog friendly, where to BBQ, rent paddleboards or boats, and where to find shade. It also has information about the Lake Tahoe Water Trail and how people can do their part to help take care of Lake Tahoe. By encouraging beachgoers to get around without a car, visit the beach at non-peak times, and protect the environment from litter and pet waste, the website highlights destination stewardship practices emphasized throughout the region.

A collaborative effort, the site was developed by the Tahoe Fund and co-funded by the California Tahoe Conservancy through the Lake Tahoe License Plate Program. Eight public agencies assisted with the project to create one central place for beachgoers to find public beach information. The partners include: California Tahoe Conservancy, California State Parks, City of South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City Public Utility District, North Tahoe Public Utility District, Nevada Division of State Parks, the U.S. Forest Service, and Tahoe Transportation District.

Low Lake levels this summer mean the beaches will be larger, but many boat ramps around Tahoe will be closed. Currently, the only public boat ramps that are open are at the Lake Forest boat ramp in Tahoe City, Calif. and the Cave Rock boat ramp in Cave Rock, Nev. Non-motorized users are still able to launch paddle boards and kayaks at the closed boat ramps.

Beach goers are encouraged to bookmark the mobile-friendly website and use it to plan their next trip to one of Tahoe’s public beaches. Learn more at TahoePublicBeaches.org.

###

About the Tahoe Fund

The Tahoe Fund is a nonprofit founded in 2010 to support environmental improvement projects that restore lake clarity, enhance sustainable recreation, promote healthier forests, improve transportation and inspire greater stewardship of the region. Through the generous support of its donors, the Tahoe Fund has leveraged more than $10 million in private funds to secure more than $60 million in public funds for more than 80 environmental projects. The projects include new sections of the Lake Tahoe Bikeway, restoration of watersheds, removal of aquatic invasive species, forest health projects, new hiking trails, and stewardship programs. Learn more at www.tahoefund.org.

About the Lake Tahoe License Plate

Lake Tahoe License Plates benefit conservation and recreation projects in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Learn more at tahoeplates.org.

TAHOE FUND FISCAL YEAR 21-22 RECAP

June 14, 2022 by Caroline Waldman

Reflecting on the Tahoe Fund’s most recent fiscal year that closed at the end of March, we are deeply rooted in a single feeling: gratitude.

Even amidst the uncertainty caused by the pandemic and wildfires, our community rallied alongside us, reinforcing our philosophy that together, we can improve the Lake Tahoe environment for all to enjoy.

The unwavering support of our donors and steadfast partners throughout the Basin allowed us to fund 42 projects last year–more than ever before. We distributed more than $1 million in grants, and helped secure over $4 million in public funding.

We continue to believe that partnerships are the key to success. Last year, in addition to the 50 partners we worked with on the Take Care Tahoe program, we partnered with over 30 agencies and organizations whose dedication and collaborative spirit allowed us to accomplish so much more collectively than any of us could have on our own.

We helped get great projects done, like the first ever scuba clean up of all 72 miles of Lake Tahoe, an effort led by Clean Up The Lake with major support from Tahoe Blue Vodka, Vail Resorts and over 135 Tahoe Fund donors. With our support, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the US Forest Service embarked on the largest Aquatic Invasive Species project to-date in the Tahoe Basin at the Taylor and Tallac creeks and marshes. We also provided the funds for the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association and the Tahoe Rim Trail Association to begin restoring and rebuilding trails destroyed by the Caldor Fire.

Working with our partners, we are expanding inclusivity and access while building the next generation of stewards who will care for our environment for years to come. For example, we are proudly supporting youth leadership programs through Adventure Risk Challenge and the US Forest Service, field trips to the universally accessible East Shore Trail for campers with disabilities at Camp Wamp, and trailside information and stories in multiple languages throughout the Tahoe Rim Trail.

Together, we are making our forests smarter, our Lake clearer, our recreation more sustainable, our transportation more efficient, and our community more prepared to take care of Tahoe.

None of this would be possible without the support, generosity and collaboration of our donors, community and partners. Thank you for continuing to show us the power of philanthropy. This work happened because of you.

Read the full recap below.

Tahoe Fund FY 21-22 Recap

PUBLIC WORKSHOPS SCHEDULED FOR NEW LAKE TAHOE DESTINATION STEWARDSHIP PLAN

May 4, 2022 by Caroline Waldman

Lake Tahoe residents, community members and stakeholders interested in the responsible management of tourism and recreation are invited to take part in workshops this month to create a destination stewardship plan that will balance the needs of Lake Tahoe’s environment, businesses, visitors, and local communities. This new shared strategy will inspire all to take care of Tahoe.

A collaboration of 13 public and private sector organizations invite residents and stakeholders in the greater Tahoe region, including Truckee, Calif., to weigh in during a series of visioning workshops scheduled for May 2022.

Residents and stakeholders are invited to participate in the visioning workshops on May 16, 17, and 18 in locations around the Tahoe Basin, plus an option for Zoom.

Experts in the field of destination stewardship, including the Center for Responsible Travel (CREST), and the Travel Foundation, are helping guide the process to create a shared vision and decision-making framework for sustainable management of tourism and recreation throughout the Lake Tahoe region. Additionally, the team includes South Lake Tahoe-based research firm SMG Consulting and Civitas Advisors specializing in sustainable funding solutions.

“The way people access and rely on public lands is changing. In everything from hiking to skiing we are welcoming new and more diverse users, sometimes in growing numbers.” said Erick Walker, Forest Supervisor, USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. “Now is the time for us to come together to learn how we can better coordinate and improve the whole picture.”

A core team is leading the project from federal, state, county, tribal, and local governmental organizations, as well as businesses, nonprofits, and all four destination organizations that market and manage Lake Tahoe area tourism.

“This unprecedented collaboration with land managers, visitors authorities and the local community is exactly what we need right now,” said Tahoe Fund CEO and core team representative Amy Berry. “Together, we will work to develop a plan that will improve the quality of the Tahoe experience for everybody while also taking care of our extraordinary environment.”

To ensure the plan supports a shared vision for future tourism and recreation, it will draw inspiration from extensive local engagement, including two rounds of public workshops, one-on-one interviews, and focus group meetings with stakeholders including the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California.

The first round of workshops invites participants to identify opportunities for increasing the direct benefits of tourism and recreation, while addressing the challenges, and creating the plan’s vision and mission statements as well as key goals.

Following are the dates, locations, and times of five in-person events:

May 16 – North Tahoe Event Center, Kings Beach, CA – 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Truckee citizens are invited to Kings Beach, Incline Village, and Virtual Zoom workshops
May 17 – Parasol Community Foundation, Incline Village, NV – 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
May 18 – Lake Tahoe Community College, South Lake Tahoe, CA – 11:30 a.m to 1:30 p.m.
May 18 – Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority Office, South Shore/Stateline – 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Virtual Zoom Workshop – date to-be-determined

A fifth virtual workshop will be scheduled following the May workshops. All are invited to register for a workshop, learn more about the planning process, and sign up to receive news about the project, results from workshops, and additional opportunities for feedback at StewardshipTahoe.org.