How I remember waking up at the Ormsby House after one of my first presentations of Mark Twain on the previous night. I recall looking out the window into that Nevada sunrise, gazing at the Capitol, and muttering to myself, “Someday, Son, you are going to regale Nevada’s legislators with some words from The Wild Humorist of the Pacific Slope. I was dreaming… 

That was 1988. Thirty-seven years and 4,000 programs later, that dream came to fruition with a call, “McAvoy, we know you’re comfortably retired, but we would ask that you address the Nevada legislature for fifteen minutes on March 20th.” 

“YES!” Kim Harris even called out her small but mighty army of Suffragists to welcome everybody as they arrived at the Capitol. It was enchanting. Our Nevada legislators were in a good humor that morning, and, well, a portion of that program I shall enter here…

“How ‘bout our Suffragists! Thanks to you ladies Nevada leads the nation! And we’re proud of you! Now you might be wonderin’ how Mark Twain got all the way from the Mississippi River to Carson City. I’m going to tell you, if I can remember…

As good fortune would have it, thanks to Mr. Lincoln’s inauguration, my brother was appointed Secretary to the silver territory…Nevada.  So, I fancied myself to be Secretary to the Secretary, and I purchased the $150 fare each on the Overland Stagecoach out of St. Joe, and out we came, at a spanking gate; with our six shooters, a deck of cards, and a six pound unabridged Webster’s dictionary. We should have left it behind. It wasn’t a good dictionary. It didn’t have any modern words in it, only obsolete words that Noah Webster used when he was a child.  For example, it defined a “carbuncle” as a kind of a rare jewel.  Humor has no place in a dictionary.”

Then, a little later along, came the litmus test…

“I covered the legislature for the Enterprise. Never have I seen a body of men with tongues so handy and information so uncertain. They could talk for a week without ever getting rid of an idea. If any one of them had been on hand when the Creator was at the point of sayin’, ‘Let there be light,’ we never would have got it. No, the Nevada legislature meets every two years for sixty days, when they ought rightly meet every sixty years for two days.”

The laughter and ovation that followed was a relief to me in light of the divisive political climate dominating our nation’s landscape. Our Nevada legislators were not taking themselves too seriously, but were good sports, and were not actually going to drown me as I had expected. In fact, I had asked that any offered honorarium go toward my funeral expenses.

Invited to dine at the Fox with the Suffragists, I was in paradise, and full to the brim with gratitude that civility is alive and well in the Great State of Nevada… 

For audio click and scroll: https://open.spotify.com/show/7Fhv4PrH1UuwlhbnTT23zO

Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 03/28/2025, Written by Leah Carter

The Incline Village General Improvement District met March 19 to approve an increase to beach rates for the 2025 season, amend an agreement with the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District, and approve proposed golf rates. Trustees also gave a brief audit update, in which they disclosed that the deadline would not be met.

Trustee Mick Homan gave the update on audit progress, and said the district will not make the deadline, but is closer to receiving an opinion from the auditor. 

“The good news is that we appear to be progressing closer towards getting an opinion from our auditors,” said Homan. He added that state officials said “staff has made more progress this month than they have seen in the previous six months.”

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Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 03/28/2025, Written by Eli Ramos

With limited land, varying policies between counties, and environmental regulations to consider, it’s no wonder that housing development has been a challenge in the Basin. And after the COVID-19 pandemic increased remote workers who flocked to tourist destinations, housing issues for local workers were further exacerbated.

Though there are many similarities to housing issues around the Basin, each area faces its own set of challenges, from policies to land use to attitudes. But each area also has its own solutions. In this first article in the Tribune’s Housing Series, we’ll do a flyby of the current state of housing around the Basin, then dive into different topics as the series progresses.

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Photo: Tahoe Daily Tribune

We invite you to share your thoughts in a brief survey about the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program (EIP) and the collaborative efforts underway to restore and enhance Lake Tahoe’s environment.

Take the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/M3C8LN3 

Your input will help us better connect with the public, increase awareness, and strengthen support for environmental restoration. Plus, by participating, you’ll be entered into a prize drawing. 

Thank you for being part of this important work and for your commitment to Lake Tahoe.

With appreciation,

Kim Caringer
TRPA Chief Partnerships Officer

Originally published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 03/27/2025, Haley Beyer Tahoe Magazine

Local ski and snowboard legends frequent the slopes of the surrounding area’s ski resorts but some have even made Tahoe/Truckee their permanent home.

Among the activities Lake Tahoe is known for, skiing and snowboarding exist at the top of the list. With countless ski resorts, beautiful views, and an olympic historical background, Tahoe might very well be the place to be! Throw in the chance of running into a number of local legends who have competed in the Winter Olympics, X games, World Championships, etc. and you have the perfect day on the slopes lined up. 

Some report seeing skier Glen Plake at Heavenly, skier Jonny Moseley at Palisades, or a number of other local legends on their skis or boards including Jeremy Jones, Nate Holland, Jamie Anderson, Julia Mancuso, David Wise, and Daron Rahlves. Anyone with any interest in snow sports will have heard of, if not completely obsessed over, these names and the achievements each athlete has earned. 

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Photo- Tahoe Daily Tribune

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Golden mussels could be a greater threat than any other aquatic invader

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Governing Board on Wednesday approved a critical update to the Lake Tahoe Watercraft Inspection Program to protect the lake from a new aquatic invasive species recently discovered just a few hours away from the Tahoe Basin. Invasive golden mussels were discovered for the first time in North America last October in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta of California. TRPA and Tahoe Resource Conservation District (Tahoe RCD), which manage the boat inspection program, strengthened inspection procedures to reduce the risk to Lake Tahoe.

On Wednesday, the agencies enacted mandatory decontaminations for all visiting motorized watercraft entering Lake Tahoe. The TRPA Governing Board approved an updated fee structure to support the additional services.

As new threats to Lake Tahoe emerge, the emphasis on following Clean, Drain, Dry protocols remains for all boaters, paddlers, anglers, and beachgoers. Golden mussels are not in Lake Tahoe, and following Clean, Drain, Dry protocols will reduce the risk of invasion. 

The main change for motorized boaters traveling from other areas will be a watercraft decontamination following the mandatory inspection. As always, boats that were launched last in Lake Tahoe and have a Tahoe security seal can launch again without reinspection. 

“Boaters and paddlers have a key role in protecting the waters they enjoy,” said Dennis Zabaglo, aquatic invasive species program manager for TRPA. “Golden mussels are a greater threat to Tahoe than other aquatic invasive species. We appreciate the support of boaters and will continue working to keep the lake safe and accessible to all.”

Since its discovery in Stockton, Calif., the golden mussel has been detected almost as far south as Bakersfield through connected water systems. To keep the risk to Lake Tahoe as low as possible, all motorized watercraft from other waterbodies will be decontaminated, which will increase the cost to operate the program.

Governing Board Updates Fee Structure

The Watercraft Inspection Program is a public-private partnership with one third of its funding from inspection fees and two thirds from public sources. The TRPA Governing Board approved a minimum decontamination fee of $30 for all visiting motorized watercraft needing an inspection to address the cost of increased decontaminations.

“These strengthened procedures are necessary to preserve Tahoe’s waters,” said Hayley Williamson, Chair of the TRPA Governing Board. “The introduction of golden mussels would be devastating to the lake, and the Watercraft Inspection Program is our frontline defense.”

By adhering to Clean, Drain, Dry protocols, boaters can limit additional increases to their decontamination fee.

About Golden Mussels

The golden mussel is likened to quagga mussels, an invasive species that the Lake Tahoe inspection program has successfully kept out of Lake Tahoe since beginning in 2008. Like quagga mussels, golden mussels can encrust boats, piers, rocks, and pipes. Golden mussels can also tolerate a broader range of habitats and can reproduce faster, making them more of a threat. If introduced, golden mussels could irreversibly harm Lake Tahoe’s recreation, water quality, and native ecosystem.

Areas outside the Tahoe Region have responded to the threat with temporary waterbody closures and 30-day quarantine periods. Invasive species prevention programs throughout the western United States are rapidly assessing protocols to limit the spread outside of California.

To view the updated fee structure, visit TahoeBoatInspections.com/stickers-and-fees.

Images

Golden_Mussels_2014_11_06_CDFW: Golden mussels can attach to surfaces, damage boats and clog infrastructure. Credit: Xavier Mascareñas / California Department of Water Resources

Golden_Mussels_Oneill_2024_11_14_CDFW: Invasive golden mussels (Limnoperna fortunei) found October, 2024 in the O’Neill Forebay in Merced County, Calif. Credit: Xavier Mascareñas / California Department of Water Resources

HUC Outline Tahoe RCD: An outline of waterbodies hydrologically connected to the San Joaquin Delta. Golden mussels have the potential to infest a large portion of California’s waters. Credit: Tahoe Resource Conservation District

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The Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Program is implemented by 40 public and private partner organizations, including federal, state, and local jurisdictions, research partners, public utility districts, and private marinas. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the Tahoe Resource Conservation District lead the program in collaboration with the public and private partners. The program’s mission is to prevent, detect, and control aquatic invasive species in the Region so that future generations can enjoy Lake Tahoe.

Jeff W. Cowen, APR (he/him)
Public Information Officer
Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
775-589-5278 | jcowen@trpa.gov