Submitted by TRPA, May 1, 2025

Three months ago, the devastation of the LA wildfires unfolded as flames spread from the chaparral into the neighborhoods of Palisades and Altadena. Living in Tahoe, residents face similar risks, and a team of Lake Tahoe fire, forestry, and conservation agencies say communities here have the chance now to significantly lower the risk of another catastrophic wildfire. The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) is calling on every resident and property owner in the Tahoe Basin to help them protect Lake Tahoe and has the know-how to help you Get Defensive.

Living in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) means choosing to live next to or within forested areas – beautiful, yet vulnerable. That proximity increases the threat to people and homes in the event of a major wildfire.

Local fire agencies and land managers are making major strides to reduce these risks by conducting fuels reduction projects in the wildland-urban interface, like prescribed burns and tree thinning. These projects promote forest health and help minimize the amount of flammable vegetation. The TFFT is a collaborative partnership of local, state, regional, and federal organizations leading this work. The team works together to plan, fund, and implement forest health and wildfire mitigation projects across jurisdictional boundaries, making the region more fire-resilient at a landscape scale and has treated more than 99,000 acres in the Lake Tahoe Basin to reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health.

But creating a resilient Tahoe is a shared responsibility – so what can residents do?

As we’ve seen in recent wildfires, wind can carry embers miles ahead of the main flames. These embers will ignite smaller fires when they land on anything flammable, whether that’s piles of dry pine needles near homes or landing inside attic vents, which is more common that you might think. Creating and maintaining defensible space (the buffer between the house and flammable vegetation) and home hardening (using fire-resistant materials on homes) are critical steps homeowners can take to reduce risk. With summer around the corner, it’s the perfect time to rake pine needles, access free curbside chipping services from local fire agencies, and sign up for evacuation alerts and prepare go-bags in the case of an evacuation. This work is critical and TFFT agencies are providing the support needed to prepare Lake Tahoe for the next wildfire.

While these tasks can feel overwhelming when done alone, TFFT partners are here to help.

That’s where programs like Fire Adapted Communities and Firewise USA neighborhoods come in. Under the guidance of a neighborhood leader or leadership committee, Fire Adapted Communities work together to host defensible space workdays, prepare evacuation plans, and share wildfire preparedness tips and resources. Firewise USA is a nationally recognized program that operates within the framework of Fire Adapted Communities to create fire-resilient neighborhoods. Like Fire Adapted Communities, Firewise USA neighborhoods create three-year action plans and annual work reports in addition to hosting annual workdays. Becoming a Firewise USA neighborhood may assist in keeping or lowering the rates of your fire insurance. From workdays to barbecues and block parties, these programs foster a connected and prepared community.

In the Tahoe Basin, these programs are supported by the Tahoe Resource Conservation District and local fire agencies. Neighborhood leaders in existing Fire Adapted Communities and Firewise USA neighborhoods offer guidance, resources, and encouragement to help others get started. As wildfire intensity across the state increases, it’s natural to feel anxious. But being a part of a community that’s actively working to reduce wildfire impacts can bring peace of mind. As wildfire patterns shift, community-driven adaptation is becoming more important than ever.

To join or start a Fire Adapted Community or Firewise USA neighborhood, visit Tahoe Living With Fire for more information, or contact the Fire Adapted Communities Program at the Tahoe Resource Conservation District by calling 530-543-1501 ext. 114 or emailing fire@tahoercd.org.

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About the Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team

The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team consists of representatives of Tahoe Basin fire agencies, CAL FIRE, Nevada Division of Forestry and related state agencies, University of California and Nevada Cooperative Extensions, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, the USDA Forest Service, conservation districts from both states, the California Tahoe Conservancy and the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board. Our Mission is to protect lives, property and the environment within the Lake Tahoe Basin from wildfire by implementing prioritized fuels reduction projects and engaging the public in becoming a Fire Adapted Community.

For more information, visit Tahoe Living With Fire.

Written by Tierney Cahill, Submitted by Mary Danahey, 04/27/2025

Christina Zhakov Takes 1st Place at Nevada History Day!
 Please join us in congratulating Christina Zhakov on her 1st place victory in the Senior Paper category at Nevada History Day! Her powerful and deeply researched paper, “Treaty of Ruby Valley: A Precedent for the U.S. Abuse of Power Against the Western Shoshone,” earned her the top honor in the state.

Christina is now eligible to represent Nevada at National History Day, held at the University of Maryland, College Park, from June 8–12, 2025. 

Congratulations to Jesus “Beto”  Aguirre Gomez – 2025 Bank of America Student Leader!

Incline High School’s own Jesus Aguirre Gomez has been selected as a 2025 Bank of America Student Leader—one of just 315 students chosen nationwide from over 12,000 applicants!

This prestigious honor recognizes students who are passionate about improving their communities and demonstrating leadership. As a Student Leader, Jesus will complete an 8-week paid internship with a local nonprofit this summer and attend the Bank of America Student Leaders Summit in Washington, D.C., July 21–26.

This week, between April 21 and April 27, local residents can enjoy delicious and unique dining experiences as part of Incline Village Crystal Bay Restaurant Week. 

Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe will be providing two special dining experiences for the Restaurant Week. 

The resort’s Osteria Sierra will offer a special tasting menu showcasing Northern Italian cuisine. It will include a smoked veal loin antipasti, a primi course of truffle and stracciatella raviolo, and a secondi course of saffron seafood tomato broth with grilled octopus tentacle, steamed mussel, and seared shrimp and branzino. The meal will conclude with a white chocolate panna cotta dessert topped with a cherry compote and meringue.

Additionally, the resort’s Cutthroat’s Saloon is serving a Lone Eagle legacy lunch featuring popular dishes including a French onion soup, ahi tuna poke, Sierra Nevada Cubano sandwich, and a Durham Ranch American bison burger.

Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 04/14/2025, Submitted

Following the success of last year’s pilot program, Nevada State Parks is fully implementing day-use reservations at Sand Harbor State Park starting tomorrow, April 15, 2025. The reservation system is designed to improve the visitor experience, reduce congestion, and protect the park’s stunning natural environment.

Reservations will now be required daily during peak season, from April 15 to October 15, for entry by vehicle from park opening at 8 a.m. through 10:30 a.m. Visitors arriving during this time must secure a reservation in advance at ReserveNevada.com.

After 10:30 a.m., any unclaimed reservation spots will be released to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis.

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Originally published in Lake Tahoe This Week, 03/30/2025, Written by Kirsten Alexis

Spring is officially here, and that means we have a short window to prepare for the high tourist season in the Tahoe-Truckee region. With warmer weather and longer hours of sunshine come more opportunities to explore a vast network of hiking trails, relax on stunning sandy beaches and recreate on our favorite blue lake. 

However, summer brings a notorious increase in traffic, air pollution, trash on the trails and lakeshore, and even litter in our beloved lake.

It’s a complex issue, as the region relies heavily on tourism. But the fragile ecosystem can only be pushed to its limits so far, and locals and visitors are worried that we may be coming to a point of no return unless we take swift action. 

Photo: TAMBA’s passionate volunteers help create and maintain multi-use trails in the region. Photo Credit: TAMBA

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Originally Published in the Sierra Sun, 03/15/2025, Submitted

Tahoe Forest Health System has been recognized with three prestigious Women’s Choice Awards for 2025, reflecting its unwavering commitment to exceptional patient care and clinical excellence. The hospital has been honored in the following categories:

• America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Patient Experience: Out of 957 hospitals in the small hospital size category, Tahoe Forest Hospital ranks #39, placing it in the top 100 hospitals nationwide for patient experience, a testament to its dedication to providing outstanding care and ensuring patient satisfaction.
• Top 1% in Obstetrics: The hospital’s obstetric services have been recognized for excellence, placing it in the top 1% of hospitals offering obstetrics nationwide out of 4,675 hospitals. This accolade underscores the hospital’s commitment to providing high-quality care for mothers and newborns.
• Top 3% in Emergency Care: Tahoe Forest Hospital’s emergency department has been acknowledged for its exceptional performance, ranking in the top 3 percent of hospitals offering emergency care services nationwide out of 4,675 hospitals. This award highlights the hospital’s dedication to delivering timely and effective emergency medical services.

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March Madness, my favorite time of year. One can make wheelbarrows of money betting on hoops during the Big Dance. As the late great Mark Pilarski told me, “Mac, most smart sports bets are based on statistics, but not March Madness. Smart Madness bets are predicated on the heart. If you can judge heart, you’ve got it made.”

Probably because I lived in the Hawaiian Islands for fifteen years, I’m a pretty good judge of heart. The Hawaiian people taught me to think with my heart, and I try to do that as a regular thing, but in March it amounts to positive income.

I was never a good baller myself. I still remember Coach Phillips’s last words to me when he cut me from our high school squad and sent me to the showers, “Layne, this is a TEAM sport!” I had no idea what he was talking about…still don’t.

But, never one to give up, I practiced my trick shots until I had them down, and could challenge my fraternity brothers at the University of Oregon to games of Horse on Friday afternoon to win enough money to go out that night. 

One easy mark was Sam Elliott, who was a nice guy, but a terrible shot. I would bounce the ball off the court and into the bucket, or whip the ball around my back and into the hoop, while Sam could never get the hang of it. I see him on television now and again these days, hawking insurance or something, and only wish I could watch a March Madness game with him at a sports book here at the lake, and buy him a beer for all the money I took off him on the basketball court at the SAE House back there at Oregon…

My pick for this year is Memphis. They are the scrappiest, fastest team out there. I have to believe the Memphis basketball coach went out to the track one day, and asked those track stars, “Hey, you guys wanna learn how to play basketball?” They said yes, and sure enough they did learn how to play basketball, and now they beat everybody up and down the court all night long.

I wish Mark P. were still with us. Mark had the best sports mind in Nevada, and was the most fun to ski with in the morning, watch a game with in the afternoon, then collect our winnings and take our wives out to dinner in the evening. I miss him…

Well, enjoy this year’s Big Dance. Bet with your heart, and don’t forget to dance with the one you brung. Oh, and if the pretty cocktail waitress calls you “George” take it as a compliment, for here in the great state of Nevada, as well as in a few of the other more cultured states in the union, a big tipper is known with abiding affection, as a George…

Go Tigers!

Audio: https://open.spotify.com/show/7Fhv4PrH1UuwlhbnTT23zO

Originally Published in the Reno Gazette Journal, 3/4/2025, Written by Jason Hidalgo

A Lake Tahoe luxury hotel development is in a precarious financial situation after receiving a second notice of default over an $82 million loan in less than a year.

Utah-based Lake Tahoe Partners LLC filed the notice on Feb. 27 against the Waldorf Astoria Lake Tahoe’s developer, according to a public document acquired from the Washoe County Recorder’s Office.

EKN Development, based in Newport Beach, California, is building the resort on the site of the former Tahoe Biltmore Lodge and Casino at Crystal Bay. The Reno Gazette Journal has requested comment from EKN Development.

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Photo provided by Waldorf Astoria Lake Tahoe

More than 90 percent of measurable standards of Lake Tahoe’s environmental health are stable or improving, according to a draft report the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) presented to the agency’s Governing Board today. The peer-reviewed 2023 Draft Threshold Evaluation identifies several areas, including aquatic invasive species, regional wildfires, and seasonal lake clarity trends that need more attention, better monitoring, or more research. The four-year report compiles scientific data on 140 indicators of environmental quality in the Tahoe Basin and measures the progress of science-based policies and restoration programs under the bi-state Tahoe Regional Plan. 

“It’s incredible to see the hard work of public agencies and property owners making steady progress and making historic achievements in restoring Lake Tahoe and enhancing our communities,” TRPA Executive Director Julie Regan said. “Science-based policies and regional partnerships are essential to restoration on this scale. Many challenges are ahead, but the Regional Plan remains the blueprint for continued progress in the Tahoe Basin.”

The agency adopted measurable threshold standards in the 1980s that today encompass ten environmental categories, from water quality to wildlife, transportation, and scenic quality. The independent Tahoe Science Advisory Council conducted a peer review of the evaluation and provided input that will help future evaluations.

In addition to TRPA’s growth management system and limits on development, findings in the report show significant progress is coming from the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program, or EIP, which is considered one of the most successful conservation programs in the nation.

A key example during the reporting period is the historic achievement of a wetland restoration target set more than 40 years ago. Today, EIP partners and private property owners have restored more than 1,100 acres of previously disturbed marshes, meadows, and wetlands that are critical to lake clarity and biodiversity. As partners began approaching the target, TRPA strengthened its goals with a new threshold standard that looks beyond acreage and focuses on improving the overall condition and quality of restoration projects.

Several overarching issues emerged during the 2020-2023 reporting period, according to the report:

• Wildfires in and outside the basin are impacting single-day and short-term air quality standards.
• Questions for scientists remain around restoring the lake’s famed clarity; winter clarity measurements continue to improve while clarity in summer declines.
• The New Zealand mudsnail discovery in 2023 and newly adopted targets for aquatic invasive plants require continued work.
• Vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and VMT per capita have decreased, while shifting recreation patterns strained popular roadway corridors.

The 2023 Threshold Evaluation is the eighth four-year evaluation conducted since TRPA adopted measurable targets in the 1980s. The Tahoe Science Advisory Council coordinates a peer review process to ensure that appropriate methods and the best available science are applied in the threshold evaluation.

“The Council is committed to maintaining a strong bridge between science and management, and the Threshold Evaluation peer review effort is a great example of how independent science advice can continue to support TRPA’s important work,” Tahoe Science Advisory Council Program Officer Bob Larsen said.

TRPA will be collecting public and partner input on the draft evaluation over the next few months. The agency will present a final report to the TRPA Governing Board in June that will include recommended actions in response to the findings, changing conditions, public and stakeholder input, and advancements in science. The threshold evaluation summary, detailed findings, and feedback survey are available at thresholds.laketahoeinfo.org/ThresholdEvaluation/Index/2023.

Images:

Spring East Shore Drone
Caption: A national scenic byway stretches along the East Shore of Lake Tahoe, Nev. Transportation and parking improvements are planned for the roadway corridor that can see thousands of visitors a day.
Image Credit: Drone Promotions

Tahoe Conservancy Upper Truckee Marsh
Caption: That California Tahoe Conservancy restored the Upper Truckee River Marsh in 2023. Restoration partners have restored more than 1,100 acres of critical marsh, meadow, and wetland habitat, surpassing a landmark goal adopted in 1982.
Image Credit: California Tahoe Conservancy

Pier Drought South Lake Tahoe

Caption: A pier on Lake Tahoe’s South Shore sits high and dry during a drought year. Extreme weather events, hotter temperatures and prolonged droughts are impacting Tahoe’s forests and water quality.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency leads the cooperative effort to preserve, restore, and enhance the unique natural and human environment of the Lake Tahoe Region, while improving local communities, and people’s interactions with our irreplaceable environment.