The Planning Services Division delivered a presentation to the board to discuss the draft Vision Statement and Guiding Principles on Aug. 5. The board directed staff to update the document with further detail and clarity around housing opportunities, conservation planning, mountain resort communities, and maintaining agriculture lands.
The vision statement envisions Placer County in 2050 as a region that cherishes its natural beauty, fosters vibrant and inclusive communities, and promotes sustainable growth. It emphasizes the importance of preserving open spaces, ensuring access to achievable housing, and maintaining the unique character of its rural, suburban, and mountain resort areas.
The guiding principles focus on balanced growth, environmental sustainability, community well-being, and transparent governance. They serve as a compass for county leaders and staff to align future initiatives with the community’s values and priorities.
Residents and stakeholders are encouraged to review the document and participate in upcoming phases of the General Plan update.
The document is expected to go before the Board of Supervisors for approval Oct. 7 and will include time for public comment. Learn more about Placer 2050 at placer2050.com.
~ Placer County press release
Return of Market Match Program
NEVADA COUNTY
The Nevada County Department of Social Services announced the return of the Market Match Program, beginning Sept. 6, with expanded offerings and a renewed commitment to food access for CalFresh customers.
CALFRESH MARKET MATCH program in Nevada County provides customers with fresh provisions. Photo courtesy Nevada County Health and Human Services Agency
Market Match helps CalFresh shoppers stretch their food dollars at farmers markets. This year’s program will continue to be administered by Sierra Harvest, and due to the delayed start, the Market Match Program will operate through Feb. 28, or until allocated funds are depleted.
Participating Market Match locations and programs:
Nevada City Summer Farmers Market matches up to $10 in electronic benefit transfer (EBT) funds per market.
Mountain Bounty Farm – Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Vegetable or Fruit Share — offers a 50% discount on monthly CSA subscription (regular or small box). Enroll by contacting info@mountainbountyfarm.com or (530) 292-3776.
Tahoe Truckee Food Hub – CSA Harvest Box — offers a 50% match on individual harvest box purchases. Visit tahoefoodhub.org or call (530) 562-7150 to enroll.
For more information about the Market Match Program, eligibility, or participating vendors, contact the Nevada County Department of Social Services.
~ Nevada County Health and Human Services Agency press release
Truckee Young Entrepreneurs Club Kicks Off
TRUCKEE
The Truckee Chamber of Commerce, Sierra Business Council, and Lift Workspace announced the launch of the Truckee Young Entrepreneurs Club (formally named Truckee Tahoe Future Founders), a new initiative designed to support and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs in our region. The club is open to aspiring entrepreneurs aged 14 to 24 and will hold its first official meeting on Sept. 10, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Lift Workspace in Truckee.
The inaugural meeting will feature Jan Holan, Founder of Lift Workspace: Cowork, Conference and Wellness Center, who will present on his entrepreneurship journey, offering valuable insights and inspiration to club members.
The club is led by Truckee High School student Saim Mian, who saw a gap in business education and wanted to create a space where young people could learn real entrepreneurial skills and build their ideas into action. His leadership and initiative have helped shape the vision of Truckee Young Entrepreneurs as a collaborative, hands-on experience where students drive the programming and take ownership of their futures.
Moving forward, Truckee Young Entrepreneurs will meet once a month on the second Wednesday of the month from 5 to 6:30 p.m.. The club plans to offer real-world business insight through local guest speakers, hands-on workshops, and mentorship opportunities. The goal is to build foundational entrepreneurial skills, spark creative thinking, and give young people the tools and confidence to turn their ideas into action.
For more information about the club, visit truckee.com or email jessica@truckee.com.
~ Truckee Chamber of Commerce press release
BIKING FILM FEST by Bike Tahoe accepts video submissions. Photo courtesy Bike Tahoe
Bike Tahoe Invites Amateur Filmmakers
LAKE TAHOE
Bike Tahoe, a local nonprofit bicycle advocate, announced the inaugural launch of the 2025 Bike Tahoe Film Fest for amateur filmmakers to celebrate the spirit of biking through video.
The festival invites riders, families, and outdoor enthusiasts to capture and share their Tahoe biking adventures in short videos.
Filmmakers can choose among five categories: Bike Park, Family Affair, Next Gen, Awe-Inspiring Beauty, and Extreme Adventure. Each video is 60 seconds or less, non-commercial, and must have original or copyright-free music.
Participants can learn about the film fest details and submit their video at biketahoe.org by completing the online entry form. Submissions are open until Oct. 15.
The 2025 Bike Tahoe Film Fest showcases selected films and their makers, celebrating the creativity, resilience, and beauty found in biking adventures across the Lake Tahoe region.
~ Bike Tahoe press release
Slow Food Lake Tahoe’s Salmon Buying Club
TRUCKEE
Slow Food Lake Tahoe (SFLT), in partnership with Yup’ik Girl Seafood, is bringing back its Wild Alaskan Salmon Buying Club.
The club gives Truckee/Tahoe locals the opportunity to purchase sustainably caught Alaskan sockeye salmon at a significant discount. In return, nonprofit SFLT will receive a portion of the proceeds to help support community programs including Food Bank Garden, providing free adult and youth education, and organic produce donations to Sierra Community House.
Order a 20-pound case of filets for your own freezer, or share with a friend. Ordering closes on Sept. 21. Boxes will be available for pick-up in Truckee on Sept. 28. Learn more at slowfoodlaketahoe.org/salmon-buying-club.
~ Slow Food Lake Tahoe press release
Moving In, Moving On, Moving Up
TCPUD General Manager Honored with Statewide General Manager of the Year Award
TAHOE CITY
SEAN BARCLAY receives 2025 General Manager of the Year by the California Special Districts Association. Photo courtesy Tahoe City Public Utility District
The Tahoe City Public Utility District (TCPUD) announced that General Manager Sean Barclay has been honored as the 2025 General Manager of the Year by the California Special Districts Association (CSDA).
This statewide award recognizes exceptional leadership, effectiveness, and service to the community, and Barclay’s selection reflects his outstanding contributions both to TCPUD and to the broader region.
Barclay has served TCPUD for 16 years, beginning his career in 2009 as a part-time engineering technician before advancing through multiple roles to become general manager in 2017.
Under Barclay’s direction, TCPUD has undertaken ambitious infrastructure projects and strategic planning efforts that ensure safe, reliable service for decades to come. These include the acquisition and consolidation of multiple aging water systems, the launch of two major water system replacements, and the development of TCPUD’s Five-Year Strategic Plan and Long-Term Financial Plan.
Regionally, Barclay is recognized as a collaborative leader well-versed in shared issues that impact all agencies in the region. His peers consistently cite his ability to strengthen relationships, share resources, and align regional priorities.
Barclay’s leadership has also earned TCPUD statewide recognition, including the 2024 California Water Environment Association Small Operator of the Year, the 2023 CSDA Exceptional Outreach & Advocacy Award, the Best Place to Work in North Tahoe award, and eight consecutive GFOA Certificates of Excellence in Financial Reporting.
~ Tahoe City Public Utility District press release
Thirty-Passenger Max Public Charter Allowed to Operate Out of Truckee
TRUCKEE
At the Truckee Tahoe Airport District’s meeting on Aug. 27, the board discussed the possible impending addition of airport operations by JetSuiteX (JSX), a public charter operator.
According to the airport, JSX plans to operate an ATR 42-600 once a day, four days a week. Under its public charter designation (which airport GM Robb Etnyre noted is technically not commercial, though it operates on a limited-scheduled service), JSX is allowed a maximum of 30 passengers per flight.
The public charter cannot be restricted from flying in and out of Truckee/Tahoe, even without support from the board. If the charter operator meets Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements, the airport has to provide space.
Tahoe Truckee Airport said JSX would likely plan routes from the Bay Area and the Los Angeles Basin. The closest comparison to JSX that the board used was Surf Air’s private chartered flights, which ended earlier this year.
Board President David Diamond said the directors have no choice in JSX’s operations, despite community concern over flight impacts such as noise and safety having existed for years.
The airport expects to have more information on an agreement with JSX in September.
~ MR, Tahoe Truckee Airport District Board meeting
Join First-Ever Livestream Journey to the Bottom of Lake Tahoe
TAHOE
On Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, the Tahoe Fund and Restoring the Lake Depths Foundation will livestream an ROV’s journey to the bottom of Lake Tahoe, giving everyone the opportunity to watch in real time as it reaches a depth of 1,570 feet.
Via a livestream that will be broadcast on the Tahoe Fund’s website, follow along as “Deep Emerald,” a custom ROV built by Restoring the Lake Depths, ventures to the bottom of Lake Tahoe. While the ROV descends, Tim Crandle, president of SeaView Systems, will share more about the cutting-edge technology that made this journey possible, and Sudeep Chandra, foundation professor of limnology at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe and the Tahoe Institute for Global Sustainability, will unpack the secrets of why Tahoe’s famed waters are so clear.
Featuring open-source electronics from Blue Robotics and Mission Robotics software, Deep Emerald was designed for underwater exploration. It is equipped with an 8-thruster system for maneuverability, four LED lights and a 4K Ultra HD camera with low-light sensitivity for high-resolution imaging. In addition to deep water exploration, Deep Emerald has been utilized to remove litter from the lake and help identify aquatic invasive species.
Watch the livestream at tahoefund.org/deepdive starting at 9:30 a.m. PT on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.
~ Tahoe Fund, Restoring the Lake Depths press release
Board Adopts Amendments to Tahoe Area Plan
INCLINE VILLAGE
The Washoe County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve code amendments to the Tahoe Area Plan, which was adopted in 2021 and serves as a master plan for the Incline Village area. In 2023, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) adopted Phase 2 Housing Amendments to support deed-restricted affordable, moderate, and achievable multi-family developments. The number of units that can be built is not changed; these amendments address the type of units that can be built to address the lack of affordable housing in the Tahoe Basin.
The code amendments approved on Aug. 26 are mandated by TRPA, and TRPA gave Washoe County additional time past its deadline — December 2024 — to finesse the amendments to address residents’ concerns, particularly parking and density. Senior Planner Kat Oakley told the commissioners that if Washoe County did not approve the amendments, TRPA has the latitude to adopt them without Washoe County’s refinements. Deputy District Attorney Michael Large further clarified that the way TRPA is structured, it has the jurisdiction to pass its own ordinances that are binding on Washoe County, and its housing amendments will go into effect regardless of the board’s decision.
~ Washoe County Board of County Commissioners newsletter
Office of Emergency Services set to release the 2025 Ready, Set, Go! Handbook
NEVADA COUNTY
Nevada County’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) is set to release the 2025 Ready, Set, Go! Handbook to help residents prepare for wildfires. This 32-page guide offers essential information on wildfire preparedness, including creating a fire-resistant home, knowing one’s evacuation zone, packing a go-bag, preparing for extended power outages, protecting pets and livestock, addressing air quality impacts, and assisting vulnerable family members.
Every Nevada County resident will receive a copy in the mail this September. Additional copies will be available at the Eric Rood Government Center in Nevada City, the Joseph Center in Truckee, all local fire districts, libraries, schools, and online at readynevadacounty.org/handbook.
The handbook was developed in partnership with Cal Fire, Truckee Fire Protection District, City of Nevada City and Grass Valley Fire Departments, Town of Truckee, City of Grass Valley, City of Nevada City, Nevada County Sheriff’s Office, 211 Connecting Point, United Way of Nevada County, FREED, Nevada County Public Health & Adult Services, Keep Truckee Green, and the Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District.
With increased fire risk over Labor Day, ensure celebrations include being ready for wildfire:
Measure T Funding Leveraged to Increase Size, Scope of Projects
TRUCKEE
Truckee Fire Protection District is leveraging Measure T funds through partnership reimbursement agreements to increase the size and scope of wildfire prevention projects this summer.
Using locally controlled funds from Measure T allows Truckee Fire Protection District to increase the pace and scale of project implementation and accomplish more meaningful work within each field season. It also maximizes the impact of those dollars; TFPD’s investment of nearly $200,000 of Measure T funds has resulted in more than $560,000 of total funding for regional projects through partner reimbursement programs, nearly tripling the impact of local taxpayer dollars.
The agreements are an innovative way for TFPD to support more work through capacity provided by partner agencies.
TDPUD Launches Educational Campaign on Quality and Care of Truckee’s Water Supply
TRUCKEE
The Truckee Donner Public Utility District (TDPUD) has launched a community-focused educational campaign to share the story behind every glass of water in Truckee. Drawing from the pristine Martis Valley Groundwater Basin, fed by snowmelt, and naturally filtered through ancient layers of sand, cobble, and granite, Truckee’s water arrives at customers’ taps refreshingly cold and with only minimal treatment. TDPUD’s recently launched “Truckee’s Water: Naturally Filtered. Responsibly Managed” campaign highlights the unique characteristics of the region’s water source and the infrastructure that delivers it to homes and businesses.
Unlike many communities that require extensive water treatment, Truckee’s water needs only minimal treatment, just a small amount of chlorine is added as a state requirement. The water originates from snowmelt runoff that naturally filters through mountain terrain before reaching the groundwater basin at depths of 600 to 950 feet.
The campaign also highlights the complex infrastructure required to deliver high-quality water across Truckee’s varied mountain terrain. TDPUD operates 13 wells, 26 pump stations, 35 tanks, and 238 miles of pipeline to navigate an elevation gain of 2,850 feet from the lowest well to the highest storage tank.
The campaign features newly released infographics that visually explain Truckee’s water journey from the Martis Valley basin to customers’ taps. The educational materials will be shared through social media, ads, community events, and TDPUD’s website at tdpud.org/your-water.
~ Truckee Donner Public Utility District press release
TAHOE LEADERS representing 17 land management, fire, and environmental agencies renewed the Lake Tahoe Basin Multi-Jurisdictional Fuel Reduction and Wildfire Prevention Strategy on Aug. 6. Photo courtesy Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team
Agencies Sign 10-Year Strategy to Protect Lake Tahoe Communities, Forests
LAKE TAHOE
Against the backdrop of the 2025 Tahoe Summit, federal, state, local, and tribal partners commemorated the renewal of the Lake Tahoe Basin Multi-Jurisdictional Fuel Reduction and Wildfire Prevention Strategy, a 10-year plan to protect communities and restore fire-resilient forests within the Lake Tahoe Basin.
A multi-agency coordinating group developed the first Multi-Jurisdictional Strategy following the Angora Fire in 2007, which burned 3,100 acres and destroyed more than 248 homes. Since 2007, subsequent strategy updates have guided more than 78,000 acres of forest treatments in and around communities and 85,000 defensible space evaluations to assist homeowners. This work helped protect neighborhoods during recent wildfires, including the 2021 Caldor Fire.
The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit led the strategy update with input and support from Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team partners. It lays out a shared framework for reducing hazardous fuels, strengthening community preparedness, and safeguarding Tahoe’s environment for the next decade.
With the signing of the strategy, the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team and its partners enter a new chapter of coordinated action to reduce wildfire risk and protect Lake Tahoe’s communities, environment, and treasured natural resources.
~ Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team press release
Moving In, Moving On, Moving Up
Scott Bensing Joins Tahoe Fund Board of Directors
INCLINE VILLAGE
The nonprofit Tahoe Fund announced today that Scott Bensing, a U.S. Navy veteran with over 15 years of experience on Capitol Hill, has joined its board of directors. A high-ranking former Republican senior staff member, Bensing’s service has spanned the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and included developing federal policy and navigating legislative and regulatory challenges. As a board member, he will support the Tahoe Fund’s mission of improving the Lake Tahoe environment for all to enjoy.
Bensing’s Capitol Hill experience began when he was a naval officer working as a congressional liaison officer to the U.S. Navy Secretary. As a civilian, he worked as chief of staff for the U.S. Senator John Ensign, and as executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee prior to starting SB Strategic Consulting in 2009. He was instrumental in developing the legislation that has brought billions in public funding to Tahoe.
Heavily involved in community efforts throughout his home state of Nevada, Bensing was appointed to serve on the board of the Tahoe Transportation District by Gov. Joe Lombardo. He is also a past chairman of the Nevada Military Support Alliance and currently serves on the board of PTSD NOW! and the Military Officers Association of America, Incline Village Chapter.
Bensing holds a B.S. degree in political science from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, and a Masters degree in public administration from The American University in Washington, D.C.
New Members Join TOT Advisory Committee to Expand Geographical Representation
NORTH LAKE TAHOE
Two new community members have joined the TOT Advisory Committee, which helps guide investments of Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) revenues generated by overnight visitors in North Lake Tahoe. Damarys Los, director of housekeeping at Martis Camp and a recent graduate of the Tahoe Truckee Leadership Program, will represent the Northstar/Martis Camp region. Meghan Lowry, sustainability coordinator at Sugar Bowl Resort, will represent Donner Summit.
The committee, comprising 15 voting seats and three non-voting advisory seats, was designed to reflect a wide range of expertise, experience, and geographic representation of residence or business ownership. Through the TOT-TBID Dollars at Work program, the TOT Advisory Committee recommends projects and programs that support community priorities related to economic health, community vitality, and environmental stewardship to the NTCA Board and Placer County Board of Supervisors for funding with TOT revenues.
Both Lowry and Los included personal statements in their applications for consideration on the committee. Lowry said she wanted to advocate for her community and the environment. Los said she’ll help represent the local Latino community and support the well-being of local workers.
Leadership Transition Announced for North Tahoe Truckee Leadership Program
NORTH LAKE TAHOE
The North Tahoe Truckee Leadership Program announced a significant transition in its leadership and operational structure. After years of dedicated service, Karen Willcuts has retired from her role as the program manager, and the Truckee Chamber of Commerce and the North Tahoe Chamber will be taking on an expanded leadership role in the program’s future.
This transition marks an exciting new chapter for the North Tahoe Truckee Leadership Program. For the upcoming year, participants can anticipate a program similar in structure and impact, but with the addition of new and engaging content designed to further enhance leadership skills and community engagement.
The program will continue its vital partnership with the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, ensuring a strong foundation for future initiatives and continued impact within the region.
The North Tahoe Truckee Leadership Program remains dedicated to fostering a new generation of leaders who will contribute to the vitality and success of the region. Applications and more information about the North Tahoe Truckee Leadership Program will be available in mid-September. If anyone is interested in the program they are encouraged to email admin@tahoetruckeeleadership.com.
~ North Tahoe Truckee Leadership Program press release
Business Briefs
NV Energy Accepting Applications for Low-Income Customers to Save Money
NEVADA
NV Energy is encouraging eligible low-income customers to apply for the company’s Expanded Solar Access Program (called ESAP) beginning Sept. 1. The program allows customers to tap into solar energy at no added cost, with no solar panels required.
Low-income eligible customers who participate in this program are guaranteed a lower rate for energy than the standard rate. To be eligible to participate low-income customers must show proof of income and may not have an income of more than 80% of the Area Median Income based on guidelines published by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. More information on qualifications is available at nvenergy.com/esap.
Applications for the program will be available online at nvenergy.com/esap on Sept. 1 and will be open until Oct. 31. Recent changes in the program now allow low-income customers participating in the program to continue participating in future years without having to provide proof of eligibility every year. Currently participating customers will be automatically re-enrolled for the next program year, eliminating the annual recertification burden.
Rep. Kiley Responds to Special Election to Gerrymander State
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Congressman Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) issued the following statement in response to Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature’s call for a special election to implement a new Congressional map for the state.
The governor’s plan would bypass the state’s Independent Redistricting Commission, a nonpartisan body created to safeguard fair representation and instead hand the authority directly to the Legislature. Critics warn the effort is designed to benefit the majority party while weakening the voices of rural and agricultural communities across Northern California.
“California voters are overwhelmingly opposed to Newsom’s plan to sideline our state’s Citizens Redistricting Commission,” Rep. Kiley said. “Yet the Supermajority Legislature chose to ignore this and will now spend $250 million trying to convince voters to reverse themselves and return power to politicians. The political leadership of California has never been more out of touch with the people of California.
“Newsom’s scheme is an unprecedented assault on democracy and good government in our state. But gerrymandering is a plague on democracy wherever it occurs. I’m calling on Speaker Mike Johnson to advance my bill to safeguard democracy in California and end the redistricting war nationwide.”
In response, the Nevada County Republican Party announced the launch of a revitalized Get Out The Vote (GOTV) committee to ensure Nevada County residents are fully informed and engaged throughout this process. The committee will provide voters with critical election information, including dates, polling locations, and resources to protect the integrity of every ballot.
“The people of Nevada County will not be silenced by Gavin Newsom’s power politics,” Chairman Mac Young said. “We will continue working to protect equal representation and uphold the constitutional safeguards that guarantee fair elections.”
~ Rep. Kiley, Nevada County Republican Party press release
Resident Tests Positive For Plague
EL DORADO COUNTY
El Dorado County health officials have been notified by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) that a South Lake Tahoe resident has tested positive for plague. The individual is currently under the care of a medical professional and is recovering at home. It’s believed that the person may have been bitten by an infected flea while camping in the South Lake Tahoe area. Health officials are investigating the situation.
Plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Plague bacteria are most often transmitted by the bites of fleas that have acquired the bacteria from infected squirrels, chipmunks, and other wild rodents. Dogs and cats may also bring plague-infected fleas into the home. People can get plague when they are bitten by infected fleas. Plague can be prevented by avoiding contact with wild rodents, and by keeping pets away from rodent burrows.
Symptoms of plague usually show up within 2 weeks of exposure to an infected animal or flea and include fever, nausea, weakness, and swollen lymph nodes. Plague can be effectively treated with antibiotics if detected early.
CDPH routinely monitors rodent populations for plague activity in California and closely coordinates with county health officials. To date in 2025, four additional rodents have tested positive. All these rodents were identified in the Tahoe Basin.
A Projected $6.7 Million Loss to Tahoe Forest Via Medicaid Cuts
TRUCKEE/TAHOE
The local hospital district is estimated to see a near $7 million drop in revenue due to the national One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed on July 3.
The Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan federal agency, estimates a $1.02 trillion cut over the next decade in federal spending on Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program as a result of OBBBA.
While it could be 2 years before any changes to hospitals might be felt, an analysis performed by the nonprofit and advocacy group Third Way projected out Medicaid losses for hospitals across the country. Tahoe Forest Health System, it claims, will lose $6,714,999 annually. The system’s FY 2025 budget anticipates $315 million in net patient revenue.
The hospital district did not respond to Moonshine’s request for comment.
Further, the CBO estimates a reduction in Medicare spending by $5.1 billion over 10 years, increasing the number of uninsured people by 100,000 come 2034 — if a law requiring cuts to federal programs in reaction to an increased federal deficit isn’t mitigated. The California Hospital Association estimates between a 14% and 30% reduction in Medi-Cal revenue over 10 years.
TFHS CEO Anna Roth shared at a recent Good Morning Truckee meeting that the district is monitoring financials on a state and national level. On what impacts the hospital will see from OBBBA, she said there would likely be an increase in charity care, where healthcare services are provided to patients who are unable to pay their medical bills. Tahoe Forest’s Financial Assistance Program isdetailed here in English.
Roth, who began her tenure as a healthcare CEO in 2008/09, and joined TFHS as such in March of this year, said she’s in her comfort zone amid healthcare reformation, though she called President Trump’s Administration the most “cataclysmic” one in her career.
~ AH
Public Utility District Celebrates Completion of West Lake Tahoe Water Treatment Plant
TAHOE CITY
The Tahoe City Public Utility District (TCPUD) announced the completion and grand opening of the new West Lake Tahoe Regional Water Treatment Plant. This project represents a transformative investment in TCPUD’s water system to provide a permanent, drought-resilient source for drinking water and fire protection for the West Shore of Lake Tahoe.
The road to this milestone began almost 2 decades ago when TCPUD began searching for a permanent solution to a temporary water treatment plant used to meet peak summer water demand.
Located near Chambers Landing, just north of Tahoma, the new state-of-the-art facility replaces the temporary seasonal plant and will now provide a year-round water supply sourced directly from Lake Tahoe. The project strengthens the public water supply, enhances fire protection capabilities, and improves the resilience of TCPUD’s interconnected water infrastructure.
Currently, the treatment plant can deliver almost 1 million gallons of water per day to West Shore customers. The treatment plant may be expanded to meet the needs of up to 2,400 customers from Tahoma to Timberland.
The new water treatment plant is one of the largest capital investments in TCPUD’s history. Funding for the approximately $30 million project was made possible through more than $5.5 million in grant funding from the California Department of Water Resources, the El Dorado Water Agency, and the Placer County Water Agency, and a $19.7 million loan from the California State Water Resources Control Board.
TCPUD Board of Directors and staff, along with project partners, will gather Sept. 10 to mark the official grand opening with a celebratory “first sip” of water from the new treatment plant. Later this fall, TCPUD will host guided public tours of the water treatment plant, with details coming soon.
Three Major Hospital Expansion Projects Will Meet Growing Needs
TRUCKEE
Tahoe Forest Health System (TFHS) has officially launched three large-scale expansion projects designed to address the growing demand for healthcare services in Truckee and North Lake Tahoe. With patient needs on the rise, these projects aim to enhance access, reduce wait times, and ensure the long-term sustainability of care for the region.
GATEWAY CENTER project rendering on Donner Pass Road. Photo courtesy Tahoe Forest Health System
The developments include three separate sites: Sierra Center (located in the former Rite Aid building in Truckee), Gateway, also in Truckee, and the brand-new North Shore Clinic in Dollar Point. Together, the projects will add more than 60 exam rooms and significantly increase the system’s capacity to provide high-quality, local care.
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Debuts Limited-Time Day Pass
INCLINE VILLAGE
Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino announced day pass opportunities for late-summer getaways available for a limited time.
When locals book a day pass, they will have access to the resort’s world-class amenities including its lagoon-style mountain-side pool and tranquil hot tubs. They will also receive complimentary towels, wi-fi, and self-parking for their visit.
HYATT REGENCY introduces day-passes for locals, giving them access to the resort’s amenities. Photo courtesy IVCBA/Hyatt Regency
Daycationers can also purchase delicious food and beverages available at the resort’s poolside restaurant and bar. No outside food or beverages are allowed.
For more information or to book a late-summer getaway to Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, please visit hyattregencylaketahoe.com, or call (775) 832-1234.
~ Incline Village Crystal Bay Community & Business Association newsletter
Take Advantage of Liberty’s Electric Vehicle Charging Rebate Program
LAKE TAHOE
Time is running out to take advantage of Liberty’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger Rebate Program, a key initiative in the company’s commitment to advancing transportation electrification across its service area. Liberty (CalPeco Electric) has been offering rebates for EV charger purchase and installation since April 2021. While the program is scheduled to sunset at the end of 2025 due to state program changes, customers are encouraged to act now while funding is still available.
Eligible customers can receive:
Up to $1,500 in rebates for residential customers who own or lease a plug-in or plug-in hybrid vehicle
Up to $2,500 for small business customers installing public-access EV chargers
The rebate covers approved smart EV chargers, installation by a licensed California contractor, and associated costs, including labor, materials, panel upgrades, and permits (if required) up to the maximum amount. As part of the program, participants must allow Liberty to collect charging data anonymously to help inform future infrastructure planning.
For more information, eligibility details, or to apply for Liberty’s EV Charger Rebate Program, visit libertyutilities.com/driveelectric/ or call (530) 543-5286.
~ Liberty press release
FlyTahoe Electric Flying Ferry Highlighted in Regional Transportation Plan
LAKE TAHOE
FlyTahoe’s planned cross-lake electric flying ferry, the Candela P-12, has been highlighted as a key environmental improvement project in the Lake Tahoe Regional Transportation Plan. The proposed project offers a potential solution to cut traffic, lower emissions, and protect the lake.
With more than 15 million visitors each year, Lake Tahoe faces mounting traffic congestion, especially during peak seasons and winter road closures. At the same time, emissions and road sediment from such traffic threaten the lake’s world-renowned clarity, adding environmental pressure to the region’s mobility challenges.
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) adopted the Connections 2050 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)in July, which highlights FlyTahoe’s sustainable water transit network with the centerpiece P-12 cross-lake ferry as a key concept for waterborne transit in the Tahoe Region. Previously listed by the TRPA as an Environmental Improvement Project (EIP), FlyTahoe’s inclusion in both the EIP and RTP reflects the project’s potential to achieve regional environmental goals, including reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), road sediment, and emissions while preserving lake clarity and better connecting shoreline communities.
Subject to regulatory approval, FlyTahoe aims to balance accessibility, inclusivity, and equity for both locals and visitors while supporting the RTP’s goals, including environmental protection, multimodal mobility, safety, system performance, economic prosperity, and infrastructure resiliency. The Candela P-12 is set to serve as FlyTahoe’s flagship vessel as they work to build a more connected, resilient Lake Tahoe.
Read Moonshine’s previous reporting on FlyTahoe here.
~ FlyTahoe press release
Reno-Tahoe International Airport Prepares for Burning Man Crowds
RENO
Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) is gearing up for one of its busiest travel periods of the year as the annual Burning Man event and Labor Day weekend overlap. Passenger counts are expected to soar on Aug. 24, 28, 29, and Sept. 1.
RNO is encouraging passengers to plan ahead and allow extra time. Parking and roadways will be especially congested this year due to the combination of increased passenger traffic, Burning Man activity, and construction.
New This Year:
Burner Express activity is moving curbside, creating heavier foot traffic in close proximity to the main terminal.
Burner Express Pick-Up: Boarding for the Burner Express will now be outside baggage claim, a familiar location used in years prior to 2023.
Burner Express Drop-Off: Returning Burners will be dropped off on the south end of the loop road, just before Southwest Airlines check-in.
It is especially important that when drivers are on the loop road, they do not wait curbside, which will be heavily congested.
Travel Tips for All Passengers:
Arrive early: Arrive at least 2 hours before departure.
Plan parking in advance: Reserve a parking spot online or consider rideshare options and claim $5 off each ride at renoairport.com/parking.
Use the free waiting lot.
Respect restrictions: No oversized vehicles are permitted on airport property.
Check out the Burning Man exhibition, Tiny Titans: The Power of the Maquette on display in the depARTures Gallery.
Help keep RNO and our community clean: Returning Burners will find receptacles for unwanted items at the south end drop-off location, bike donation opportunities, luggage dust bags at their airline check-in counter, and foot coverings.
American general, trauma, and critical care surgeon, Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, joined CODEPINK, a peace and social justice organization, on Aug. 13 to discuss the impact of Israeli forces on healthcare in Gaza. Without international journalists present, doctors, nurses, and aid workers have become the world’s point of information in the Gaza strip.
As a humanitarian surgeon, Palestine is only one of many conflict-torn places Sidhwa has treated patients. He has also volunteered in Ukraine, Haiti, Zimbabwe, and more. On his first mission to Gaza, he treated a 9-year-old girl who was suffering from sepsis and unknown injuries from a bomb.
Once he was able to inspect her injuries and peel back the bandages on her abdomen, he said maggots spilled out of her side, which had been stapled shut because the surgeon who should have been on duty had been killed. Then, because there were too many patients for the doctors to handle, the girl had been left for days on end without any treatment. The same girl, Sidhwa said, somehow still had her leg attached. Treating her to the extent of his capability took 30 to 40 hours of surgery.
Sidhwa continued on, saying that she is now in Egypt and needs to have her leg amputated. Many other children haven’t made it. The ones who have been maimed — and he said Gaza easily has the most child amputees out of anywhere in the world — can’t be taken care of and won’t survive. Sidhwa spoke of two children sharing a wheelchair and being allowed to leave Gaza accompanied by their aunt, whose own 6-month-old baby was denied the same right by Israel.
DR. SIDHWA gives a talk with CODEPINK on healthcare in Gaza. Photo by Megan Ramsey/Moonshine Ink
Sidhwa’s most recent time volunteering in Gaza was this April, and he is slated to go back again this year despite noting that more aid workers have been killed in Gaza than anywhere else in the world. Having also volunteered in Ukraine during its ongoing conflict with Russia, Sidhwa said the rate of healthcare workers being killed in Gaza is easily 110 times the rate in Ukraine. He said that every person in charge of every hospital in Gaza has either been arrested or killed.
Sidhwa shared an insurmountable level of cruelty faced by Gazans. He described the atrocities inflicted on patients, many of whom will never recover mentally or physically; the rampant starvation and thirst and aid organization’s inability to assure food for volunteers; children shot in the head; children bleeding out on hospital floors crowded with hundreds of other people; hospitals functioning well-beyond capacity; and how, plainly, no amount of medical care can fix Gaza.
He said that Americans and the world are nowhere near doing everything they can.
~ MR
Death at Boca Reservoir
NEVADA COUNTY
On Aug. 12, the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office responded to a death at Boca Reservoir. It was reported that a body was pulled out of the water.
The Sheriff’s Office is conducting an investigation, and has no further information on the deceased or the cause of death has been released. The reservoir, located north of Lake Tahoe, feeds into the Truckee River.
~ MR
Nevada County’s Newest Historical Landmark 1870s Mount Lola Geodetic Survey Site
NEVADA CITY
The Nevada County Historical Landmarks Commission announced that the site and remains of the 1870s Mount Lola Geodetic Survey was designated on Aug. 12 as Nevada County Historical Landmark NEV 25-07 by the County Board of Supervisors at its Truckee meeting.
MT LOLA Geodetic Survey site is a newly designated Nevada County Historical Landmark NEV 25-07. Photo courtesy Nevada County Historical Landmarks Commission
The landmark will commemorate work done in the 1870s by Prof. George Davidson and his team from the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey. They developed quadrilateral base line measurements, which served as the primary triangulation method for surveying and mapping the West Coast of the United States until the advent of GPS satellite navigation in the 1980s. Davidson worked from atop Mount Lola, where evidence of his work remains.
Mount Lola – named for the legendary Lola Montez, who lived in Nevada County in the 1850s – is located in the Tahoe National Forest, yet the Forest Service does not intend to place a marker on the site.
Anyone wishing to visit the site should remember that it is a long and arduous hike up to the 9,143 elevation. The site will be featured in the next edition of the Commission’s interactive map and e-guide, which can be accessed from nevadacountylandmarks.com or the county website.
~ Nevada County Historical Landmarks Commission press release
Moving In, Moving On, Moving Up
Visit Truckee-Tahoe CEO Colleen Dalton to Retire
TRUCKEE
The Visit Truckee-Tahoe (VTT) Board of Directors announced the retirement of CEO Colleen Dalton in September 2025. She led the Truckee Tourism Business Improvement District (TTBID) for a decade and enjoyed a 30-year career in adventure-travel and tourism. Jackie Calvert, current director of tourism management, will succeed Dalton as executive director following a 9-month transition. Dalton will stay on in an advisory role to provide mentorship and continuity for strategic priorities.
VTT’s transition to the next leader began with recruiting Calvert in May 2024. Jackie served 11.5 years at Palisades Tahoe/Squaw Valley Ski Corp in multiple marketing roles. Dalton and Calvert’s overlap period at VTT resulted in the successful renewal of a 10-year TTBID, Visit Truckee-Tahoe’s updated Two Year Strategic Plan, Tourism Economic Impact Report, and Brand position, in addition to the redesign of visittruckeetahoe.com (in progress).
COLLEEN DALTON retires from Visit Tahoe-Truckee this September, succeeded by Jackie Calvert. Photo courtesy Visit Truckee-Tahoe
Among her many accomplishments, Dalton served with the Truckee Chamber of Commerce from 2015 to 2020 as director of tourism & economic development, overseeing Truckee’s first TTBID. During her tenure, Dalton guided the creation of the Truckee Jobs Collective, Truckee Core Values Fund, Truckee Cultural District, “Base Camp for a Big Life” brand position, and Citizen Quality of Life surveys. Dalton also developed Truckee’s Economic Impact of Tourism Report, first measured at $149M in 2019 and then $245M in 2024, of which 85% is local spending by lodging guests.
Tahoe Forest Recognized as a Certified Quality Breast Center of Excellence
TRUCKEE
Tahoe Forest Health System has been recognized as a Certified Quality Breast Center of Excellence in the National Quality Measures for Breast Centers Program (NQMBC), the highest level of recognition offered by the National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC). The certification is awarded to breast centers that demonstrate excellence in quality performance and accountability through rigorous data collection and benchmarking against national standards.
Achieving Certified Quality Breast Center of Excellence status confirms that Tahoe Forest Health System not only meets but exceeds national quality standards. It further reflects the organization’s investment in the latest technologies, clinical best practices, and a culture of continuous learning.
~ Tahoe Forest Health System press release
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in the National Quality Measures for Breast Centers Program