Palisades Tahoe Reaches Settlement Agreement on Development Project; Schiff to Host 29th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit; Incline Village Launches Wildfire Fuels Mitigation Project; More
News Briefs
Keep Tahoe Blue, Sierra Watch, Palisades Tahoe Reach Settlement Agreement on Development Project
OLYMPIC VALLEY
Palisades Tahoe has reached an agreement with Keep Tahoe Blue and Sierra Watch to settle litigation challenging proposed development in Olympic Valley. The organizations have issued the following shared statement:
“Sierra Watch, Keep Tahoe Blue, and Palisades Tahoe negotiated in good faith to find a solution that effectively ends the 14-year conflict over Olympic Valley while supporting the social, economic, and environmental needs of Olympic Valley and the Lake Tahoe region.
Under the settlement, all parties agree on a revised blueprint for the Village at Palisades Tahoe Specific Plan that:
- Reduces the total bedrooms within the specific plan by 40%
- Reduces total new commercial space by 20% in the specific plan main village area
- Affirms the permanent elimination of an indoor waterpark within the Village Specific Plan area
- Protects the land that was proposed for development at the base of Shirley Canyon by creating a conservation easement, preserving the land for recreation and public trail access in perpetuity; and
- Prevents additional development within the specific plan boundary for 25 years.
If Placer County approves the revised blueprint, the agreement would end the conservation groups’ legal challenge to the county’s 2024 approvals.
The three organizations appreciate the truly collaborative spirit of months-long negotiations and look forward to working together in the future to protect and uplift this unique region, its community, and all who love it.”
~ Keep Tahoe Blue press release
Schiff to Host 29th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit
LAKE TAHOE
U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced that the 29th annual Lake Tahoe Summit will be held on Aug. 6 in South Lake Tahoe. This year’s theme is “Protecting Lake Tahoe: Balancing Sustainable Recreation and Conservation.”
The summit will honor the legacy of California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who, along with Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada, created the summit in 1997. The summit will be held at Valhalla Tahoe, Feinstein’s favorite venue and site of the last summit she hosted in 2019. Federal, state, and local stakeholders and representatives of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California will meet to continue Feinstein’s work to protect the lake for future generations.
- When: Wednesday, Aug. 6, at 10 a.m.
- Who: California and Nevada senators, governors, and members of congress representing Lake Tahoe. Keynote Speaker will be Lake Tahoe resident and Academy-Award nominated actor Jeremy Renner
- Registration: General registration for in-person or virtual attendance HERE.
- Where: Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
On-site parking is not available. It is encouraged to use public transportation or the complimentary shuttle service. Please see additional information here.
~ Tahoe Regional Planning Agency press release
Incline Village Launches “Worm” Wildfire Fuels Mitigation Project
INCLINE VILLAGE
The North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District (NLTFD), in partnership with the Incline Village General Improvement District (IVGID), is initiating the Worm Wildfire Fuels Mitigation Project, a two-phase effort to reduce wildfire risk and enhance community safety in the wildland-urban interface above Highway 431.

The project — named “The Worm” due to its winding, elongated shape — spans 142.6 acres of IVGID-owned land and is designed to create a 132-foot-wide buffer zone of intensively managed vegetation between forested areas and residential neighborhoods.
- Phase 1: Covers 64.5 acres, scheduled to begin the week of July 14, and be completed in 4 to 5 weeks.
- Phase 2: Will treat an additional 78.1 acres, with completion expected in the summer of 2026.
The primary objective is to reduce the brush component within the project area while retaining 10% to 15% of native brush to preserve the natural forest aesthetic and support wildlife habitat. This fuels break will serve as a critical line of defense in the event of a wildfire, improving firefighter access and reducing fire intensity near homes.
Burnbot, a wildfire risk reduction company, will begin working in the designated areas of the Worm Project starting July 14. Residents may notice remotely operated mastication machines which are extremely low impact will be utilized.
The treatment corridor winds through key areas above Incline Village, reinforcing the region’s wildfire preparedness strategy.
For more information or to view the project map, contact NLTFPD Forester Jason Furmaniak at jfurmaniak@nltfpd.net.
~ North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District press release
County Renews Agreement With Cal Fire To Strengthen Emergency Response
PLACER COUNTY
The Placer County Board of Supervisors has approved a first-ever 5-year agreement with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) to continue providing full-service fire protection and emergency medical response across unincorporated areas of the county served by the Placer County Fire Department.
The $104.2 million agreement, which extends through June 30, 2030, ensures Cal Fire will maintain year-round fire protection, prevention, rescue services, hazardous materials response, and all-hazard emergency services to more than 1,000 square miles of unincorporated communities.
The contract supports approximately 59 full-time firefighters in the first year, with a phased approach to adding positions in future years as Cal Fire transitions toward a reduced industry standard shift pattern.
For more information, visit placer.ca.gov/7625/fire-department.
~ Placer County press release
Public Feedback Sought on Draft Cell Tower Ordinance
NEVADA COUNTY
Nevada County is inviting public comments by Aug. 8 on a draft ordinance updating the county’s 20-year-old cell tower regulations.
The draft ordinance was prepared at the request of the board of supervisors to keep up with changes in technology over the past 2 decades and to address neighborhood concerns related to health, visual impacts, and more. It incorporates feedback from those who attended a public hearing in March.
Some changes in the proposed ordinance are:
- Adding radio frequency monitoring after a cell tower is installed.
- Increasing setbacks for towers from 100% to 150% of tower height from property lines in all zoning districts except industrial. For example, a 100-foot tower would need to be at least 150 feet from the nearest property line.
- Expanding how far out the county must notify nearby property owners about new cell tower projects.
- Requiring additional supporting information with project applications such as more robust alternative site analysis.
Nevada County receives about three applications a year for new cell towers. Comments must be provided in writing by 5 p.m. Aug. 8 to Associate Planner David Nicholas at david.nicholas@nevadacountyca.gov or 950 Maidu Ave., Ste. 170, Nevada City, CA 95959.
The ordinance is expected to go before the planning commission in September and before the board of supervisors in November. View “Communications Tower and Facilities Update Draft Ordinance” at mynevadacounty.com/513/projects-supporting-documents.
~ Nevada County press release
Nevada State Parks Accepting Pre-Applications for Recreational Trails Program Funding
CARSON CITY
Nevada Division of State Parks is now accepting pre-applications for the 2026 Recreational Trails Program (RTP), a federally funded grant program that helps build and improve outdoor trails across the state. The program is funded through the Federal Highway Administration and provides critical support for creating and maintaining both motorized and non-motorized trails enjoyed by hikers, bikers, off-highway vehicle users, and outdoor enthusiasts.
RTP funding can be used to:
- Build or maintain recreational trails
- Install trailhead amenities like restrooms, parking, or kiosks
- Add signs or markers along trails
- Support outdoor education programs
- Conduct planning or environmental reviews related to trail development
Organizations eligible to apply include cities, counties, state and federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and Native American tribal governments.
Approximately $1.2 million in funding is available statewide. Because funding is limited, projects will be selected through a competitive process by the RTP Advisory Committee and Nevada State Parks staff. Final decisions will be made in January 2026 following a public presentation of project proposals.
All applicants must submit a pre-application to determine project eligibility. Only those who submit an approved pre-application will be invited to complete a full application this fall.
Deadline to submit a pre-application: Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, at 5 p.m.
Applications must be submitted online at nvparks.webgrantscloud.com.
To learn more, visit parks.nv.gov/about/grant-programs/recreational-trails-program.
~ Nevada Division of State Parks press release
Library to Temporarily Close for Interior Painting
KINGS BEACH
The Placer County Library Services Department will temporarily close the Kings Beach Library for 2 weeks from July 15 to 28, for interior painting.
During the closure, two previously scheduled events — Engineering Challenge on July 15 and Level Up That Painting for Teens on July 25 — will continue as planned and will be held outdoors at the library. Both programs begin at 2:30 p.m. Register for these events at placer.libcal.com.
The book drop at the Kings Beach Library will also be closed during this time. Patrons can return materials to the Tahoe City Library, located at 740 North Lake Blvd.
Library staff have extended due dates for Kings Beach Library patrons and will provide additional time for their requested holds to ensure minimal disruption.
For more information about library programs and updates, visit placer.ca.gov/library.
~ Placer County press release
More Than 650 Volunteers Keep Tahoe Blue at July 5th Cleanup
LAKE TAHOE
The “Keep Tahoe Red, White & Blue” Cleanup marked 12 years of the region’s largest volunteer cleanup event and continued movement toward cleaner beaches, more people practicing environmental stewardship, and improved beach management around the Fourth of July holiday.
More than 600 volunteers found 26% less litter this July 5 than at last year’s event, totaling just under 1,375 pounds.
Kings Beach State Recreation Area joined the Tahoe Blue Beach program this year with funding from the North Tahoe Community Alliance’s TOT-TBID Dollars At Work program.
The Tahoe Blue Beach program launched in 2024 at Zephyr Cove Resort through a partnership with the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and Aramark Destinations. As a result, volunteers collected 97% less litter during the 2024 cleanup event than the previous year. On July 5, the total litter collected at Zephyr Cove Resort dropped again, totaling less than 100 pounds. Tahoe Beach Club, Meeks Bay Resort, and Camp Richardson Resort are part of the Tahoe Blue Beach program as well.
~ Keep Tahoe Blue press release
Business Briefs
New Clarke Chiro Continues Family Legacy
TRUCKEE
Born in Truckee to two chiropractors, Dr. Charleston (Charley) Clarke, D.C., returned to town to open his own chiropractic practice, continuing the legacy of his late father and owner of Clarke Chiropractic Center. His new practice, Clarke Chiro, opened on July 7. Following in his father’s footsteps, Clarke Chiro is located in the same building as his father’s old practice.
“I loved the way my dad practiced. He was just a very grounded, very loving, very compassionate man that just showed up every day for his patients. And that’s kind of the mission for me still is just to serve the chiropractic community with love and compassion, integrity, but also clinical excellence,” Clarke said. “The goal is the same, helping people move and feel their best on a daily basis and when they’re hurting, come in and I’ll help you feel better.”
Clarke graduated from Life Chiropractic College West in March of 2025, practicing in Southern California before venturing back north. Now, with a few touch-ups to the space and a new infrared sauna, Clarke said he’s ready to give back to the Truckee/Tahoe community like his father had. The building also hosts two acupuncturists and a massage therapist, creating what Clarke calls a holistic space.
Clarke’s father, Tom, passed from a cardiac incident in July of 2024, before Clarke could graduate and join his father in Truckee.
Learn more at clarkechiro.com or visit the chiropractor at 10021 Martis Valley Rd., Ste. A, in Truckee.
~ MR