SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The Tahoe Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is beginning free community training on April 28, April 30 and May 2. The trainings will include a 12-hour online CERT hybrid course and 14 hours of in-person, hands-on training.
Are you ready to learn lifesaving skills to help yourself, your family, your neighbors and your community during an emergency or disaster? These trainings prepare you for real-life emergencies such as wildfires, earthquakes and medical incidents at home. You’ll learn essential skills to stay calm, think clearly and take quick, effective action before first responders arrive.
The course covers basic first aid, emergency response techniques, how to safely extinguish small fires, light search and rescue and medical triage skills for helping others in your neighborhood or community. You’ll also learn practical strategies to help keep yourself and those around you safe during critical emergency situations.
You must complete the 12-hour online hybrid course before attending the hands-on training.
The in-person schedule is as follows:
April 28th (Tuesday) 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
April 30th (Thursday) 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
May 2nd (Saturday) 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
You can sign up by emailing tahoecertinfo@gmail.com and including your name and phone number.
When residents are trained and prepared through programs like CERT, it helps make the entire community stronger!
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Winter is winding down, spring is in the air, and summer is just around the corner at Lake Tahoe. Over the next month, the U.S. Forest Service will open recreation sites on the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit for the recreation season.
Before the recreation sites open, they must be cleaned up after the snow melts. Safety hazards, such as dead or damaged trees, must be removed. And the danger of a freeze must pass before turning on restroom water systems.
The following recreation site opening dates are subject to change, based on weather and area conditions. Some sites and parking areas may open sooner.
Interpretive Sites
Inspiration Point – May 22
Tallac Historic Site – May 23
Taylor Creek Visitor Center – June 5
Logan Shoals Vista Point – to be determined
Campgrounds/Corrals/Resorts
Zephyr Cove Stables – Open
Camp Richardson Corral – Open
Round Hill Pines Resort – May 1
Meeks Bay Resort and Campgrounds – May 9
Camp Richardson Resort’s Eagle’s Nest, Badger’s Den campgrounds – May 22
Blackwood Canyon, Fallen Leaf, Kaspian, Nevada Beach and William Kent campgrounds – May 22
Angora Lakes Resort – May 23
Echo Chalet – Memorial Day, May 25
Camp Richardson Resort and RV Park – year round
Zephyr Cove Campground & Resort – year round
Luther Pass Campground – to be determined
Watson Lake Campground – to be determined
Beaches/Picnic Areas/Trailheads
Sandpit Off-Highway Vehicle Area – May 10
Sawmill Pond Picnic Area – May 16
Mt. Tallac Trailhead – May 17
Baldwin, Nevada and Pope – May 22
Bayview and Big Meadow trailheads – May 22
Eagle Falls Picnic Area & Trailhead – May 23
Kiva Picnic Area – May 23
Chimney Beach and Secret Harbor – to be determined
Until these sites are fully open, parking, trash service and restrooms are not available. Plan ahead and be prepared to pack out all trash.
National forest gate and road opening dates are determined by Motor Vehicle Use Maps. These dates are subject to change. Where gates remain closed, always park legally, avoid parking on vegetation, and do not block gates.
A friendly reminder about pets… Pets are not permitted at these designated swim beaches under public health and safety regulations: Baldwin, Camp Richardson, Meeks Bay, Nevada, Pope, William Kent, and Zephyr Cove.
Pets must be on a 6-foot leash in developed recreation sites. Where pets are allowed, clean up after and properly dispose of pet waste bags. For more on recreating with pets, visit Where Can I Take My Dog at Lake Tahoe?
For the latest information and updates, visit our websiteand follow us on Facebookand X.
TRUCKEE, Calif. – As the Tahoe Basin sees another spring storm move through the region, travelers are urged to check road conditions before heading over mountain passes or toward Reno and Carson City.
As of 10:34 a.m. April 21, multiple highways around the basin are under chain control and traffic restrictions due to snow and hazardous conditions.
Chain controls are in effect on several key routes:
Interstate 80 westbound from Donner Lake Interchange to Nyack
Interstate 80 eastbound from Kingvale to Truckee
Highway 88 from Iron Mountain to Red Lake
Pioneer Trail in Truckee
Truck screening is also in place:
Westbound Interstate 80 at Mogul, Nevada
Eastbound Interstate 80 at Applegate
A lane closure is also impacting travel on westbound Interstate 80 between Floriston Way and Hinton Road. One of two lanes is closed due to emergency work. The closure is expected to remain in place until about 5:01 p.m. April 21.
Officials advise drivers to carry chains, allow extra travel time and use caution, as storms in the Sierra can bring rapidly changing conditions.
One would think that the return to Third Creek for the seasonal spawning study of the Lake Tahoe Rainbow trout is a joyous occasion. In part, because they grow faster, larger, live longer and generally have more eggs these Tahoe’s Rainbows are considered, “the healthiest Rainbow Trout west of the Rocky Mountains.” According to those who catch and eat them, these Rainbows are the tastiest of all.
They’re not “Native Rainbow,” as I was reminded 10 years ago, when I volunteered to help the study’s lead biologist. Since then I believe a new term, “Naturalized,” has replaced “invasive species”. As explained by another Tahoe biologist; “Like several other trout and the Kokanee in the lake, they’re here to stay, because we couldn’t do anything about them if we wanted too.” This new moniker removes them from the invasive-species conversation, and I’m all for that. Let’s see if we can get rid of the Gold Fish!
Here’s what darkens the returning season. Prior to each season’s spawn, for eleven years I and Friends of Third Creek have dawned our chest waders, and crawled over, around, and knee-walked chest deep beneath low-hanging branches to clear human carelessness from these creek’s spawning gravel flats. We all believe that we love Lake Tahoe, that’s why, besides the skiing, we’re here, but do we love it enough to care for it?
The Third Creek Rainbow trout study, began in 2015, and includes Incline and Third creeks below Highway 28. The list of items removed from these two creeks in 2016&17 was staggering. It seemed like, until then, no one had removed trash from them since the completion of their restoration by the Army Corps of Engineers in 2012. Of note, the craziest item removed was a fully intact white plastic deck chair. Jack and I hopelessly pulled and tugged until we hooked up ropes and a hoist to ratchet it from the quicksand. Jack was 67, I was 62; we took the rest of the day off. More prevalent then than now, other more dangerous items removed from both streams were rebar and broken plastic pipes. Bordering signs say, “Please keep out of the stream from March to June,” which I encourage, however, I still encourage children to enjoy the stream with the caveat that there may be broken bottles; the glass is impossible to see, but their caps are the snitches, both of which give stiches.
Year after year the amount of source-plastic we pull from the half-mile stretch of each creek is still alarmingly high and disgustingly representative of a community whose recreation disregards their plastics in the streams. IVGID’s employees care and I’m sure it’s near the top of their list. Chief Summers’ Fire Department is more informed about the positive aspects of leaving fallen trees in the stream. Fallen trees across the stream create natural dams resulting in spawning beds for the seven or more native and naturalized species that use Third Creek to build their Redds (nests in gravel). These natural dams increase water storage, and help clean the water as it percolates to bedrock, ultimately to the lake.
Alas, empty and full Dog-Poop bags, tennis balls, dog balls, golf balls, sandals, shoes , socks and plastic wrappers “mysteriously” end up in all of Tahoe’s creeks. All are regular seasonal contributors to the lake’s microplastic problem. See the photo of just 1/10th of the study’s area this year. Did I say, One Tenth? I meant it. Not seen in the photo are the commercial dog-toss balls that I gave to more responsible dog owners.
The good news is that in 2024, the study’s lead biologist captured and registered the first known Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (LCT) to return to Third Creek. A seminal moment in the last eighty years, and the reason for the study of the Rainbow trout spawning in Nevada’s North Shore creeks. (To see this intrepid forerunner of cousins to come, go to Friendsofthirdcreek.com.) His arrival is wonderful in many ways: With years of prodding by the Nevada Department of Wildlife, for the last few years the US Fisheries has released young LCT into Nevada waters at Cave Rock and Sand Harbor. Those fish, none of which are breading size, follow their hearts along the lake’s natural gyre, counterclockwise toward Incline’s creeks. Most of these smaller fish, per Mackinaw gut investigations, feed the awaiting and voracious Lake Trout. Bearing up to fight the fearful odds, this first LCT became part of the study. More than likely, curious, it followed a spawning pair of Rainbows to enter Third Creek, and became our hero.
Against the wisdom of aboriginal spoken history, the US Fish and Wildlife Service would only call one of the 63 Lake Tahoe streams an LTC “habitat”. As explained to me by a retired LTBMU Third Creek watershed hydrologist; “For the forest service to make a creek legally classified as LCT ‘habitat’, the US Fisheries service would not take the aboriginal’s ‘Spoken History.”
Instead, it required that any stream, to be so designated, must be based on written history.'” Stepping up and out: Thank You, Washoe Nevada and California Tribe. Somewhere in the tribe’s pre-twentieth century written history Third Creek’s LCT was found. Lake Tahoe’s Third Creek is a protected habitat for the LCT.
The arrival of this young Lahontan Cutthroat has become celebratory, because he has added to the “Proof-of-concept;” required for further plans and protections to kick in. Since our hero arrived, plans for a semi-permanent weir have come to fruition and are nearing the request-for-bidding stage. Believe it or not, funding has been achieved. It’s slated to be installed this fall and should be active during the 2027 LCT spawning season. After the Rainbow/LCT spawn, the weir will be raised to allow those others in line: the Orange-Sided Tahoe Suckers, then the minnow-like schools of Red-sided Lahontan Shiners, whom you see in July and below your paddle boards. The list goes on through the end of November.
Before the Wašišiw peoples returned to the valley’s warmer winter homes, Lake Tahoe’s three regional bands; the Welméti (Northerners), Páwalu (Valley/Easterners) and the Hungalélti (Southerners) gathered on the North Shore. The White Fish was the celebrated fall-harvest-party fish. According to the tribe’s cultural director, “There were so many White Fish in the autumn streams that one could dip a basket in the stream and fill it.”
Because they never completely dry up, perennial streams such as Third and Incline creeks, are also celebrities around the lake. They’ve been studied, along with the other 61 streams. In her PhD dissertation defense, my friend, a new PhD Stream Geneticist from UNR, achieved her doctoral degree by determining that these two streams are, “the most genetically diverse streams entering Tahoe.”
Knowing that over eleven million dollars was donated by charities, the Corps of Engineers, and Incline citizens, to renovate the lower sections of these two streams, and finding out the recent determination that Lake Tahoe’s microplastic numbers are embarrassingly registered as one of the worst alpine lakes polluted with microplastics on the planet. And knowing that there is a line of native and non-native fish, combined with a special biology in these two creeks that have survived millennia, why, year after year, do we trash Tahoe with the junk in the photograph?
In the grand scheme of preserving Lake Tahoe, all 63 streams and their watersheds need our improved vigilance to help Mother Nature’s aquatic life survive humans. Let’s return to the joy!
Steve Dolan Fills his retirement as a writer and registered Environmental/Education lobbyist in the Nevada Legislature for Friendsofthirdcreek.com. As a Third Creek Watershed specialist, his free 50 minute talk on the history, geology, water rights, flora, and fauna may be requested. Contact him at, friendsofthirdcreek@gmail.com
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — The North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District (NLTFPD) is reminding residents to take simple steps to prevent dryer fires, a common but preventable household hazard.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), fire departments respond to thousands of home fires involving clothes dryers each year. The leading cause is failure to clean lint buildup—an issue that can be easily addressed with routine maintenance.
Why Dryer Fires Happen
Lint is highly flammable and can accumulate in:
Lint traps
Around the dryer drum
Dryer vents and exhaust ducts
When airflow is restricted, heat builds up—creating conditions that can lead to a fire
Top Dryer Fire Safety Tips
NLTFPD encourages residents to follow these NFPA-recommended safety practices:
Clean the lint filter before or after every load
Remove lint from the screen and around the drum
Inspect and maintain vents and exhaust systems
Ensure the outdoor vent flap opens properly and is not blocked (including by snow)
Clean vent pipes at least annually, or more often if drying times increase
Consider professional vent cleaning services
Ensure proper installation and equipment use
Have dryers installed and serviced by a qualified professional
Make sure dryers are properly grounded
Use the correct plug and outlet for your unit
Only use rigid or flexible metal venting material (avoid plastic or foil)
Ensure the exterior vent flap opens freely and is not blocked (including snow or debris). Flap-style termination instead of a screen—screens trap lint and can accumulate ember-ignitable fuel while also restricting airflow
Use caution with what you dry
Items exposed to gasoline, paint thinner, cooking oils, or other flammable substances should be dried outside first, then washed and dried as usual
Maintain a safe laundry area
Keep the area around the dryer clear of combustible materials like boxes, clothing, and cleaning supplies
Operate dryers safely
Do not overload the dryer
Follow manufacturer instructions
Never operate a dryer without a lint filter
Turn the dryer off before leaving home or going to sleep
Special consideration for gas dryers
Have gas dryers inspected by a qualified professional to ensure connections are secure and leak-free
Warning Signs to Watch For
Be alert for:
Clothes taking longer than usual to dry
A burning smell during operation
Excess heat in the laundry area
Visible lint buildup around the dryer or vent
If you notice any of these signs, stop using the dryer and have it inspected immediately.
A Message from NLTFPD
“Dryer fires are largely preventable with routine care and awareness,” said Fire Marshal John James. “Taking a few minutes to clean your lint filter, maintain proper airflow, and ensure your dryer is installed correctly can significantly reduce risk and help prevent a potentially devastating fire. We encourage everyone to make dryer safety part of their regular home maintenance routine.”
STATELINE, Nev. – NDOT’s final construction season is scheduled to start on April 27 as their scope of work for the season includes paving the remaining 7.5 miles just south of Cave Rock to Spooner Summit trailhead, replacing existing asphalt curbs, replacing or upgrading certain sections of guardrail to concrete barriers, and more.
Crews will begin drainage work in the one-mile section of U.S. 50 from Round Hill to Zephyr Cove, a section that was skipped last year to avoid damaging new pavement with plans to install over 1,000 feet of new pipe and 17 new inlets to tie into the new basins constructed last summer at Bourne’s Meadows.
Guardrail removal and installation near Glenbrook is scheduled to take place starting in late April or early May. A total of 15,118 feet of guardrail will be replaced during the season along with installation of 11,394 feet of barrier rail with texture and colored concrete.
Paving at Cave Rock will occur later in the summer after the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament (ACC). Finalization of 24,675 feet of the remaining roadside curb and gutter installed from Cave Rock to Spooner Summit will also take place this season.
In addition, construction will include new signal modifications throughout the Stateline corridor area later in summer, with crews adding signal head retroreflective borders that are more visible in daytime and nighttime conditions, as well as new pedestrian buttons, and new LED street lights.
Working hours will begin Sundays at 8 p.m. and carry on until 12 p.m. on Fridays. There will be a pause in construction from Thursday, July 2 at 12 p.m. until Sunday, July 12 at 8 p.m. for Independence Day and ACC events. Delays may take place for other holidays or major events throughout the season.
Speeds will be reduced to 35 mph through work zones as one lane in each direction will remain open throughout the project with the exception of Cave Rock tunnel.
Completion for the season is anticipated for October 2026.
To stay informed, you can sign-up to receive the latest updates and exact timing for various work zones, upcoming schedules and project newsletters by emailing us50tahoepaving@gmail.com or calling 775-339-9664.
STATELINE, Nev. – The Tahoe Knight Monsters have announced their 2026 Kelly Cup Playoff roster.
The roster consists of 19 active players, including two goaltenders, as well as four skaters on the reserve list, and two players on the Playoff Eligible list. The active roster consists of 12 forwards, five defensemen, and two goaltenders.
Defensemen (5): Kaelan Taylor, Aidan De La Gorgendiere, Linden Alger, Olivier LeBlanc, Samuel Mayer.
Forwards (12): Connor Marritt, Casey Bailey, Samuel Huo, Kevin Wall, Jake McGrew, Mike O’Leary, Luke Adam, Alex Weiermair, Sloan Stanick, Jordan Gustafson, Devon Paliani, Trent Swick.
Goaltenders (2): Jordan Papirny, Alex Tracy.
Reserve List (4): Mike Van Unen (D), Tucker Ness (D), Jake Durflinger (F), Adam Pitters (F).
Playoff Eligible List (2): Cameron Whitehead (G), Artur Cholach (D).
Playoff Rosters consist of a maximum of 25 Players – a 20-man active roster and a five-man reserve list. Upon submission of its Playoff Roster, each Member is required to include:
1. a minimum of 17 active, available (i.e., not injured or on recall) skaters to its Active Roster, and at least two (2) eligible goaltenders to its initial Playoff Roster.
2. a list of all other Players who meet the Playoff Roster Eligibility requirements, but who are unavailable at the time that Playoff Rosters are due to the League Office due to recall to the AHL or NHL. The Playoff Eligible List may only list Players who are unavailable due to recall. All other players (i.e. injured Players) must be listed on a Member’s initial Playoff Roster (active roster or reserve list) in order to participate in the Playoffs.
Throughout the Playoffs, but prior to the start of the Kelly Cup Finals, as the recalled Players listed on a Member’s Playoff Eligible List become available (due to assignment, release from PTO or their respective AHL teams’ seasons having ended), Members shall be permitted to supplement their initial Playoff Rosters with Players listed on their Playoff Eligible Lists, up to a maximum of 24 Players total. Once a Member has named a total of 24 Players to its Playoff Roster, or the Kelly Cup Finals have begun (whichever comes first), the Member’s Playoff Roster shall be fixed for the duration of the Playoffs (barring emergency conditions).
A Player who has finished the Regular Season on Injured Reserve may still be named to a Member’s 25-man Playoff Roster and will be eligible to participate in the Playoffs once his full IR time has been completed (provided all other playoff eligibility requirements have been satisfied). Once a Player has fully completed his remaining IR time, he may be activated and placed on the Member’s Active Roster.
Emergency conditions shall be established when the playing strength of the Member, by reason of injury, illness, recall or suspension by the League, is reduced below two (2) goalkeepers and eighteen (18) skaters. However, should a Member release a Player(s) from its Playoff Roster, its emergency conditions will drop by the same number as the Players they release. Only amateur
Players may be signed and added to the Active Roster under emergency conditions.
The Knight Monsters begin their quest for the Kelly Cup on the road this weekend as they take on the Kansas City Mavericks. Game one of the opening round takes place on Friday, April 24, with puck drop at 5:05 pm PT. Pregame coverage on the Knight Monsters broadcast network starts at 4:55 pm PT. For more information on upcoming games, visit knightmonstershockey.com.
Say hello to Birdie, a two-year-old bundle of love who proves that the best things truly do come in compact packages. Weighing just 45 pounds, this sweet and social girl has a personality that fills every room she enters.
Birdie is a sweet, silly girl with the gentlest heart. At first, she can be a little shy and sensitive, so she’s looking for a patient adopter who will give her the time, love, and reassurance she needs to feel safe. But once she starts to settle in, her true personality begins to shine, and it’s absolutely worth the wait.
Birdie is this week’s Pet of the Week.Provided / HSTT
One of Birdie’s favorite things in the world is playing with other dogs. She’s incredibly dog-friendly, and her goofy, playful side really comes alive when she has a canine buddy by her side. Because of this, Birdie would thrive in a home with another dog to help boost her confidence and show her the ropes.
Birdie is the ideal mix of playful and cuddly. Once she knows you, she becomes a loyal, loving companion who will stick by your side through it all. If you’re looking for a sweet, sensitive pup who will blossom into an amazing best friend, Birdie might just be your girl.
If you are interested in meeting Birdie or learning more about her, please get in touch with one of HSTT’s Adoption Specialists, 530-587-5948 or adoptions@hstt.org. She is spayed, vaccinated, and up to date on her vaccines. To view more adoptable pets or to learn more about the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe, visit, www.hstt.org.
TRUCKEE/TAHOE, Calif. – With a forecasted storm moving into the Tahoe Basin, the National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the greater Lake Tahoe region from 5 a.m. Tuesday until 5 p.m. Wednesday.
According to the NWS, 1–4 inches of snow are expected at lake level, with 12–18 inches possible along the highest peaks in the Tahoe Basin. The system is also expected to bring strong winds and slick road conditions.
OpenSnow forecaster Bryan Allegretto agrees, noting that rain and snow will be slow to move up the mountains Monday night but could reach Donner Pass after midnight into early Tuesday morning.
He expects snow levels to start around 7,000 feet Tuesday morning, then drop to as low as 4,000–5,000 feet by Tuesday before rising again to around 6,000 feet on Wednesday.
“A drier pattern is likely beyond the 22nd, but showers are possible at times through the end of April into early May,” Allegretto wrote on OpenSnow.
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for the Greater Lake Tahoe region and Mono County as a spring storm brings heavy snow and strong/gusty winds Tuesday morning through Wednesday.
INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – After more than four decades of service, the Kiwanis Club of North Lake Tahoe continues to play a steady role in the region — but members say the organization now faces a growing challenge: keeping community support strong enough to sustain its work.
Founded in 1981, the club emerged at a time when many of its members were young families, shaping its early priorities. From the start, the group focused on youth — supporting academics, athletics and local schools across the North Lake Tahoe region, including Truckee, Tahoe City, Kings Beach and Incline Village.
“At the start, we worked with state parks to split firewood, and would sell it around town to fundraise,” said founding member David Antonucci.
Those early grassroots efforts eventually evolved into larger-scale fundraising events. A community auction and wine tasting became the club’s signature annual fundraiser, helping generate consistent funding for local programs.
The club has grown significantly since its early days, and so has its impact.
Their presence is reflected in long-standing partnerships, including its support of the Tahoe Cross Country Ski Education Association.
According to the organization, Kiwanis has played a foundational role in youth programming at Tahoe XC for more than 25 years — helping fund cross-country ski equipment for programs like Strider Gliders, as well as middle and high school Nordic teams and development programs.
“We’ve done a lot of projects that have made a lot of difference in our community,” said Antonucci. “and it’s been great to see a new generation come in and take the reins.”
Despite its legacy, the Kiwanis Club is now navigating a decline in fundraising participation. Organizers say attendance at their annual silent auction — still their largest fundraiser — has dropped significantly in recent years.
Where the event once raised around $50,000 annually, recent totals have fallen closer to $20,000, raising concerns about the club’s ability to maintain its level of support.
“If our fundraising keeps declining, a lot of the organizations we support may not get the level of funding they currently need and receive,” Leenah Shah, Kiwanis North Lake Tahoe club member .
While the club has long been a pillar of the North Lake Tahoe and Truckee community, it is now turning to that same community for support to help continue carrying its work forward.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – A vaccination called PZP could be a potential solution to stop mother bears teaching their cubs to break into houses, according to the BEAR League. Executive director Ann Bryant says she’s spoken with the Science and Conservation Center (SCC) in Montana, which provides PZP to zoos and organizations that manage wild animal populations.
Last summer, bear #753, also referred to as Hope, was responsible for several entries into properties along with her cub, sometimes called Bounce. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) ordered that she should be killed to prevent further human-bear interactions, one of the many ways that the CDFW manages bear populations.
The BEAR League was vocally opposed to the killing, and the city of South Lake Tahoe decided in December of last year to establish a collaborative response protocol group including the city police department, bear groups, the CDFW, South Tahoe Refuse, homeowners associations and other interested parties.
At the last city council meeting in March, Bryant spoke during public comment and said they had buy-in from the SCC, Oakland Zoo and California Conservation Society to potentially launch a pilot program to use PZP on Hope.
Bryant said that the CDFW and BEAR League agreed that the majority of break-ins were from mother bears with dependent cubs, who then transmit that behavior to their cubs. If they have female cubs, then that negative behavior continues to be transmitted to cubs.
So, by targeting sows who display this unwanted behavior, it would stop them from continuing the cycle of bears learning to forage in human environments. Many other behaviors are also related to raising their cubs, such as seeking shelter in human environments to escape aggressive male bears or seeking out easier foraging sources while pregnant or teaching their cubs—these could potentially be stopped as well.
The SCC works with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and internationally to provide PZP to zoos, providing reproductive management to zoos with animals that should not be breeding in captivity. They also provide the PZP vaccination to manage wild populations of ungulates like deer and horses.
PZP, short for Porcine Zona Pellucida, was developed in 1988. The zona pellucida is a protein that surrounds the egg and receives sperm to fertilize it. By injecting a female animal with PZP, a pig (hence porcine) zona pellucida is introduced into the target animal’s body. This triggers an immune response where the target animal’s immune system will respond, producing antibodies that then attach to their own zona pellucida, preventing their eggs from being fertilized.
The vaccine must be administered annually and has a 90% or greater efficacy with hundreds of different species. It has also been proven to be safe to give to pregnant and lactating animals, shows no debilitating health side effects even with long term use, does not impact social behaviors and cannot pass through the food chain. Even if an animal were to eat another that was treated with PZP, they would not have the immune response triggered by its passage through the digestive system.
“We have found it works amazingly well with bears with 95 to 98% efficacy,” said Kim Frank, executive director of the SCC. “We have seen with bears in zoos that after they’ve been on the vaccine, that if we discontinue the treatment, they return to normal fertility in one to three years.”
Frank continued, “The plan in South Lake Tahoe as I understand it, is that they would not try to decrease the population of black bears, just prevent sows from teaching their cubs to break in.”
Bryant believes that by using bear #753 as a pilot, they could protect her from being killed and could observe the impact that PZP could have in a wild population of bears. “With our background and our network, we have the ability to study this, and it has been shown to be reversible—so there would be no long-term negative effects,” said Bryant. “We are not tampering with the bears’ natural biology, and they will still go into estrus, mate and so on. They would just be unable to conceive cubs if treated with PZP.”
The pilot program with wild bears would be a first for the SCC, as it has previously only been used in bear populations in zoos.
The SCC provides PZP to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and its partners in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to manage wild populations of horses and deer throughout the west, including in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Arizona and Nevada. In Nevada and Arizona, NGOs have a memorandum of understanding with their state departments of agriculture, showing that a partnership with state departments is possible.
Frank says that such buy-in from stakeholders is key to making these kinds of programs work. “In all the years I’ve worked on this, I see everyone wants the same end—a healthy ecosystem and healthy animals,” she said. “I want to see openness to potential solutions for problems. And I understand that killing is one solution, but this is something that could work. Why not try it?”
Bryant feels a sense of urgency around the potential pilot program, as the breeding season approaches and bear #753 will leave her cub. She knows that to make this program work, they would need buy-in from the CDFW as well. But she worries that the state department will move too slowly to make it a reality. “We are almost out of time,” said Bryant, who says they have been talking about the potential of such a program since fall of last year.
“If we don’t do anything, what is the point? We keep the status quo of killing bears?” asked Bryant. “Killing bears is not ending the cycle. This has a huge opportunity to resolve the issue, even if it won’t be a quick fix. And if we work together, the world could benefit from the work we do with a wild population.”
Bryant hopes there will be community support for this novel, potential solution. She also hopes there will be support for making South Lake Tahoe a bear-safe or bear sanctuary city, which she clarifies would mean the city would seek out non-lethal solutions for managing bears.
Bears are on the agenda for the upcoming city council meeting on April 21, where police chief Jeff Roberson and sustainability coordinator Sara Letton will report on the collaborative bear process and protocol.
Tahoe Music Alive’s 2026 Concert Series starts April 20Provided/Martha Russell
NORTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Tahoe Music Alive is bringing classical chamber and jazz music to Tahoe’s north shores for another year as they kick off their fourth series of concerts, community outreach and opportunities for cultural connection. From April to September and featuring a variety of genres from Grammy-award winning and internationally-acclaimed artists, the series aims to captivate audiences of all ages spanning from Incline Village, King’s Beach and Olympic Valley to Truckee and Tahoe City.
What began as an experiment of sorts has now become a thriving nonprofit organization, growing organically since June 2023. Prior to its first launch, there were groups of classical musicians who enjoyed playing for each other and wondered whether people in Tahoe would be interested in attending chamber music concerts.
Thanks in part to the digital age and streaming platforms like Tiktok, chamber music has seen a resurgence. So what is chamber music? It’s a form of classical music which takes an intimate approach. Small ensembles of two to 10 players perform, creating a close conversation between instruments including two violins, a viola, and cello for string quartets. Chamber music can also consist of other instruments such as piano and guitar.
“I said, ‘Let’s do a prototype and see if there’s an appetite for it,'” said Martha Russell, President of Tahoe Music Alive. There was, indeed, an appetite as the prototype was wildly successful and people wanted more.
Russell then started programming concerts in spring and fall before the demand for summer concerts grew. “We’ve been listening intensively and responding to a community need, for not only the music, but for opportunities to come together as a community, especially during the off-shoulder seasons when the ski lifts are closed and the boats aren’t out on the lake yet.”
Tahoe Music Alive uses special care when selecting venues for concerts with Russell noting that among their objectives, choosing a place with great acoustics and an intimate feel helps the audience to hear every instrument played, providing crisp sounds and audibility for all.
For first time listeners, Russell encourages attendees to relax and listen for the conversation between instruments and the nonverbal conversation between musicians. “Chamber music is very special in that there is no one person directing. Together, [musicians] establish tempo (how fast they’re going to play). They establish the mood, the feeling, where they’re going to get louder, where they are softer, and the dynamics of the piece,” Russell said. “Eye contact, lift of an eyebrow, bend of an elbow or a shoulder or the way a bow moves.”
The concerts make for an exceptional experience at an extremely reasonable cost as these are some of the most talented chamber and jazz musicians from around the world who come to Tahoe to perform, including Grammy award-winning string quartets like this year’s Attacca Quartet and last year’s Catalyst Quartet.
“We celebrate them,” said Russell. “I think as people in the mountains are having access to music of this quality, the people who perform are aspiring to new levels and the people who listen are learning with new ears, and that’s wonderful.”
In addition to their concerts, Tahoe Music Alive offers community outreach programs such as master classes with advanced musicians, in-school performances, and musical dialogues in intimate settings where musicians discuss career pathways, how they formed their ensembles, opportunities to ask the musicians questions and more.
“We’re making sure that our artists go into classrooms and into other organizations to extend the benefit of their being in Tahoe,” Russell said. “Our goal, not just for the concerts, but for the community, is to optimize exposure and interaction for people who love music, especially those who want to play music.”
Tahoe Music Alive offers community outreach programs such as in-school performancesProvided/Martha Russell
Tahoe Music Alive’s fourth concert series starts with the Attacca Quartet on April 20 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Saint Francis of Assisi in Incline Village, followed by a series launch reception at Alibi Ale Works. They will have outreach opportunities with the Attacca Quartet on April 21 at Lake Tahoe School.
On May 2, California Guitar Trio will be participating in Tahoe Music Alive’s Musical Conversations outreach at Church of the Mountains in Truckee from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. followed by a concert on May 3 at 2 p.m.
They will continue to host concerts and outreach opportunities until September featuring a variety of genres and artists.
As Tahoe Music Alive’s popularity is increasing, they have seen sold-out venues, and a thirst for more. “We’ve had standing room only sometimes,” added Russell. “It’s very gratifying to know that people love it, and they want more.”
To learn more about Tahoe Music Alive or to view their entire lineup of artists, concerts and outreach opportunities, visit https://www.tahoemusicalive.org/events.
I am always inspired by Serrell Smokey, Chairman of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, when he reminds us that “the health of the land is the health of the people.”
This longstanding teaching from the Waší∙šiw (Washoe People) reflects a worldview shaped along the shores of Lake Tahoe. Waší∙šiw are taught from childhood to see the land and waters as living extensions of themselves, entities deserving of respect, care, and autonomy. Chairman Smokey’s predecessor Brian Wallace brought attention to this teaching at the first Tahoe Summit back in 1997. The concept bears repeating and absorbing.
As our connection to Tahoe deepens, we feel it too. The lake and mountains here are part of us. Lake Tahoe is a place of beauty and power where the weather can be soothing or fierce, and if the views don’t take your breath away, a refreshing dip in the lake certainly will. In many ways, the feeling and sensibilities of Earth Day have become our community’s reflection of the waší∙šiw connection to Tahoe.
Lake Tahoe’s Vulnerability
As powerful as Lake Tahoe is, we’ve learned a lot over the decades about its fragility. Creation of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) by Nevada and California in 1969, just before the first celebration of Earth Day, has led to some of the most innovative approaches in the nation for protecting water quality and forest health, preventing aquatic invasive species, and managing growth in a way that benefits the environment, communities, and the economy at the same time.
Although much progress has been made, climate pressures are changing the basin. Winter storms bring more rain, hotter summer days are warming the lake’s surface, and aquatic invasive species further threaten lake clarity and ecosystem balance. Also, wildfires in and around the Lake Tahoe Region are becoming more frequent and intense, and aging infrastructure and changing transportation patterns add strain to our environment and quality of life.
These shifts threaten not only our experience today, but the legacy we leave for future generations. As we celebrate Earth Day, it’s a fitting time to renew your commitment to Tahoe and tune in to the collective work happening to protect it.
Building a Culture of Care
Individual stewardship doesn’t always require grand gestures. More often, it lives in simple, daily habits. Much like taking vitamins or brushing your teeth, caring for Tahoe is most effective when it becomes routine.
During my 30-plus years working with the Tahoe community, a repeated question persists: “I’m only one person—what can I do to help the lake?” The short answer is, quite a bit. From taking transit to becoming a Tahoe Keeper, the list is long. Tahoe Keepers commit to practicing Clean, Drain, and Dry protocols when on the water to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Substituting a walk or bike ride for a car trip adds up if a number of us do it.
For property owners, maintaining defensible space and capturing stormwater runoff with best management practices, or BMPs, can significantly reduce risk to both property and lake clarity.
And wherever you are, properly disposing of trash and pet waste helps reduce your footprint and keeps Tahoe’s natural systems intact.
Stewardship at the Regional Scale
Across the region, “Team Tahoe” organizations have pledged their commitment through the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program (EIP). Under the restoration program, Tribal, local, state, federal, nonprofit, and private sector partners collaborate on large-scale restoration projects that address Tahoe’s most pressing environmental challenges. This work must continue for us to strengthen Tahoe’s resilience to past impacts as well as challenges ahead.
Tahoe is a living force, vulnerable to our footprint and responsive to our care. Your individual actions, paired with awareness of public investments, make a tangible difference and help sustain the momentum we’ve been building together. After all, the basin’s health is our health too. Wishing you all a wondrous Earth Day. For a look at the full week of activities TRPA and our partners have planned, visit takecaretahoe.org/earthweek.
Julie Regan is Executive Director of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – One of the three Democratic candidates for California District 3 (CA-03) attended a candidate forum on Wednesday at Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC). Bennett, who the Tribune has interviewed before, fielded questions from students on his vision for supporting students as a representative.
Bennett described himself as a “people first, corporate free” candidate who decided to run for Congress last April. Now, he is in the primary race for the Democratic candidate, who will then run for election this November. Moderator Beck Machin-Ward asked Bennett questions that had been submitted by students for the forum.
Bennett had a strong stance for supporting students, especially with the looming question of financial aid and federal grants. Recently, college graduates who utilized the SAVE Plan under President Biden were made to begin payments on their student loans. At the same time, other grants and programs that support disadvantaged students, such as the TRIO programs, feel at risk with the slashing of the Department of Education.
Bennett expressed an interest in public universities and trade schools becoming tuition free to increase access. He also said he would advocate for students of LTCC who live in Nevada, as they pay an out-of-state tuition despite LTCC being the only nearby community college they can attend. Regarding undocumented students, Bennett also reaffirmed his stance for abolishing ICE and passing humane immigration policies.
In response to questions about the environment and climate change, Bennett said it was one of his most important platform points and referenced the ongoing challenges of Liberty Utilities entering the energy market, which he attributed to NV Energy prioritizing data centers over their existing customers.
He also addressed disinformation and the lack of youth civic engagement, saying that he was interested in increasing political education and building community as a way to increase it. Bennett is the youngest candidate currently running in CA-03.
During the open question portion, students asked Bennett about his stances on protecting transgender Californians from violence, what congressional committees he was interested in joining, gun control and his availability as a candidate—a hot topic for Tahoe residents who felt Rep. Kiley did not attend town halls.
Bennett expressed that he wanted to enshrine LGBTQ+ and women’s rights into the Constitution, paying special attention to transgender people, who he said are often used as a political scapegoat (along with other marginalized groups.)
As a disabled veteran, Bennett said he was interested in joining committees on Foreign Affairs, Military and Veterans’ Affairs. “We need people with moral clarity involved on these and we need more veterans in positions of power, because many representatives claim to care about them and then show that they really don’t.”
Bennett also said he had experience with artillery and weapons, including guns. While he acknowledged that guns routinely cause harm to gun owners and their family, he felt that current gun laws needed to be “common sense” including a public health lens, limits on automatic rifles. “It should be based in safety and not penalizing people through money.”
Lastly, Bennett said he saw a lack of town halls from both Ami Bera (one of his opponents in the Democratic primary) and Kevin Kiley, and said he would commit to regularly meeting with constituents. “I want to spend as little time in DC as possible because I want to spend time with the people I actually represent,” said Bennett.
Bennett lastly gave his support for policies like the Green New Deal and a billionaire tax both federally and in California.
Other candidates were extended an invite to candidate forums, including Heidi Hall, who will appear at LTCC on Wednesday, April 22 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Tahoe Bike Company is now owned by Justine and Marlon Charneau and Laurent DhollandeProvided/Brian Walker
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Tahoe Bike Company, located in the heart of South Lake Tahoe and a popular go-to for all things bike and e-bike related, has taken on new family ownership under locals, Justine and Marlon Charneau and Laurent Dhollande. Plans to carry on Tahoe Bike Company’s values and excellent reputation continue to be a priority as long-time management remains in place while new ideas to enhance the shop are underway.
General Manager, Ed Weber, has been with Tahoe Bike Company for a decade. “This building has a long history,” said Weber who has been present for several ownership changes. “This [job] keeps me out of trouble. It’s a great job, you meet people from all over the planet every day, and it’s nice to interact with and give people a feel of what we do in Tahoe.”
Weber along with David Militante, Operations Manager at Tahoe Bike Company, both plan to continue their dedication to providing knowledge and expertise to visitors and locals while offering full-service repairs on bikes and e-bikes. “Whether you just need a minor tune-up or major repairs, we can do it here,” said Weber.
Ed Weber, pictured, will remain general manager of Tahoe Bike CompanyProvided/Brian Walker
Since the Dhollande-Charneau family has taken over, some updates and additions for the shop are in progress, including an improved online website now offering online bookings, a “hydration station”, tool bench station, and a curated boutique called Lakeview Trading Post, with merchandise, hand-made accessories, and unique gifts from regional artists and small businesses.
Previously offering ski rentals in the winter, the Charneaus and Dhollande decided it was time to transition into something different with hopes of adding more to the shopping experience of the Lakeview Commons area. Although the boutique is still in the works, their goal is to have it fully stocked and running by this summer.
Recently, the shop has become an authorized Aventon dealership, as the popular, high-quality e-bike brand joins Tahoe Bike Company’s selection of brands including BESV, Fuji, and SE Bikes, available for demo, rental or purchase.
“We’ve brought a bunch of new e-bikes in last summer,” said Justine. “They’re super popular and a great way for families of all different levels to get out and go farther than they normally would.”
Their affordable and family-friendly 4-peddle Surrey bikes continue to be an admired way to create great memories while out enjoying Tahoe’s beauty.
Sustainability is priority for new owners, the Dhollande-Charneau family. Methods to provide more sustainable practices include plans for a “hydration station” this summer which will offer free water to refill reusable water bottles, as well as bringing in more quality products that last longer.
Lowering the impact of traffic congestion and air pollution on the community is at the forefront. “Getting people on bikes is just a great way to enjoy Tahoe and get a better sense of the scenery and the landscape,” added Marlon.
As the tried and true aspects of Tahoe Bike Company’s mission stand fast as a shop offering quality services and extensive selections of bike and e-bike rentals, sales, and repairs, the Dhollande-Charneau family plans to maintain community stewardship while blending fresh energy and new ideas for enhanced experiences in and around South Lake Tahoe.
STATELINE, Nev. – The Tahoe Knight Monsters defeated the Rapid City Rush 6-4 to close out the regular season.
In the first period, Rapid City scored the lone goal as captain Ryan Wanger found the back of the net, giving the Rush a 1-0 lead heading into the second period.
In the middle frame, the offenses exploded. Jordan Gustafson opened the scoring with his 9th of the year for Tahoe to tie the game at 1. After Rapid City’s Mitchell Smith put the Rush back ahead 2-1, Tahoe would answer with four straight goals from Kaelan Taylor, Aidan De La Gorgendiere, Connor Marritt, and Kevin Wall to make it 5-2 Knight Monsters. Although Wagner would score his second of the game for the Rush, Tahoe still took a 5-3 lead into the third period.
Provided
In the final period of the regular season, Tahoe extended its lead thanks to a crafty goal by Samuel Huo to make it 6-3. After the Rush responded with a power play goal from Brett Davis to make it 6-4, Tahoe goaltender Alex Tracy shut the door on the Rush offense, and Tahoe concluded the regular season with a 6-4 victory against Rapid City.
The Knight Monsters open up round one of the Kelly Cup Playoffs on the road against the Kansas City Mavericks. Game one gets underway on Friday, April 24, with puck drop at 5:05 pm PT. Pregame coverage on the Knight Monsters broadcast network starts at 4:55 pm PT. For more information on upcoming games, visit knightmonstershockey.com.
· It’s the end of an era: the Rec Center is closing. I swam my last laps on the last day the old Rec Center was open. I had been coming to the Rec Center since I rolled into town decades ago, and it’s filled with countless fond memories. From Little League sign-ups to countless hours spent in the pool, this place has been a significant part of my life. I’ve logged many laps there, often reflecting. I watched my daughter learn to swim and compete on the swim team. While I may not be the most graceful swimmer, I’d call myself a “dirtbag swimmer”; I’ve put in my share of laps. Swimming has played a vital role in my life, helping me manage a torn rotator cuff without surgery and providing a quiet space to think. Many ideas were born or refined in the water. This Rec Center has served the community well, and I know everyone has their own stories and memories tied to it. But, like many places on the South Shore, this chapter is closing, and a new one is beginning. I’m ready to turn the page and look forward, excited about the new pool and what it will bring.
· If you haven’t had a chance to watch the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority’s three-part documentary Beyond Awestruck, it’s well worth your time. The series follows a University of California, Irvine research team as they explore the effects of awe inspired by Lake Tahoe, and how those moments influence well-being, deepen social connection, and foster a greater sense of environmental stewardship.
What’s particularly compelling is that it attempts to measure something we’ve all felt but rarely quantify. The cinematography is stunning, complemented by thoughtful reflections from local residents. It’s a powerful and refreshing look at the deeper value of place, and not the traditional highlight reel of things to do, definitely worth checking out.
· For the past several years, I’ve had the opportunity to serve as chair of El Dorado County’s SEED Economic Development Committee. It’s been an invaluable experience, one that has given me a clearer understanding of how the County operates and a broader perspective on the dynamics shaping our local economy.
One observation stands out: communities on the East Slope often seem able to move initiatives forward more quickly than those on the West Slope. That contrast raises important questions about process, alignment, and the ability to act with urgency.
At the same time, El Dorado County is entering a period of significant economic change. The Board of Supervisors has faced difficult budget decisions, including major reductions, including the elimination of the El Dorado County Visitors Authority tourism office and funding for Arts and Culture El Dorado, as well as cuts across other areas. These are not isolated decisions; they reflect deeper structural challenges.
Adding to this pressure is a structural decline in the wine industry, which has long been a cornerstone of the County’s rural economy. Shifting consumer preferences, increased competition, and broader market dynamics are creating headwinds for local wineries and growers, raising important questions about long-term viability and diversification.
Too often, the County Supervisors default to “no” on economic initiatives rather than a “how can we make it happen” approach. The reasons vary, ranging from individual perspectives among elected officials to organized opposition within communities. But the cumulative effect is a pattern of inaction. And at some point, a do-nothing approach is simply not sustainable.
While there are diverse views on what economic development should look like, it’s increasingly clear that a more community-centered, pragmatic approach is needed, one that aligns with El Dorado County’s character while still allowing for progress. That will require change, and communities will need to become more comfortable with that reality.
Otherwise, deeper cuts are likely ahead. And when they come, they won’t primarily affect core services like police and fire; they will be felt across much of the County’s budget.
With an election approaching in November, there will inevitably be political consequences. My hope is that this moment leads to broader recognition: that thoughtful, well-managed economic development must become a higher priority if the County is to close future budget gaps and maintain the quality of life residents expect.
It’s a Wrap
For decades, we’ve operated under an assumption of relative stability, predictable markets, steady growth, and institutional continuity. That era feels like it’s fading. Geopolitical tensions, supply chain shifts, and economic fragmentation are creating a more volatile environment. The real question is whether our institutions and our local decision-making are built for stability or adaptable to volatility. We are going to find out…
Carl Ribaudo is a columnist, consultant, speaker, and writer in South Lake Tahoe. You can reach him at carl@smgonline.net.
The Nevada Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash that occurred on Highway 50 on Sunday morning.
Highway 50 is closed in both directions between Highway 28 and Glenbrook Road. This closure is expected for three to four hours, spokesman Sgt. Christopher Brown said at 8:30 a.m.
The collision was reported 4:47 a.m. Sunday.
The Nevada Highway Patrol, a division of the Nevada State Police, responded to the crash involving two vehicles between State Route 28 and Glenbrook Road.
Three other vehicle occupants were transported for treatment with serious injuries.
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A fatal collision has closed Highway 50 through Glenbrook Sunday morning.
First reported at 4:47 a.m., the collision resulted in at least two people being transported from the scene, including one by helicopter.
Tahoe Douglas firefighters had to cut at least one person from the wreckage.
This would be the first fatality on Douglas County’s highways in 2026.
A paragliding accident on a steep ridge just north of Kingsbury Grade resulted in a response from two helicopters on Saturday.
“Due to the steep and challenging location a request was made to Washoe County Sheriff for their RAVEN helicopter for hoist capabilities,” East Fork Battalion Chief John Brawley said. “Crews made contact with the patient and began care.”
RAVEN flies over D Hill in Douglas County near Walley’s Hot Springs during the rescue of a fallen paraglider on Saturday morning.Record-Courier
In addition to East Fork, Tahoe Douglas medics, Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputies and Douglas County Search and Rescue responded to the incident.
“The patient was hoisted by RAVEN to a landing zone where Battle Born Air 12 assumed care and transported to the trauma center,” Brawley said. “This incident demonstrates the importance of regional partnerships in delivering quality service to the public. Each agency was vital in resolving the incident and getting the patient to care. A big thank you to WCSO, DCSO, DCSAR, and TDFD.”
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A search and rescue effort is underway in the Carson Range above Carson Valley that will require Washoe County’s Raven helicopter.
As of 11:45 a.m., a flight app indicates that Raven was flying south.
Douglas County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, East Fork firefighters and Sheriff’s deputies established an incident command at David Walley’s Hot Springs.
From scanner traffic, rescuers had to hike in from 100 Kingsbury Grade, which is almost due west and up the mountain from Walley’s.
The subject of the rescue is being treated by medics.
Raven is expected to use a long line to pluck the subject off the mountain.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The new recreation center has opened to the public of South Lake Tahoe, after over a decade of work and planning. “This is about opening a new chapter for the community itself,” said Mayor Cody Bass.
The entrance of the recreation center and swim complex on the grand opening.Eli Ramos / Tahoe Daily Tribune
The Department of Public Works reported on the aging infrastructure of the old recreation center in 2010, and by 2016, Measure P passed, which funded $2.1 million annually towards the renovation and construction of a new recreation and swim complex. The unique site was possible to use through the collaboration of El Dorado County, which agreed to adjust county lines.
Mayor Bass said, “Our community has needed a new hub… and we didn’t just build a gym, we built a sanctuary for wellness.” The new rec center features an aquatics complex with a recreation and multi-use pool, a rock climbing wall, a dance and fitness room, gym, track, batting cages and rooms to rent. It will also host the senior nutrition program.
Bass also recognized the efforts of city council, staff, the Parks and Recreation department, former city manager Joe Irvin and former public works director Anush Nejad.
The recreation center was full of people during its grand opening.Eli Ramos / Tahoe Daily Tribune
Representatives from JKAE and Roebbelen acknowledged the hard work and dedication of the architectural, design and construction teams.
Jerry Bindel, Parks and Recreation commissioner said, “Today isn’t just about the opening. It’s about completing a vision… that we’ve been working on for over a decade. It’s proof that a strong, vibrant tourist community can directly help our local community.” Bindel is also on the Measure P oversight committee and pledged to continue ensuring the funds were used for the community.
Bindel also spoke about the scholarships programs through the South Lake Tahoe Parks Foundation, which will cover the costs for families interested in using the recreation center. “Ultimately, the success of this place will be measured by how many lives it touches. Take a look around. This belongs to all of us,” said Bindel, to massive applause.
The swim complex with Rufus the Bear in the recreation pool.Eli Ramos / Tahoe Daily Tribune
In closing remarks, Parks and Recreation director John Stark said, “Recreation centers are where communities grow stronger,” and thanked not only the teams involved, but the community supporters and their contributions to the rec center.
The rec center rates are listed in resident/non-resident and are as follows:
Day passes: Adults $10/$15, Youth, Senior and Permanent Disability $8/$12, Medical, WIC and Veteran Adult $3, Youth $2.
Entering the stadium, I look down on the field and the outfield grass is as green as the color has ever been. The theme from The Natural, Robert Redford’s classic baseball flick of pasts becoming present, reverberates as the players are introduced with a tip of their cap, the boys of summer taking the field for another season in the sun.
With the red, white, and blue bunting lining the outfield fences the scene drips Americana like a hot dog-scented Norman Rockwell. You feel the ghosts of baseball greats — Mickey Mantle and Roberto Clemente are the two names my mind selects — somehow taking it all in and smiling. The coaches and the umps shake hands at home plate like they’ve been doing for more than 150 years and the
game begins.
In the top of the first inning, the Rainiers’ first batter of the season reaches on an error by second baseman
Tommy Troy; in a game as superstitious as baseball it’s not a good omen for the home team, but Aces left-handed flamethrower Kohl Drake bears down and strikes out the second batter. He’s the game’s “K batter,” and his swing-and-miss, per the PA announcer’s echoing voice, means that all draft beers are half price until inning’s end. Though most folks have just sat down, many quickly stand back up and scurry for the nearest concession stand.
BALL OR STRIKE? A Reno Aces batter making the split-second decision to swing or not to swing. Photo by Jon Grant
Drake proceeds to strike out hotshot shortstop Colt Emerson, and then blows one by former San Francisco Giant Connor Joe to strike out the side. In the bottom of the first, Troy makes up for his error by wrapping a sharp single to right and moves to second on LuJames Groover’s walk.
Then strides to the plate a man made for baseball lore — cleanup hitter Luken Baker, all 6’4” 285lbs of him, first baseman, Texas-born, biceps as big as the Babe’s. But Baker quickly shows he’s not all brawn. On a low-and-slow inside curve, though slightly fooled, he keeps his hands back and deftly drops bat-head onto ball, wristing the red-seamed sphere down the left field line for a standup double that scores Troy.
The Aces 1-0 lead holds until the top of the third. With a runner on first, the left-handed hitting Emerson drives an outside fastball over the left-centerfield fence to give the Rainiers a 2-1 lead, the ball nearly hitting the bullseye on the Tahoe Truckee Lumber Company billboard en route to its resting place on the train tracks beyond the stadium.
The jumbotron reacts with a romping closeup of Steve Carell as Michael Scott from the T.V. show The Office. “Nooooooooo!” he shouts in his adult-toddler schtick. “No! No! No! No! No!”
Laughter cleanses the stadium’s palate, and Drake retires the side. The vibes are good — and the Aces rip three hits in their half of the inning, culminated by A.J. Vukovich’s two-out RBI single scorched to center to square the game at two.
Fast forward to the sixth
Cloud-cover has encroached and the Aces find themselves down 4-2. Vukovich starts off the inning by smashing a double deep into the right-centerfield gap, the stadium coming a-roar with chants of “Vuuuuuuu.” A hit batsman, two walks, and an infield single create a rally that scores two runs to retie the game. With the bases still full of Aces, LuJames Groover — the slick-fielding third baseman who already has two hits on the day — connects on a fastball and delivers a shot over the shortstop’s head.
The base hit drives in two, and the crowd is lit like a birthday cake as the Aces take a 6-4 lead. The sun breaks through the clouds, and it seems like the ghosts of Mantle and Clemente have lined up an easy pathway to victory for the home team.
But no.
Baseball will break your heart. Writer and one-time Major League Baseball commissioner Bartlett Giamatti even said, “It’s designed to break your heart.” And so, out of design or whimsey or simple athletic prowess, those darn Rainiers from tepid Tacoma score three dang runs in the top of the seventh to take a 7-6 lead, the clouds returning to dim the sun as sweatshirts are donned and heads shake slowly from side to side.
The home team fails to plate any
runs in their half of the seventh or
the eighth, so we head to the bottom of the ninth with the Aces still
trailing 7-6.
But there’s hope! LuJames leads off the inning with a liner just above a leaping Connor Joe and his outstretched first baseman’s mitt, and Groover is aboard the bag with his fourth hit of the day.
Luken Baker lumbers to the batter’s box and the crowd roars. The big man already has two big hits — and everyone’s hoping he’ll send us home happy with a walk-off homer. But Luken gets down in the count and then watches a hissing fastball streak by on the outside, the ump raising his arm to the sky to indicate that it caught the corner for strike three.
But it’s okay, it’s all good. Vukovich is up next, and the crowd incants its “Vuuuuuuuu” to spur him on. Still, the Rainiers’ closer makes him look foolish and gets two quick strikes. Us fans are on our feet, all manner of rally caps being worn backward and sideways and inside-out in hopes of appeasing the ghosts of Mantle and Clemente into gifting us a groundball with eyes or a little bloop that finds safe haven in that green outfield grass.
But Vukovich chases a curveball in the dirt for strike three, and the Aces are down to their last out.
If we were in Mudville watching the Nine, it would be time for Casey at the Bat. Alas, we’re not in a great American poem from 1888 but rather a real-life game in 2026, so it’s Kristian at the Bat; Kristian Robinson, from Nassau, the Bahaman with number 59 on his back now number one in our hearts. “Let’s go, Kristian! … Come on, Kristian!” He stands tall in the box, bat held strong as he works the count to three balls and a strike.
LuJames leads off first base. Kristian gets a pitch to hit. He swings! He connects! A hard-hit line drive rocketed to right. It’ll get LuJames to third and heck he might even score …
But the game will break your heart. It’s designed to break your heart. The Rainiers’ right fielder charges in on swift feet and extends a long arm, the leather of his glove snagging the sinking liner in its web to record Reno’s 27th and final out.
The stadium exhales a sigh that is a groan, and the game is over.
Us fans pick up our things and head for the exits. But before we leave, we turn, back around to the diamond, to the green of all that outfield grass. It was a beautiful day at the ballpark, and we know it. And Mantle and Clemente nod down from above, and another season of baseball has come back to us, as it has for so long, once more.
On essay days in Craig Rowe’s classroom at Truckee High School, the rules are simple: nothing written at home.
Students open their school-issued Chromebooks, log into Google Docs, and begin typing. Rowe can see who made changes, what they changed, and when. If the document has a timestamp of 11:42 p.m. on a Thursday night, he knows rules were broken.
“Here’s something you don’t hear from a teacher,” Rowe tells his students. “I do not want you to do this for homework.”
Just a few years ago, take-home essays were standard practice in English classes. Now, Rowe — who describes himself as an “old-school English teacher” — has moved much of his writing into the classroom, not because he suddenly believes homework is ineffective, but because of artificial intelligence.
Programs like ChatGPT and Google Gemini can now generate a competent five-paragraph essay in seconds. They can brainstorm topics, build outlines, write introductions, and edit rough drafts. And while school networks may block these tools, most students carry a smartphone or have a personal laptop that can access them without restriction.
In the Tahoe/Truckee schools, as in schools across the country, the question is no longer whether students will use artificial intelligence. The question is how schools can preserve learning in a world where the work students are asked to do can now be done by a machine.
Administration: Guardrails
At the helm of Tahoe Truckee Unified School District’s Technological Services is Ed Hilton. The department’s motto is Where Students Master Technology for Their Future.
“We’ve got to prepare our students for college, career, and life, and technology is one of those things in every career,”Hilton said. “So, ultimately we’re supporting our kids and using those tools that they’ll be expected to use when they move on from Tahoe Truckee.”
One of those specific tools is AI. “After ChatGPT came on the scene in 2023 we decided to test out some tools, especially in Google workspace. We use some productivity tools,” he said. “And I guess what we’re still concerned about is employees using tools that we haven’t vetted. Especially right as things came out, we did a lot of employee training, like to not upload student info so AI is not training on student info.”
Hilton estimates that in their Google and other curriculum tools, “about 1/3 use some sort of AI in the background.”
DISTRACTIONS DISTRACTIONS: Though cell phones are no longer allowed on a student’s person during classtime at many local schools, the constant distraction of the screen — even by school-issued laptops — is noted by both educators and students. Illustrations by Sarah Miller/Moonshine Ink
He was quick to make a distinction on AI: “If you’re talking about up-font AI-use like ChatGPT, it’s just the staff. Students can’t go to ChatGPT or Google Gemini. Only staff have access.”
Each student at TTUSD is given a Chromebook, which is a streamlined laptop running Google Chrome OS, for school use from kindergarten through the senior year of high school. Kids in younger grades leave the laptops at school, older students take them home for homework, the transition happening in middle school. While on their Chromebooks, or while utilizing a school’s Wi-Fi network, up-front AI tools and a variety of websites are blocked.
Yet many students, especially in high school, have their own laptops as well. When not on school Wi-Fi, these computers (not to mention the smart-phone in most middle school and high schoolers’ pockets) have no restrictions on any AI tool or website.
Hilton acknowledged this, and that students utilizing “front end AI” has been problematic.
“As far as academic honesty, teachers are having those conversations,” he said, noting that the district has just finished a draft of its AI policy, which has been in the works since October with input from three public meetings between administrators, staff, and parents, that Hilton believes will be ratified before the end of the school year. “But we are not going to put our head in the sand. AI is definitely part of the students’ future.”
Hilton repeatedly noted that any use of AI in the district has to be “secure” and “safe.” He pushed on the need for transparency and visibility of how students are using it, and averred that there must be guardrails in place that would, essentially, allow students to use some AI tools for schoolwork, but not all of them.
“Any tool should have some sort of scaffolding to students,” he said. “In that, you don’t get the race car right away, we teach you to drive first.”
TTUSD administrators and educators are watching how the test drive goes in another Placer County school. (Though TTUSD spans three counties, the district is under Placer jurisdiction.) Rocklin Unified has, in Hilton’s term, “deployed” more front-end school-wide AI tools, namely Google Gemini, into their curriculum — okayed and even encouraged for classroom and schoolwide use.
“Our students will use AI in their jobs. But it’s come so quickly — the use, the integration and all the different things,” Hilton said. “We want to make sure we are doing it correctly. The question isn’t are we using it or not, but is it beneficial or not? If we come up with educators who say it’s not beneficial, we won’t use it. But putting our head in sand and saying AI doesn’t exist is not valuable either.”
Teachers: Protect the Learning Process
While Rowe assiduously protects students’ writing process from AI, he is also working on ways to implement the newly evolving tech tools.
THING OF THE PAST: Like the disappearance of chalkboards in the 1990s and 2000s, education is seeing pens, paper, and take-home essays become bygone tools as it enters its AI frontier. File image
“What’s the role of AI in classrooms?” he asked rhetorically. “I think there is one. But the balance of where and when to use them is a work in progress with educators, myself included.”
Rowe’s approach depends on his classes, from AP Language and AP Literature courses to his communications class. In the latter, for instance, student presentations are a large part of the curriculum. He not only okays AI-use for aspects of these, but encourages it. “AI tools are really great for research,” he said, noting an example of a student looking into the difference between engineering programs at various colleges, and how just a few years ago the research could “take days” but “now it’s one query.”
He finds a boon in using AI-generated graphics as well. “I feel like for project-based stuff and visuals, AI has some really cool tools. If someone is giving a mini Shark Tank style presentation in my communications class, I encourage them to use AI for their visuals. In the past, students may not have had much for visual aids, and now it’s almost professional level visuals and art.”
While striving to keep ideation and writing a human-powered endeavor, Rowe does see educational benefit from AI’s use on “the back end” of essay-writing. He talks of a student who had a near-final draft of her paper but wasn’t sure if her tone was coming through as intended. The student, Rowe said, “plugged it into AI, into Gemini, and asked if the tone she had intended to use was the tone that came through.” The feedback the student received, per Rowe, was useful.
But as for writing, Rowe is wary of AI taking over too much of the critical thinking and drafting that has always been vital to the creation of an essay.
“I’ve definitely had my days when I’m grading, and I’ll read something that is just so obvious AI, and it’s depressing quite frankly,” Rowe said. “My initial reaction is that, ‘yeah we have to lock ’em down and just handwrite everything.’ And then I calm down and ask myself, “What is our mission?’” He answers his own question with: “It’s not for students to get a good grade in my class but to prepare our young people to be contributors in society.”
Rowe returned to the need for balance, and the importance for discussion. “Everyone is navigating their way through it,” he said. “This is classic where the technology is way out in front of the policies and the teaching methods.”
“The kids,” he concluded, “are adapting to AI really quickly. Much quicker than the educators and the school policies.”
Laurie Cussen, who teaches history and social studies courses at Truckee High, believes in not shortcutting the learning process. “AI is a tool for productivity once you’re out of education [and into the workforce],” she said. “That makes sense, but the learning has to happen before.”
She makes an apt comparison: “My first grader is a perfect example. He is learning arithmetic, addition, and subtraction. We’ve had calculators forever that could do that for him. But it is so much better for his neuropathways for him to do it himself — to learn how to do it himself.”
“We are in neuropathway building,” she said of herself and her fellow teachers. “We need to protect the productive struggle.”
Cussen gave another analogy: As a wrestler becomes a better wrestler through the struggle of wrestling, learners become better learners through the struggle of learning. Though she acknowledges using AI in some of her own lesson planning, she “shies away” from using AI in her classroom “because it is such a convenient shortcut.”
Illustration by Sarah Miller/Moonshine Ink
However, she does see a benefit for students to use AI as “a clarifier of concepts,” going as far as instructing her students to use AI at home to make practice quizzes, referring to it as “as a study companion.”
As for class time, Cussen echoed Mr. Rowe’s sentiments. “[AI] can do any assignment we do in class,” she said, lamenting that the school “is seeing a lot of stuff turned in that is purely done by AI.”
“If you want to ensure that the work is purely student generated, all the work has to be done in the classroom. If you let it go home, you know it’s not all student work.”
“I see class time as preserving the productive struggle, not giving students the cognitive offramp,” Cussen continued. “Protect the space of learning in class, then when you go home, use AI.”
The soft skills of communication, collaboration, problem solving, teamwork, and critical thinking must remain at the core of curriculum, she said. AI proficiency, on the other hand, she observed, can be coached in shorter time spans, through short-courses or future employees, down the road. “Learning the soft skills in school is vital,” she emphasized.
Students: The Reality
Kate and Maria are juniors in AP courses at Truckee High. They have been in TTUSD schools since their elementary school days, and they say this year has been their most academically rigorous thus far. They both want to go to college, with some big names in education on their lists of desired schools. Both are taking an AP-heavy courseload. To protect their privacy, their names have been changed.
Both agreed that a difference regarding AI in this school year is “the teachers are more on edge about it in general.” The students spoke about the restrictions regarding AI-use on tests and certain assignments when on school Wi-Fi and Chromebooks.
“But for online homework, there are no restrictions like that,” Kate said. Both she and Maria have their own personal laptops. They said teachers sometimes do encourage or even instruct homework assignments to be completed with AI. Other times, students simply opt to use it.
“I do think sometimes it’s beneficial to use Chat GPT or Gemini because it can help answer questions you don’t know,” Maria said. “Let’s say there was a formula in math that I can’t remember, it can help me. It’s nice to have a website like Chat GPT you can trust to explain it to you step by step.”
The students echoed the idea of the AI study companion.
“Chat GPT for me is really useful for studying for tests because some teachers don’t give study guides,” Kate said, saying that she copies and pastes content from her Google Classroom page into one of the programs to have the AI generate, for instance, “flash cards for unit three of [class].”
When asked, in their view, if they had ever overstepped the ethical bounds of AI-use on an assignment, Maria answered, “Honestly, not really.” Both described how passing AP tests to receive the valuable college credits means that the student actually has to learn the material. (One cannot use AI tools on the test, for instance.) The two juniors also spoke to a genuine desire to learn for learning’s sake.
Maria stated that she did not use AI before she started taking AP classes. “I think learning has definitely changed a lot,” she said.
Still, similar to what their teachers and administrators have noticed, Kate and Maria also see some students finding workarounds and overly relying on AI, using it, in some cases, to complete the entirety, or the near-entirety, of an assignment.
“I definitely think kids are getting stupider from using it too much,” Kate said.
But both do not blame their peers for the overuse. “It’s just so accessible to just search up the answer if you don’t have time,” Kate said.
As for writing, the juniors find AI to be a key tool. “Honestly, writing is more like a first draft, not editing,” Kate said. ‘If I feel like I need editing, I’ll run it through Chat GPT.”
She usually writes out “one to two drafts” on her own before (and if) she seeks AI editing.
When a human-written draft is “run through” an AI program for editing, per the detection software turnitin.app, it is more difficult to catch than if the draft was initially generated by AI. Further hindrances to detection arise when an AI-generated first draft is edited by a human, when there is mixed AI-human authorship; or when content is too short to provide sufficient linguistic data, i.e., a paragraph-length piece rather than an essay-length.
Kate and Maria also noted using AI as a writing tutor on their essays for the “little things you can use ChatGPT for, like topic points or information … how do I format it …what facts do I put in … to see if I need a smoother transition on this” … “When I have no idea what to write about” and to “put it in and see how it’s going to grade me.”
When the students were asked if they work harder or less hard when they use an AI program like ChatGPT on their schoolwork, the students said: “Definitely less effort because it gives you the exact answer.”
How to not be tempted to use AI or other digital technology? Get rid of the screen.
“In my history class where there’s lectures, you can ask questions while you go over the information and take notes,” Maria said. “You don’t have any technology out, and you’re totally focused on the teacher and what they’re saying. I think that’s more impactful, the lecture and taking notes with pen and paper. Way more beneficial for sure. A lot of times when I take notes on my computer, I get sidetracked and open different tabs. When it’s pen and paper, I don’t have that excuse.”
EDUCATION FINDS ITSELF entering an AI landscape where the unknowns outweigh the knowns and where protecting the productive struggle of learning has become paramount. File image
Nevada: The Transplant and the Chatbot
In North Lake Tahoe, Incline Village schools fall under the Washoe County School District. I spoke with an early-grade elementary school teacher who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal. She moved to the district from a state where, she said, schools were moving away from classroom technology. In Nevada, she found the opposite. “All curriculum is online,” she said of her classes. Even when she reads a book aloud, the students no longer gather around a physical copy with pages that she fans while teaching; the book is displayed on a screen.
She acknowledged that not all studies show classroom technology to improve learning outcomes, but in her new district, its use is expanding rather than shrinking. She broached how her school has “just implemented an app for kids to do their reading homework on instead of them reading books and completing a reading log.”
The app is called Paloma. Per its LinkedIn page, the company “is a venture-backed edtech startup that harnesses AI to unleash parents’ untapped teaching potential.” In short, Paloma’s AI generates personalized books aligned to what it knows about a student’s learning needs and personal/familial interests, and texts the student’s family a daily tutoring lesson plan.
“A few parents have actually complained since they do not want their child on technology,” the teacher said.
When I was unable to reach administrators at Incline High School, I turned to the district’s website, where I found something no other Tahoe/Truckee area school site had: an AI assistant. The chatbot introduces itself in writing: “Hi, I’m Ask your WCSD AI Assistant. How can I help you today?”
I asked it a simple question: Do Incline High students use AI?
The response began: “The Washoe County School District acknowledges that AI is rapidly reshaping education and can be a powerful tool for expanding learning.” The answer went on for several paragraphs, outlining both benefits and drawbacks, and included a statement that the district had established a framework “that ensures AI is used responsibly, ethically, and effectively.”
In my conversations with educators for this article, that was the first time I had heard the word “ensure” used in reference to students’ ethical AI use.
I asked the chatbot another question: How come AI is so good for first graders?
It responded that AI can “enhance learning,” “foster creativity,” and “personalize learning to meet individual needs, even at an early age.”
Then I asked a question more specific to writing: Is editing writing?
The AI responded that “editing is an integral part of the writing process,” and that “writing encompasses the entire process from ideation to the final product.” So, I asked a follow-up: Can AI help students with ideating and editing an essay?
“Yes,” the chatbot responded, stating that students are encouraged to use AI for brainstorming, for planning ideas and organizing thoughts, and in editing drafts.
Reading the responses, I wrote an if/then statement in my notebook. If ideation and editing are integral aspects of writing an essay and students are encouraged to use AI for them, then does that not innately represent cognitive offloading of integral aspects of writing an essay?
Yes, I believe it does.
When I returned a few days later and asked the chatbot the same questions again, its answers were similar, but not identical. The AI, it seemed, had learned — and altered its answers in subtle but noticeable ways.
WHAT WAS BROKEN? While old-school teaching methods were not perfect, a lot of students learned just fine for a long time before AI-infused curriculums and cognitive offloading. Illustration by Sarah Miller/Moonshine Ink
Waldorf: Trees Before Tech
Public schools are by no means the only option for students and parents in Tahoe/Truckee. Truckee alone offers a number of private and charter schools. I reached out to many and heard back from some, learning that each is eitherallowing or encouraging AI in its curriculum to varying degrees.
One curriculum, however, stood out as unique — Tahoe Truckee Waldorf’s, which teaches students on three campuses from preschool through eighth grade.
“We are a tech-free school and community,” said Alexandra Ball, the school’s admissions manager. “You will not find tech in our classrooms. We ask our families to be cognizant of screentime at home as well.”
Waldorf schools have been around for over 100 years, and they are built on principles of a comprehensive and holistic education aimed to grow students’ intellectual, creative, artistic, and practical skills. Standardized testing is typically limited, and teachers are given a relatively wider range of curriculum autonomy. Nature, play, music, and imagination are widely emphasized as integral tools for learning. A motto of Tahoe Truckee Waldorf is “Trees before Tech.”
“We are tech free not because we are anti-technology but because we believe in developing children’s cognitive abilities and critical thinking abilities before they are introduced to it,” Ball continued, noting the value of human interactions and dealing with real-life situations as educational keys in Tahoe Truckee Waldorf’s curriculum. “We believe it gives children a better start in life.”
Ball grew up in Washington State and went to The Seattle Waldorf School through eighth grade. She has lived in the Tahoe/Truckee area for “about a decade” and all three of her children are in the Tahoe Truckee Waldorf schools.
“It has been proven that technology is not great for attention spans and things like that,” she said. “Plus, it is not really showing that it helps children in reading, comprehension, or aptitude. Countries typically rated high in education, like Sweden, are moving away from technology and back to paper and handwriting. We are not doing anything revolutionary, we are just doubling down on what’s [been] proven to work.
“I believe strongly in giving my kids and all children the best way to develop themselves. As a parent, before I send my children out to the world, I hope their whole brain is being used.”
Adoption: Playing Catch-Up
By the time I got to high school, auto shop had been removed from the curriculum. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. But as an adult who has spent thousands of hours driving, I truly wish my school had found a way to keep that class, and that I would have been taught about the inter-workings of such a crucial thing that my world would entail.
Perhaps it’s the same with today’s students and AI, the auto shop of yesteryear — a tool students will use constantly in their adult lives, whether schools fully embrace it or not.
By many criteria, AI is the most powerful tool the world has ever seen. In reaction, teachers talk about “protecting the productive struggle.” Administrators talk about guardrails. Students talk about accessibility and pressure and time. What they all agree on is that it’s not going away.
When human beings adopt a technology, we adapt to it. We built roads for our cars. We rearranged our living rooms for our televisions. We reorganized our attention spans for our smartphones. And now it’s AI.
Schools are trying to figure out how to adapt to this powerful newcomer — how to use artificial intelligence without letting it replace the very skills schools exist to teach. The technology is moving quickly. The policies, and the classrooms, are trying to catch up.
On a clear and calm Thursday morning, a group of six meets on a pontoon boat at the Tahoe City Marina for a dive. Though everyone there is a return volunteer, Clean Up the Lake Operations Manager Klemen Robnik reviews the plans, everyone’s tasks, and boat and high-altitude-dive safety. After the safety debrief, volunteer Roman Versch, who serves as the group’s boat captain, navigates the boat to the last marked GPS location in Hurricane Bay where the previous divers left off.
Most of the lake’s litter and debris is never seen by people who recreate here, but it is quietly collected by Clean Up the Lake, a volunteer-based (1,300 strong) nonprofit organization. CUTL is on its second circumnavigation of Lake Tahoe’s 72-mile shoreline — this time at a greater depth.
The lake is still and glassy as volunteer Cole Wagner and Operations Assistant Nick Krozek suit up and plop into the water, followed by Rose Demoret, who serves as the kayaker and primary data collector, trailing after the divers’ bubbles.
“So, each time we go out on a dive, I’m actually running a Strava route, so I’m following as close as I can in the path that the divers take, so that they have that data to analyze and see exactly where they have been,” Demoret said. “The other component to that is sometimes they come across items that can’t be picked up.” In that case, divers mark the heavy or bulky items to return to.
In the sweet spot of about 45 feet below the surface, the divers float slowly through the cold water, scanning the lakebed. At such a depth, nitrox — a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen — allows them to stay under water for longer. Cradled in the silt is a trove of trash the divers gather and aquatic invasive species they document.
NITROX and diver propulsion vehicles allow scuba divers to more efficiently search for debris between 35 and 55 feet deep, a more taxing depth than the 25 feet of the first circumnavigation cleanup. Photos courtesy Clean Up the Lake
This particular day the divers cover 0.37 miles, collecting over 150 pounds of litter including a soggy orange shag rug that looks like it fell off an Austin Powers set. Bulky items like the rug are sent to the surface via an inflated, bright orange heavy lift bag, which Robnik then retrieves and inspects to see what’s attached.
“We usually pull out roughly 500 to 1,000 pounds a month,” Robnik said.
He recalled a full, five-step staircase the crew found in Carnelian Bay, several boat ladders, tarps, chains, and lost anchors.
“It never goes away unless it’s salvaged,” Versch said.
ACCIDENTAL LITTER: Divers pull up all sorts of debris within the 35- to 55-foot range, much of which they believe to have accidentally fallen off boats.
Going the Extra Mile
“Initially I was like, there’s not much at all to do here. Lake Tahoe is so clean and so beautiful,” said CUTL Founder and CEO Colin West. “Under the surface … the problem’s just been perpetuating out of sight and out of mind.”
There are piles upon piles of trash in the lake, according to him. Clean Up the Lake’s 72 Mile Cleanup2 began with a deep-clean pilot-project in 2025 at depths up to 25 feet. The first cleanup successfully collected 25,281 pounds of trash. This year’s haul is anticipated to surpass that amount.
The current project kicked off on the West Shore border of Placer County in December. Because Lake Tahoe is calm and free from recreation traffic in winter, cleanup days are booked through the chilly months, leading to divers in wetsuits coming up shivering.
Clean Up the Lake is now traveling clockwise around the lake, following the contours of the shore and scoping out the 35- to 55-foot-deep swath of lakebed. The dives will continue through summer. As of the Ink’s publication, this second cleanup has completed 23 dive days and three sorting days, removing more than 3,557 pounds of debris.
“Based on those numbers over our mileage,” Programs Manager Jenny Uvira said, “it projected for us to actually collect more trash in 35 to 55 depth range than we did in the original circumnavigation.”
Uvira guessed that the tipping point might happen near the project’s 62-mile mark. West emphasized it’s a projection; the reality has yet to be seen.
DIVE TEAM: Divers Cole Wagner and Nick Krozek and kayaker Rose Demoret make their way to a GPS pin to continue the 72 Mile Deep Clean2. Photo by Megan Ramsey/Moonshine Ink
“The only way we know is once we swim across and clean it up ourselves,” West said.
So, what’s down there? Alpine lakes are barren in regards to plant life, but there is an abundance of litter.
“You can’t see it until it comes up,” Versch explained. “The divers see it underwater. You don’t realize how much trash is really in the lake. And so much more than I ever imagined.”
Clean Up the Lake’s mission is to conserve lakes across the Eastern Sierra.
“I’ve had the pleasure of visiting other areas around the world and I’ve seen what can become of our environment and our underwater environments if we disregard them, if we don’t take action now while we can, to protect them and protect the beautiful, wild, and natural look that it’s been for so long,” West said.
West came up with the idea to start a nonprofit when he traveled to Belize and saw trash-ridden beaches on stretches of unmaintained shoreline.
“And I think Tahoe is one of those few areas that still shows signs of how it’s always been. But unfortunately, you know, the litter, the New Zealand mud snail, the Asian clams, the Eurasian modern milfoil, curly leaf pond weed, goldfish, bass, the invasive [species], the garbage, the algae growth from runoff, and nutrient loading — all these problems are really starting to have a detrimental effect on Lake Tahoe.”
HEAVY LIFT: Klemen Robnik pulls a disintegrating tire from the water after divers sent it up with an inflated lift bag. Photo by Megan Ramsey/Moonshine Ink
The Aftermath of Trash
“I think a lot of people just think we pull trash out of the lake and then throw it out and take it to the dump,” Uvira said, “but it’s so much more than that. We sort our trash into 83 different categories.”
The main categories are plastics, metal, glass, and wood, which contain subcategories such as plastic utensils, plastic fishing gear, and others — within plastics, there are 27 different subcategories. Uvira said sorting the trash helps identify problems in different parts of the lake. Near buoy fields, for instance, divers find items like boat covers and metal bird-deterrents. At the current depth they are focused on, heavier items and lots of beer cans and beverage bottles have settled.
Even though they find so much litter, volunteers and employees of Clean Up the Lake think the lake is becoming cleaner.
“In the past, there was a lot more littering. We do find lots more trash that’s a little bit older. And if we revisit an area after a while, chances are that there’s going to be less trash,” Robnik said about his personal observations in the field. “The environmental consciousness of people has gotten better, and we are noticing a lot more of modern litter is accidental littering.”
But that doesn’t mean the accumulated litter is without its detriments.
“If the litter’s not removed, the thousand-plus tires we’ve removed break down and turn into microplastics, make their way into drinking water,” West said. “I’ve seen tons of wildlife entanglement in our lakes of huge, beautiful trout being caught in fishing lines.”
Uvira commented that though the overall weight of plastic that they collect tends to be lower than that of other materials, the number of fragments and microplastics is high. The more plastic degrades, the smaller the particles become, and the harder they are to remove from the drinking water Tahoe provides.
Elizabeth Everest, the consulting environmental scientist and GIS expert for CUTL, noted that when debris like rubber begins to break down, it introduces toxins into the water.
cole WAGNER, a certified diver and one of the 1,300 volunteers with Clean Up the Lake, drops into the water with a splash before descending with his dive buddy. Photo by Megan Ramsey/Moonshine Ink
“Once items have been removed from the lake, there’s less of an impact moving forward,” she explained. “But obviously, as things break down, those small pieces that can’t be physically removed are going to remain in the lake for a really long time.”
The effect of toxins in the water, changes in the ecosystem caused by aquatic invasive species, and rising temperatures accumulate and worsen without actions from organizations like Clean Up the Lake.
“These cleanups are fixing the mistakes of our past. We’ve got decades and decades of litter that’s stacked up underneath lakes here,” West said. “Fresh water is one of our most crucial resources and is only going to become more important as we have 73-degree stretches [all] month long in March [at] 7,000 feet. Climate change is happening. It’s here. It’s been in Tahoe all month long. So, we need to protect these freshwater resources that we have.”
Clean Up the Lake remains optimistic, dive by dive, pound of trash after pound of trash removed.
“I feel like we are making strides, and we’re going in the right direction,” West said. “And hopefully we can continue to spread this work.”
The team emphasized that the sooner debris is removed, the less it will degrade and impact water quality. You don’t need a scuba tank to pitch in.
“If you see a piece of trash, pick it up,” Demoret said. “It’s really pretty easy to keep a little plastic bag or an extra bag with you to collect a little bit of trash any time that you go out. If everybody does a small impact picking up a couple trash items on the shoreline, then one, they’re not going to end up in the water, and then two, it won’t be on the shoreline for people to see. You don’t have to make a huge effort.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Join Clean Up the Lake on Earth Day, April 22, for a cleanup at the Tahoe City Marina. Find more opportunities for volunteering at cleanupthelake.org/volunteer
In early March, Washoe Tribe members led a ceremony to support Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue volunteers who had been responders at the devastating Feb. 17 Castle Peak avalanche. While details are private, two statements were shared with Moonshine Ink.
Darrel Cruz, Washoe Tribe member, said, “I want to acknowledge the Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue and thank them for their dedication to the community and for their recent response to the Castle Peak avalanche tragedy.
“We all go back to our roots for the basic spirituality of healing and in times like this, this is what neighbors do for each other.”
~ Darrel Cruz
“Team members who responded to the emergency felt a degree of trauma and grief having to confront what they had to go through that left them with a need to heal. TNSAR reached out to people of the Washoe Tribe to ask for a ceremony to help them heal and replenish their soul through a Washoe sweat ceremony. The Washoe replied and held a special ceremony for the TNSAR team members.
“We all go back to our roots for the basic spirituality of healing and in times like this, this is what neighbors do for each other.”
Troy Corliss, TNSAR volunteer, answered, “Tahoe Nordic SAR thanks the Waší:šiw members for welcoming our request and hosting the sweat lodge ceremony for us. Meeting you and participating in the ceremony helped us to move through a difficult time. We are grateful to you for sharing your customs and guiding us through this ceremony of prayer and healing. May we continue the friendship that you have offered to us.”
Frank LaMarque passed away peacefully on Dec. 16 after a prolonged struggle with respiratory disease.
Born in St. Louis, MO, to Frank and Lillian LaMarque, Frank attended Sumner High School and later the University of Missouri, where he made friendships that have lasted a lifetime.
Courtesy photo
During the Vietnam War, Frank enlisted in the military, serving as a medic in the US Army. While stationed in Germany, Frank met Suzanne and Clarisse Robert, and, at their invitation, came to Lake Tahoe. One look at the lake, and Frank decided he was never leaving.
For the next 56 years, Frank made Tahoe City his home, starting by managing Joe Marillac’s Squaw Valley ski shop. Frank later opened Frank’s Tunes, which later became Jobey’s Records, which he co-owned for many years. He later moved to become a supervisor for Sierra Rainbow Painting for over 25 years, and lastly, as he was approaching retirement, he worked at A Santes Lakeside Fitness.
Frank married Andrea Streepy and fathered a daughter, Aisha Carmel, who tragically died in early adulthood, leaving four grandchildren, for whom Frank acted as guardian until his death.
Before his health betrayed him, Frank’s love for the game of golf would have him on the course in Tahoe City regularly, keeping the greens keepers busy repairing divots. When he finally got a hole-in-one, he became an incurable golfaholic.
But what he did cure was his struggle with alcohol. A recovered alcoholic, Frank threw himself into the AA program with passion and became a model for others on their path to sobriety. In his 35 years sober, he sponsored many people and literally saved many lives.
His huge grin, infectious laugh, and heart of gold will be sorely missed by all the many friends he had in this community and by all that he touched along the way.
A celebration of life is planned for Saturday, May 9, at 2 p.m. at the Tahoe City Golf Course.
When the news turns grim and market volatility increases, it can feel like uncertainty is everywhere. Scroll through the headlines and it makes sense why investors feel uneasy.
A war in Iran and an ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine have led to a surge in global energy prices, sparking fears of higher inflation. Evidence suggesting tariffs put on imported goods have been passed through to us, the consumer and small business, putting further upward pressure on inflation.
Recently reported weak job growth may be signaling a slowing economy. Combine all these concerns and we have the makings of 1970’s stagflation: slow growth and high inflation. Truckee, and our region more broadly, are not immune to these global influences.
The recently released Business Listening Tour conducted by the Truckee Chamber ofCommerce reflects these concerns. According to Chamber President and CEO Jessica Penman, chamber members report thinning margins while revenues remain steady. These anecdotal reports likely reflect cost pressures due to tariffs, among other influences.
With stories like these, it is a normal reaction to wonder, “Should I be doing something with my investments right now?”
This reaction stems from the same fight-or-flight instinct that helped our ancestors survive physical danger. When we feel threatened, our natural response is to react quickly. While a market decline is not a physical threat, our brains can respond as if it were. When portfolios fall and uncertainty rises, the urge to act can be strong.
Feeling uneasy during volatile markets is completely normal, but reacting too quickly is where many investors get into trouble. Looking back at the last 100 years, some terrible things have happened: among other events, a depression, a world war, an assassinated president, an oil embargo, a global financial crisis, a pandemic, and yet the market keeps moving upward, although not in a straight line. While every downturn feels unique in the moment, history tells a consistent story — disciplined investors with a thoughtful plan are rewarded for staying the course.
A sound investment strategy does not rely on predicting the terrible thing. Instead, it is built on accepting that terrible things do happen, and that markets will process the information, look forward, and adjust accordingly.
Our reaction to market fluctuations is one of the biggest challenges in investing. The biggest influence on our portfolios is not investment performance; it is investor behavior. We are emotional beings, especially when it comes to our money, and human behavior often works against us during volatile periods. Recognizing how emotions and psychological biases can influence financial decisions is a valuable skill.
One of the most common biases we carry is loss aversion, the tendency to feel the pain of loss more strongly than the satisfaction of gains. Discomfort like this can trigger a strong urge to act, to sell, or to wait until things look better. Unfortunately, these decisions are often made after markets have already declined rather than before. And because markets are forward-looking, by the time “things look better,” a recovery is well underway. This is a sure way to go broke by selling low and buying high.
Two other behavioral traps that frequently appear during volatile markets are herd mentality and recency bias.
Herd mentality occurs when investors act based on the actions of others. If everyone around us seems worried, that anxiety can spread quickly. If others are reacting to the headlines we are also seeing, it makes sense to feel that we should be doing something too. Following the crowd has historically led to poor investment decisions.
Recency bias is the tendency to place weight on recent experiences and assume they will continue indefinitely. The most recent experience influences our perception of risk, and, during downturns, investors may feel things will only get worse. Conversely, during strong rallies, confidence grows and risk-taking increases. Neither is a healthy long-term investment approach.
Two time-tested ideas should guide your investment philosophy. First, markets tend to be remarkably efficient at incorporating available information into prices. Second, diversification matters. Since none of us has a crystal ball and we cannot predict which sectors or countries will outperform next, it makes sense to hold highly diversified investments. If not at least one of your investments is making you mad all the time, you are not diversified.
Investing, in many ways, is about preparation. Living in the mountains, we do not wait until the first snow to think about firewood or snow tires. We prepare ahead of time because we know that winter storms are inevitable.
Markets work the same way. Portfolios should be built not just for sunny days, but for the storms that inevitably appear. And when the storms arrive, as they always do, the investors who prepared ahead of time are usually the ones best positioned to stay calm, stay disciplined, and stay invested.
~ Jessica Abrams and John Manocchio are CFP® professionals with Pacific Crest Wealth Planning serving the Truckee/Tahoe region. Both Jessica and John are passionate about their community and volunteer service. Jessica is an active member of the Rotary Club of Truckee and John is an active member of the Truckee Optimist Club.
