News Briefs

License Plate Proceeds Fund Removal of Aquatic Invasive Species and More

LAKE TAHOE

Every year, proceeds from the sale and renewal of Nevada Lake Tahoe License Plates (NV-LTLP) are invested in projects that help preserve and restore Lake Tahoe’s unique natural environment.

This year, the Nevada Division of State Lands (NDSL) is excited to announce that more than $1 million in NV-LTLP proceeds support the following important environmental improvement projects:

• Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Fish Management Structure: NDSL will work with the Nevada Department of Wildlife to build a permanent fish passage structure in Third Creek, Incline Village.

• Tunnel Creek Backcountry Alternative Trail: The Nevada Division of State Parks will construct approximately 1.7 miles of natural surface, sustainable multi-use trail on the Tunnel Creek Trail. 
• Sand Harbor Portable Waterless Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Machine: NV-LTLP funding will allow Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) to purchase a user-operated vessel-cleaning machine and mobile trailer for use at Sand Harbor State Park. 
• Spooner Lake State Park Backcountry Facilities: Nevada Division of State Parks will use NV-LTLP funding to install modernized restroom facilities in the backcountry of Spooner Lake. 

NDSL is also pleased to announce it will be awarding $1.4 million in Navigable Water Fees to fund the Cave Rock State Park Boating Access Enhancement Project.

This important work is made possible by more than 34,000 Nevadans who have purchased or renewed their Nevada Lake Tahoe license plate. To help protect Lake Tahoe by purchasing a plate, please visit dmvnv.com/platescharitable.htm.

To learn more about the projects funded by the NV-LTLP program, visit lands.nv.gov/tahoe-plate.

~ Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

March 10 ​​Virtual Town Hall on Tahoe Basin Housing Amendments

TAHOE CITY

Placer County District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson is inviting the community to a virtual town hall meeting next week to hear updates regarding the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s Phase 2 housing amendments for the Tahoe Basin Area Plan in North Lake Tahoe. 

The event is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Monday, March 10, and will be live-streamed on Zoom.

Last month, the Placer County Board of Supervisors directed county staff to initiate an environmental review process to align the county’s Tahoe Basin Area Plan with the TRPA’s recommended housing amendments. These amendments, which focus on 100% deed-restricted housing projects, aim to support affordable, moderate-income, and local workforce housing in the region.

The TRPA first adopted the amendments in its regional plan and code of ordinances in 2023 following two years of study and recommendations from the Tahoe Living Working Group, a committee set up by TRPA to propose three sets of local housing amendments. TRPA will proceed with adopting the amendments in the Placer County Tahoe Basin Area Plan, with the amendments scheduled for review by its governing board March 26.

Join from PC, Mac, iPad or Android: placer-ca-gov.zoom.us/s/91239610165

Join via audio by dialing: (888) 788-0099 U.S. Toll Free or (877) 853-5247 U.S. Toll Free

Webinar ID: 912 3961 0165

The TRPA has mandated that all local jurisdictions adopt these amendments within 1 year or propose viable alternatives that meet the same objectives. On Feb. 4, the board advised staff to move forward with the environmental study, which is expected to take up to 12 months and is required under the California Environmental Quality Act. Placer County must complete the review before the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors consider the item. 

Learn more about the Tahoe Basin Area Plan by visiting: placer.ca.gov/3342/tahoe-basin-area-plan.

~ Placer County press release

Truckee Literary Crawl Features Readings, Open Mic

TRUCKEE

The inaugural Truckee Literary Crawl will be a free community literary event featuring authors, writers and poets reading their works in the afternoon followed by book signings at locations in downtown Truckee on April 5.

Featured authors include Suzanne Roberts, Jesse James Ziegler, Karen Terrey, Michael P. Branch, Liz Tucker, Fil Corbitt, June Sylvester Saraceno, Eddy Ancinas, Eve Quesnel, Kim Bateman, Priya Hutner, and others.

In the evening, enjoy an Open Mic Night at Alibi Ale Works Truckee Public House open to all literary forms — poetry, prose, songwriting, etc. — created around a Dark Sky theme from 6 to 8 p.m. Nevada County Poet Laureate Karen Terrey of Truckee will host the open mic. Sign-ups will be available at Alibi from 5 to 5:45 p.m. and each performance is limited to 3 minutes.

Participants are encouraged to interpret the theme in any way. Whether it’s poetry, prose, a song, or a compelling story, we welcome your voice.

The event is produced by Priya Hutner and Katherine Hill of the Tahoe Literary Festival and is sponsored by Nevada County Arts Council, Truckee Cultural District, Truckee Core Values Fund, The Seasoned Sage, and Tahoe Guide.

Find details on the event at truckeelitcrawl.com. Questions may be directed to [email protected].

~ Tahoe Literary Festival press release

Washoe Tahoe Academy Launched for North Lake Tahoe Residents

INCLINE VILLAGE/CRYSTAL BAY

Washoe County is launching a brand-new leadership program designed specifically for residents of the Incline Village/Crystal Bay community. This free 5-week program will address the issues and opportunities unique to North Lake Tahoe. 

The class of 2025 will have the opportunity to increase their professional and personal network with fellow community leaders across the county, while learning how local county government works.   

This program is a collaborative effort by Washoe County, University of Nevada, Reno Extension, and the Incline Village Crystal Bay Community & Business Association.  

The Washoe Tahoe Academy is open to Incline Village/Crystal Bay residents only, and participants must be able to commit to attending all five sessions, which will take place one evening per week. The first session is April 30, and the final session on May 28 will conclude with a cohort graduation.

For more information and to apply, visit washoecounty.gov/wta. The deadline to apply is March 27.  

~ Washoe County press release

SOS Outreach and Northstar California Introduce Teenagers to the Ski Industry

INCLINE VILLAGE

SOS Outreach, a nonprofit focused on outdoor-based mentorship, has partnered with Northstar California to introduce teenagers to career paths within the ski industry. This experience represents an element of SOS Outreach’s multi-year curriculum designed to foster a sense of belonging and personal growth in kids and teenagers through skiing and snowboarding, mentorship, community service, social-emotional learning workshops, and career development. Industry Day, an event for middle and high school students in their fourth year of SOS’ Mentor Program, offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at ski resort operations and management. 

In preparation for Industry Day, youth collaborate with their peers and mentors to formulate thoughtful questions for resort leaders. They will tour departments such as snowmaking, ski patrol, lift operations, and food and beverage, learning firsthand about these critical roles and what skills are necessary to succeed. 

Throughout the day, participants practice using the communication skills they have learned throughout the SOS Outreach program, speaking up to gain further insight and a deeper understanding of both life and career opportunities.

In addition to Industry Days, SOS also partners with Northstar and Vail Resort’s EpicPromise to offer a Career Development Program for participants ages 16-plus. This paid summer program begins with a skills intensive to teach job skills, followed by an apprenticeship at the resort. 

To learn more, visit: sosoutreach.org/programs/career-development/.

~ SOS Outreach press release

Seeds, Sips, and Songs: A Family-Friendly Pre-Garden Season Event

TRUCKEE

Slow Food Lake Tahoe (SFLT) is hosting its second freeFREE veggie seed give away. This family-friendly event is designed to help you jump start the area’s short growing season by providing you with seeds to start indoors now. The seeds provided have been shown to grow best in the high elevation climate. In fact, they are the same varieties SFLT uses in their SFLT gardens. Check out the best in seeds for peas, beans, greens, beets, carrots, and radishes!

All ages and skill levels are welcome. Activities include children’s books about gardening and seeds, coloring, crafts , and learning how to harvest seeds from flower heads (and store them in the seed envelope you make yourself).

Swing by RMU Truckee to grab seeds for your garden, relax on the heated patio, and groove to the sweet tunes from Truckee Tahoe School of Music.

This must-attend event will be held on April 26 from 2 to 5 p.m. at RMU Truckee.

For more information, visit slowfoodlaketahoe.org/events-1/seeds-sips-songs.

~ Slow Food Lake Tahoe press release

Business Briefs

Alpenglow Sports Meets Tahoe Fund Match During Winter Speaker Series

TAHOE CITY

Alpenglow Sports is thrilled to announce an additional $38,000 raised for the five nonprofit beneficiaries of the annual Winter Speaker Series, thanks to a generous match from the Tahoe Fund. During the series, all in-person funds raised through bar and raffle sales were doubled by the Tahoe Fund, meaning an additional $7,600 will be distributed to local nonprofit organizations Scotty Lapp Foundation, Lake Tahoe Waterman Association, Courage Project, Headwaters Science Institute, and TAMBA.

The 19-year old Alpenglow Sports Winter Speaker Series, presented by the North Tahoe Chamber, is an eagerly anticipated winter tradition for North Tahoe’s adventure community. Five times per winter, a premier outdoor athlete presents an inspirational tale of adventure, creating a forum for motivation, inspiration and education. Each show is dedicated to a different nonprofit and to date, the Winter Speaker Series has raised over $2 million for local organizations. 

The Tahoe Fund is a local nonprofit organization that raises private funding for environmental projects around the Lake Tahoe Basin with an emphasis on forest health, lake clarity, sustainable recreation, transportation and stewardship. They provide a common vision from which to build a sustainable future for this irreplaceable resource and for those who cherish and enjoy this mountain landscape.

If you or someone you know is interested in applying to be a nonprofit beneficiary of the 2025/26 Winter Speaker Series, please reach out to [email protected] for more information.

~ Alpenglow Sports press release

Mt. Rose Expands ‘Open Late’ Hours to Include Fridays and Saturdays

RENO

Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe’s popular “Open Late” schedule is back, and better than ever! Adding another day of extended operations to the schedule, the resort plans to keep select lifts spinning and resort services open late on both Fridays and Saturdays through the end of the season. Operations will continue until 5:30 p.m. both days until Daylight Savings ends on March 9. After that, the schedule extends until 6 p.m.

The Northwest Express, Lakeview Express, Wizard, and Magic lifts will stay open late on Fridays and Saturdays, along with the Snowdeck off the Lakeside trail offering beer, wine, snacks, and stellar views of Lake Tahoe.

The “Ski G.I.F.” Friday Daily Special discounted ticket offered after 12 p.m. makes Fridays even more special with the later skiing and snowboarding and a great deal on lift access. For those who want to extend the weekend, “Bonus Mondays” offer heavily discounted Monday lifts tickets for anyone who skis at Rose the previous Saturday or Sunday (void holidays).

Learn more at skirose.com.

~ Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe press release