News Briefs
Resolutions Adopted Opposing Federal Funding and Staffing Cuts
TRUCKEE
In a decisive move to protect the community’s safety, economy, and natural resources, the Truckee Town Council unanimously adopted two critical resolutions during its March 11 meeting. These resolutions strongly oppose recent federal funding and staffing cuts affecting public lands and essential services.
The council chamber had a large audience, including representatives from several regional agencies, communities, and nonprofit organizations. Residents delivered testimonies addressing a wide range of issues, including wildfire mitigation, fire insurance challenges, potential job losses affecting future data collection and research, restricted access to campgrounds impacting tourism, delays in basic permitting processes, and the stalling of trail projects not reliant on federal funding but hindered by federal agreement freezes.
The first resolution, Resolution 2025-15, opposes the detrimental impacts to forest health and wildfire mitigation resulting from federal funding and staffing reductions. The second, Resolution 2025-16, addresses the adverse social and economic consequences anticipated from these federal actions. Both resolutions highlight the community’s proactive investments in wildfire prevention and the essential partnerships with federal agencies to protect public lands and adjacent communities. Over $32 million has been invested locally in fuels reduction and mitigation efforts over the last 5 years. While local funding will continue, Resolution 2025-15 stresses the importance of ongoing federal investment to maximize wildfire prevention efforts, as fire knows no jurisdictional boundaries.
Resolution 2025-16 builds upon concerns over reduced forest service staffing identified in Resolution 2025-15, highlighting the consequences of campground closures, which will lead to unsupervised camping, increased fire risks, litter, and closure of public restrooms.
The council emphasized that funding for forests and public lands is not a partisan issue but a matter of life and safety. With below-average snowfall this year, the region faces heightened wildfire risks.
The resolutions will be shared with regional partners and federal representatives to advocate for the restoration of essential funding and staffing levels. The town and representatives from surrounding agencies and special districts will coordinate efforts to deliver the adopted resolutions and continue discussions with federal representatives about the safety risks and impacts of these funding cuts.
~ Town of Truckee press release
Keira Scott Wins National Championship Title at Cross-Country Skiing Junior Nationals
UTAH
Competing against the top junior Nordic skiers in the country, Keira Scott (18), representing the Far West Nordic Ski Education Association, claimed her first national championship title in the U-20 Women’s Skate Sprint race at the 2025 Junior National Championships at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center.
From March 8 to 15, over 450 junior athletes from 10 regions across the United States traveled to Soldier Hollow to compete for National titles. Among them, 33 athletes from the Far West region raced in four championship events.
On Wednesday, Scott delivered a standout performance to earn her first national title in a highly competitive sprint race. A freshman at Bowdoin College in Maine and a longtime skier with Auburn Ski Club (ASC) Training Center in Truckee, Scott made her fourth Junior Nationals appearance. Her top finish last year was 15th in the U18 Classic 10km Mass Start, but this year, she proved her dominance by skiing with confidence and tactical precision.
In a 1.3-kilometer race featuring two decisive climbs, she executed a patient strategy, making her move at just the right moment to outski her competition in the quarterfinal, semifinal, and final heats.
Scott wasn’t the only Far West athlete to stand on the podium during the sprint competition. Luka Karnickis with Tahoe Endurance earned two national podium finishes, securing second place in Monday’s Classic 5 kilometer race and third in Wednesday’s Skate Sprint.
Niki Johnson with Tahoe Endurance rounded out the Far West podium finishes on Wednesday, taking third in the U-18 Women’s Skate Sprint. Johnson, who recently represented the U.S. at the U-18 Scando Cup in Gjøvik, Norway, fought through a competitive field to secure her spot on the podium.
~ Far WestCaroline Dezendorf news press release
Residents Invited to Share Feedback on Revamping 20-Year-old Cell Tower Ordinance
NEVADA COUNTY
As the Nevada County Board of Supervisors prepares to update the county’s 20-year-old cell tower ordinance, supervisors and staff are seeking public feedback first.
A public meeting is scheduled Monday, March 31, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the board chambers, 950 Maidu Ave., Nevada City. The meeting will begin with a presentation by staff and will be followed by about an hour of in-person public comment.
The session will be livestreamed for viewing on youtube.com/@countyofnevadaca/live. An update is under consideration to keep up with changes in technology in the past 2 decades and address neighborhood concerns. While some community members are eager to have improved cell phone service for themselves and emergency responders who may need it in the event of a wildfire, others have expressed concerns about environmental impacts, aesthetic considerations and potential health risks from electromagnetic radiation.
The March 31 meeting is the first of several opportunities the public will have to give comments before an updated ordinance is approved.
~ Nevada County press release
New Webpage To Help Residents Understand State Fire Hazard Mapping Changes
PLACER COUNTY
Placer County, in partnership with the Placer County Fire Department, has launched the Engage Placer: Fire Hazard Severity Zones webpage, a centralized hub to help residents understand newly updated wildfire hazard maps, compliance requirements and insurance information.
The page, available at engageplacer.org/fhsz, equips property owners in unincorporated Placer County with FHSZ mandate information, an interactive map viewer and FAQs to navigate state-mandated fire resilience standards.
This initiative follows Gov. Gavin Newsom’s February 2025 executive order expediting updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone mapping for local responsibility areas — regions overseen by local fire districts like the Placer County Fire Department.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal is mandated to classify lands within Local Responsibility Areas into Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
The maps, now available for public review, classify unincorporated areas into moderate, high or very high fire hazard zones. Local jurisdictions are required to adopt either the new standards as released or more stringent ones of their choosing within 120 days of the new maps’ release.
Placer County’s maps integrate factors like vegetation, slope and ember cast production potential, and fire history to prioritize safety in high-threat regions.
Draft maps will be presented to the Placer County Board of Supervisors for review and adoption in May. Finalization is targeted for June 10.
Residents are encouraged to review the maps and submit feedback via the webpage before the board’s decision.
~ Placer County press release
Partnership Between Boys & Girls Club, Northstar Benefits Local Youth
KINGS BEACH
Northstar California, with support from Vail Resorts EpicPromise, has worked with the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe (BGCNLT) for more than 20 years to provide local youth and teens with year-round enrichment opportunities that have become highly anticipated programs for youth and families.
Currently, the generous support of Northstar California Vail Resorts EpicPromise, helps BGCNLT provide 80 club members with the opportunity to participate in Powder Hounds, a skiing and snowboarding program for youth and teens of all abilities.
Northstar California and Vail Resorts EpicPromise also provide crucial summer transportation for summer camp field trips.
BGCNLT’s summer camps serve over 900 local youth and teens at three locations in the region. Additionally, a generous cash grant and in-kind fundraising items from Vail Resorts Epic Promise helps support overall BGCNLT programs, further strengthening opportunities for local youth.
BGCNLT currently operates four sites across the region — a clubhouse in Kings Beach that serves preschoolers through 12th grade; school based sites at Truckee Elementary School and Alder Creek Middle School; and the Duffield Youth Program within Incline Elementary School. Across all sites, BGCNLT currently serves over 1,500 local youth with before and after-school programs, summer camps, and sports leagues. Fees for services are kept low to ensure that all children in the North Tahoe/Truckee region have access to high quality programs in crucial out-of-school times.
For more information about the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe, please contact the Club at (530) 582-3760 or visit our website.
~ Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe press release
Veteran Groups Seek Volunteers
NORTHERN NEVADA
The Nevada Veterans Coalition, the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR), and the Northern Nevada All Veteran Honor Guard are seeking new members.
The coalition assists with military funerals at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in addition to presenting the colors at other events such as Memorial Day in late May, the Vietnam Veterans Remembrance ceremony in March, and the Camos to Classroom scholarship dinner in mid-November. Coalition members aren’t required to be veterans.
Patriot Guard Riders complement the honor guards and their tributes to a fallen comrade or remembrance. Founded in 2005, the PGR not only honors military veterans but also first responders. The PGR encourages anyone who has a love and respect for veterans and first responders to join.
The Northern Nevada All Veteran Honor Guard is sponsored by Carson City’s American Legion High Desert Post 56. The nonprofit honor guard presides at services at no cost to the family. The qualifications for belonging to the guard include members who have served in the military and are available on weekdays.
The honor guard provides funeral, memorial and commemorative services throughout the communities of northern Nevada, Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and other areas as requested. Family members may ask the funeral home to contact the honor guard directly for their participation.
To learn more and volunteer with the Patriot Guard Riders, visit patriotguard.org, call (775) 575-6842, or email [email protected]. To learn more and join the honor/color guard, contact Guard Commander Jim Jackson at (775) 443-8507.
~ Nevada News Group news brief
Public Utility District Utilities Team Honored with Regional Awards
TAHOE CITY
Tahoe City Public Utility District (TCPUD) is proud to announce that it has been awarded the California Water Environment Association (CWEA) Small Collection System of the Year for the Sierra Section. This esteemed recognition highlights TCPUD’s unwavering commitment to maintaining a top-tier wastewater collection system that safeguards public health and protects the environment.
In addition to this organizational achievement, TCPUD Operations Technician Bryan Dewit was recognized as CWEA’s Electrical Instrumentation Person of the Year for the Sierra Section. Dewit’s expertise and dedication ensures that our wastewater systems function efficiently and reliably.
TCPUD operates and maintains 150 miles of sewer pipe, more than 2,300 sewer manholes, and 21 lift stations to ensure the safe and efficient transport of wastewater to the treatment facility in Truckee.
By implementing industry-leading preventive maintenance, infrastructure renewal, and emergency response practices, TCPUD ensures the continuous protection of Lake Tahoe’s pristine waters and the well-being of our community. This around-the-clock service underscores TCPUD’s commitment to building a healthy mountain community.
~ TCPUD press release
$1 Million Pledge Fuels Momentum for the New Truckee Regional Library
TRUCKEE
The vision for a new Truckee Regional Library has taken a significant step forward with the announcement of a $1 million pledge from a private donor with deep family ties to the community. This generous contribution marks a milestone in the campaign to build a modern library that is designed to serve our community’s emergency resource and literacy needs, uplifting the entire Truckee region.
The current Truckee Library was built nearly 50 years ago when the town’s population was just 2,000 residents. With capacity for only 54 people, it now serves a community of over 20,000 residents, including 15,000 library card holders. A new library is essential to meet the growing needs of Truckee and provide the resources and space our residents deserve.
The new Truckee Regional Library is envisioned as more than just a place to check out books; it will be a vital resource for all who call this region home. The library will serve as an emergency resource center, a hub for youth literacy, and a center for community connection.
With this remarkable contribution, the campaign for the new Truckee Regional Library gains even greater momentum. Community members are encouraged to join in supporting this transformative project and ensuring that Truckee’s future generations have access to a library that meets our community’s needs.
For more information on how to contribute or get involved, visit truckeefol.org.
~ Friends of the Truckee Library press release
Moving In, Moving On, Moving Up
AdventureSmith Explorations Team Members Named Among 2025 Top Travel Specialists
TRUCKEE
Truckee-based AdventureSmith Explorations is celebrating the recognition of two of its travel specialists in Condé Nast Traveler’s annual selection of Top Travel Specialists. This marks the 12th consecutive year the publication’s editors have recognized company founder Todd Smith, a pioneer in the small-ship adventure cruise industry, and the first for his team member, Andrew Browning.
Smith and Browning, through their work at AdventureSmith Explorations, best known for offering transformative travel experiences in the Galapagos Islands, Antarctica, and Alaska, have developed a reputation as trusted partners in designing once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Both focus on sustainability, authenticity, and exceptional service.
Condé Nast Traveler’s annual list spotlights the world’s leading experts and travel companies. Specialists are chosen based on their specialized knowledge, firsthand travel experience, local connections, customer service, and value.
Browning, the longest running employee of AdventureSmith Explorations outside of the company founders, has reached 25 countries — plus Antarctica twice, the Arctic three times, and Alaska four — while on the job.
His experience and knowledge is unparalleled and a true asset to not only the company’s clients but AdventureSmith’s global partner operators who rely on his deep insight. He’s sailed aboard more than 40 small ships and stayed at countless wilderness lodges and hotels across the globe.
Learn more about AdventureSmith Explorations at adventuresmithexplorations.com. Find the list of 2025 Condé Nast Traveler Top Travel Specialists at cntraveler.com/travel-specialists.
~ AdventureSmith Explorations press release
Community Action Council Seeks New Members
EL DORADO COUNTY
The El Dorado County Community Action Council is seeking to fill two member vacancies with individuals who can represent the interests and concerns of people and families with low incomes living in El Dorado County, with a special focus on housing, nutrition, and low-income program needs. The deadline to submit a member application is April 22.
The council acts in an advisory capacity to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors and the El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency about community and human service needs for low-income residents. The council provides for the collaboration of local government, private organizations, and citizens serving the most vulnerable populations. Council member positions are voluntary and unpaid. Meetings take place in Placerville and are held monthly for 9 months out of the year.
For more information about the council and to receive a member application, please contact Rebecca Johnson at (530) 621-6255 or send an email to [email protected].
~ El Dorado County press release
Business Briefs
A Tahoe SkiMo Race for All Abilities – From Elite to Beer League
INCLINE VILLAGE
The Luggi Foeger Uphill/Downhill Festival — a SkiMo competition — returns to Diamond Peak Ski Resort on March 22 and 23 for a weekend of human-powered adventure and friendly competition.
Named in honor of Luggi Foeger, the founder and original general manager of Diamond Peak ski resort, the Uphill/Downhill Festival is a family-friendly event that celebrates human-powered sports, mountain culture, local craft beer, and springtime in the Lake Tahoe region.
Competitors race up the mountain using whatever human-powered method they prefer: skins, snowshoes, running shoes, etc., then ski, snowboard, snowshoe, or run back down to the finish line.
Costumes are highly encouraged in all divisions, with prizes available to competitors who show up decked out in their best outfit.
In addition to the races, there will be on-snow backcountry/alpine-touring/SkiMo demo gear available to try for free at the resort on March 22 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., presented by Tahoe Mountain Sports.
On March 23, the fun continues with a Winter Wildlife Snowshoe Hike presented by the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science at 7:30 a.m. All are welcome to meet at the Base Lodge deck for a 1-mile snowshoe hike and presentation about the local ecosystem.
Registration at diamondpeak.com/event/luggi-foeger-uphill-downhill-festival/. To volunteer, reach out to [email protected].
~ Diamond Peak Ski Resort press release
Mt. Rose to Open Tubing Center Ahead of 2025/26 Winter Season
RENO
Expanding its recreational offerings, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe announced it will introduce Wildslide Tahoe Tubing Center at the start of the 2025/26 winter season. Anticipated to open Thanksgiving 2025, the largest tubing operation on the West Coast will feature up to 20 snow tubing lanes served by a conveyor lift.
Construction of the new tubing area will also include a new lodge and ample deck seating that will be accessible by both tubing guests and those visiting the resort to ski or snowboard. A new parking lot will provide convenient access to the tubing lanes, which will be located 3/4 of a mile west of the Mt. Rose Main Lodge entrance.
Featuring dedicated snowmaking, construction of the 750-foot long tubing lanes started last year, with the remainder of the project to be completed this summer.
The resort anticipates operating snow tubing during the winter season for guests of all ages. Current plans are for tubing to be offered Fridays through Sundays plus holidays, with group and corporate event booking opportunities midweek.
More information is available wildslidetahoe.com as well as skirose.com.
~ Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe press release
Sugar Bowl Releases 2025/26 Season Passes at Lowest Prices of the Year
NORDEN
Sugar Bowl Resort has officially launched its lineup of 2025/26 season passes, offering skiers and riders the lowest prices of the season for a limited time. Known for its rugged landscape and authentic ski culture, Sugar Bowl is inviting guests to lock in their pass now before prices go up.
New this season is the Legend Pass, offering an exclusive, premium experience with unrestricted skiing, a private four-person locker in the brand new Village Lodge Locker Club, and VIP parking, giving passholders seamless, stress-free access to the mountain.
Limited season pass sales and daily lift ticket caps preserve the mountain experience.
2025/26 Season Pass Lineup:
- Spring Pass ($399): Ski the rest of the 2024/25 season with no blackout dates! Purchase now at sugarbowl.com/spring.
- Legend Pass ($4,200)
- Unrestricted Pass (Starting at $799)
- Slightly Restricted Pass (Starting at $629)
- Midweek Pass (starting at $469)
- Local Student Pass ($199): Unrestricted access for designated Placer and Nevada counties school district students.
- Royal Gorge Cross Country Pass (Starting at $159): Full-season access to North America’s largest XC ski resort.
For more details and to purchase, visit sugarbowl.com/seasonpass.
~ Sugar Bowl Resort press release
