Tahoe Truckee Region Local News: Environment

Explore Lake Tahoe's geological history, revealing tectonic, glacial and volcanic forces that shaped its stunning landscape in the new book, “Geology of the Lake Tahoe Basin: History and Features,” by Tahoe author David Antonucci.

Seacliff State Beach was obliterated by storms in 2023. California State Parks is mobilizing the public to reimagine its future.

The Climate Transformation Alliance, in collaboration with the North Tahoe Chapter of Citizens' Climate Lobby (CCL) and 100% Renewable Truckee, will host a webinar on "Community-Led Thermal Energy Networks: Learning from Vermont" on November 20 as part of its series for community leaders and the general public on "How to Electrify Buildings in Truckee Tahoe."

California's 30 X 30 goal was a topic at the Sierra Nevada Alliance Conservation Conference held at Lake Tahoe Community College, Nov. 7-8. In 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom committed the state to conserving 30% of lands and coastal waters by 2030, and the key to meeting the ambitious goal could be right here in the Sierra Nevada.

Under the gaze of the freshly powdered Mt. Tallac, workers wade through Taylor Creek and Tallac Creek to pull up rebar, sand bags and what appear to be large black tarps.

We recently released our Tahoe Fund Annual Report, and it is clear that last year was full of transformational change for Lake Tahoe. Our partners throughout the region rallied around projects that are speeding up forest health treatments, undertaking large-scale conservation projects, and revolutionizing how recreation and tourism are managed. Much of this work is in large part due to the philanthropic generosity of our community.

The Sierra Nevada Alliance is hosting its biannual conservation conference Nov. 7-8 at Lake Tahoe Community College in South Lake Tahoe. They've titled this year's theme as Strengthening Conservation Impact Through Partnership.

Charred trees punctuated the Eldorado National Forest like blackened skeletons of their former selves, victims of the Mosquito Fire. Two years earlier, in 2022, the Mosquito Fire started in Tahoe National Forest, moved north to the Eldorado, and torched a total of 76,788 acres, making it California's largest wildfire in 2022.

The Shane McConkey Foundation's latest collection and sorting of plastic bottle caps and lids is keeping another 2,000-plus pounds of plastic out of landfills. The foundation gathered with 120 volunteers at Truckee Elementary earlier this month to sort the 1,945 pounds of tops that had been dropped in collection bins throughout the region.

The Truckee Town Council met on Tuesday, Oct. 22 to discuss a report on the Truckee Environmental Justice Analysis and an update regarding the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) Work Plan.

The Truckee Town Council met on Tuesday, Oct. 8 to discuss an update from staff and the River Revitalization Steering Committee on the progress of the River Revitalization project. 

For the Sugar Pine Foundation – a local non-profit dedicated to restoring Tahoe's sugar pines and overall forest health – this September was incredibly busy with seed collection because 2024 proved to be a mast year for sugar pines and most conifers in the Tahoe region. This is significant because reforestation starts with collecting seed.

Viewers of the "Guardians of Lake Tahoe: A Dive into Aquatic Conservation" webinar were treated to the unique experience of diving in the Emerald Forest, a part of the Emerald Bay filled with submerged trees and remnants of avalanches past. The California State Parks hosted a livestream of diver and state park interpreter Jeremy Lin as he performed an invasive species survey and explained the importance of preserving and protecting Lake Tahoe.