Conservancy Restoring Wetland
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
The California Tahoe Conservancy recently announced that construction has begun on restoring the Upper Truckee River Marsh, the largest wetland restoration project in the history of the Lake Tahoe Basin. The marsh is a popular recreation area and home to more than 600 acres of wetlands that serve as a natural filter for pollutants that damage the lake’s famed clarity.
The $11.5 million restoration project will cut new channels into the river to spread its waters over a historical channel network. The restored river and floodplain will improve lake clarity, support dozens of fish and wildlife species, and combat climate change by capturing and storing carbon and nutrients that fuel algal blooms in the lake. The wetter marsh will also be more resilient to droughts, extreme events, and other impacts of climate change.
~ CTC press release
2020 Primary Mail-In Ballots En Route
WASHOE COUNTY
The Washoe County Registrar of Voters Office would like the community to be on the lookout for the official mail-in ballot for the 2020 Primary Election on June 9.
Due to COVID-19, the Nevada Secretary of State has announced the 2020 Primary Election will be conducted as an all-mail election. This means if you are a registered voter in Nevada you will receive a ballot in the mail.
New for the 2020 Elections, the Registrar of Voters has unveiled the ability to access your sample ballot online which will provide a customized ballot based on your address. Access your ballot: washoecounty.us/voters/sampleballot
~ Washoe County press release
Ordinance Improves Defensible Space
AUBURN
Effective May 21, Placer County’s Hazardous Vegetation ordinance governs the abatement of hazardous vegetation and combustible material on both vacant and improved parcels. The ordinance provides fire officials with consistent guidelines to ensure adequate defensible space is maintained around structures and enforcement mechanisms are in place to encourage compliance.
This is a significant change from the current county code which focuses primarily on vacant land, leaving the state and local fire codes to govern land with structures. The new ordinance brings the state, local fire code, and county together by providing the same standards through one resource.
~ Placer County press release
Parasol Pours Over $100,000 into Region’s Nonprofits
RENO
The Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation, a nonprofit charity supporting the Lake Tahoe region, has allocated more than $100,000 in less than two weeks to Tahoe nonprofits that offer critical services to local residents. The Tahoe Together Community Support Fund was structured to allocate dollars to charities and hospitals working to support those negatively impacted by this crisis
In response to the rapid fallout of COVID-19 event cancellations and the ensuing volatility of stock markets, Parasol’s leadership offered a $50,000 match on March 23 to incentivize those donor- advised fund holders to make available extra dollars for nimble relief grants. Within two days, donors had matched more than the full amount. Given the quick response and immediate request for funds, Parasol then opened a second $50,000 amount to be matched and is inviting those who frequent Lake Tahoe to consider donating to this second round of fundraising.
~ Parasol press release
Riverfront Park Project Moves Forward
TRUCKEE
Truckee Donner Land Trust continues to make progress on its Truckee Springs project, a proposed riverfront park in downtown Truckee — the 26.33 acres south of the Truckee River. Currently, work is underway on bridge design, fundraising wins, and new signage for the campaign. A community campaign committee has been created, including town council member Anna Klovstad, former town manager Tony Lashbrook, and Lisa Wallace, executive director of the Truckee River Watershed Council.
The land trust has seen its own challenges during the coronavirus pandemic, and launching a fundraising campaign during the crisis has had its effects.
“Of course, we wanted to tie it together with the 30th anniversary of the land trust … and all of that is in flux,” said Greyson Howard, communications director for the land trust. “We’re working toward doing virtual parties like so many people are doing, and looking for different ways around it, looking for more ways to educate the public and create more awareness.”
Regarding fundraising, the land trust received $1 million from the California Natural Resources Agency (through Prop 68); the Town of Truckee pledged $500,000; Vail Resorts will provide $7,500 through its Epic Promise Program; and $5,000 will come from the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation. Private funding for the project is up to $832,300 from the community. The land trust itself has put $2 million in from bequests and transfer fees received over the years, Howard stated in an email.
~ AH
Relief Fund Will Empower Community
NEVADA CITY
With the recent public launch of the Nevada County Relief Fund, the community now has a central place to come together and lift up their neighbors and small businesses hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Backed by a $100,000 “challenge grant” from the Nevada County board of supervisors, the Relief Fund hopes to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in matching funds to support the frontline safety net nonprofits in western Nevada County, as well as help small businesses countywide and nonprofits vital to our community with micro-grants to help cover key expenses until they reopen or resume normal operation.
With Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation serving as fiscal sponsor, donations may be made safely and are tax deductible.
The newly formed Nevada County Relief Fund is coordinating with the well-established Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation’s Tahoe Truckee Emergency Response Fund, which is focused on eastern Nevada County (ttcf.net) to ensure a countywide philanthropic response, and provide donors two ways to give.
~ Nevada County press release
Campaign Offers Support During Coronavirus Crisis
LAKE TAHOE
Lake Tahoe is one lake, one regional economy, and the region’s residents always come together during a crisis. Community members are already supporting each other in numerous ways. The Tahoe area’s three community foundations, along with the Tahoe Prosperity Center, are launching #TahoeTogether, a campaign focused on continued coordination of efforts to support community members in need during this crisis.
The goal is to encourage residents who may not need all of their federal stimulus checks to donate what they can to one of three local COVID-19 relief funds to benefit those who need it most. Each of the three community foundations is already set up to direct funding to critical service organizations helping residents most in need.
The COVID-19 relief funds for the entire Tahoe Truckee region are already providing grants to nonprofits helping provide food, shelter, care, and other basic needs for those most impacted. All the funds stay local and help local people. Visit one of the following sites to donate: tahoeprosperity.org, eldoradocf.org, parasol.org, or ttcf.net.
~ Tahoe Prosperity, El Dorado Community Foundation, Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation, and Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation press release
Front Porch Photo Op
NORTH TAHOE/TRUCKEE
Local photographer Kristie Pellegrino is taking photos of families as part of a popular trend of front porch pictures during the coronavirus pandemic. The photos will be taken in exchange for a donation to Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation’s emergency response fund. Visit kristiepellegrinophotographs.com for more information.
~ TTCF tweet
Gardening is Not Canceled
TRUCKEE
In response to an increase in interest, Slow Food Lake Tahoe has teamed up with UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center and UCCE Master Gardeners of Lake Tahoe to bring to you the Grow Your Own/High Elevation Gardening series. This is a series of five free classes that focus on gardening at high elevations, such as the Lake Tahoe basin and surrounding areas. Classes began May 5, but there’s still time to register for the lettuce and kale, artichokes, and tomatoes sessions.
Classes are hosted on Zoom and feature a short lesson on the historical and main ideas of the topic at hand, a demonstration, and a chance to interact with your instructor and peers in a safe way.
All participants will have the opportunity to receive free starter plants and seeds to plant within the comfort of their own garden sanctuaries. There will be four pick up locations in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Pre-registration is required and can be done through Slow Food Lake Tahoe’s website or Facebook page. For additional information about Slow Food Lake Tahoe and upcoming events, visit slowfoodlaketahoe.org.
Cannabis Study Funded
GRASS VALLEY
At the end of April, Nevada County received nearly $150,000 from the governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. The funding will be used to conduct an equity study identifying potential barriers to entering the legal cannabis market. Humboldt State University will conduct the study, which includes substantial outreach to the county and the cannabis industry. Nevada County’s community development agency director, Sean Powers, said he foresees more grant opportunities available in the future.
~ Nevada County press release
Introducing Trails and Vistas Adopt an Artist Fund
TRUCKEE
In order to come together as a community to support our family of artists through this current time of economic uncertainty, Trails and Vistas will feature a few of the artists from their art and culture events; these include Art Hikes, World Concert, Dreaming Tree field trips for third-graders, and Truckee’s Historical Haunted Tour.
The funding raised through Adopt an Artist will go directly to the artists of Trails and Vistas to ensure their full artist stipend for their artwork or performance even if the events need to be postponed.
“We all need to be flexible and compromise and to that end, we are now working with our artists to continue to offer financial support in this vital time,” the organization’s press release states.
There are two ways to Adopt an Artist: (Donations to Trails & Vistas are tax-deductible)
- Give online: secure.anedot.com/trails-vistas/general-fund-c6b09110a18
- Mail a check to Trails and Vistas (10309 Cromley Square, Truckee, CA 96161)
~ Trails and Vistas press release
Gov. Newsom Bobblehead with a Cause Unveiled
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum recently unveiled a bobble- head of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. The likeness is the first of the Golden State’s 40th governor, who assumed office on Jan. 7, 2019. Newsom has been at the forefront of efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, earning him national attention.
The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum will be donating $5 from every Newsom bobblehead sold to the Protect The Heroes fund in support of the 100 Million Mask Challenge. The museum had previously raised over $160,000 for the same organization through the sale of Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx figures.
Bobbleheads are available at store.bobbleheadhall.com.
~ Bobblehead Hall of Fame press release
Improvement, Restoration at Former Campground
MEYERS
The California Tahoe Conservancy has begun constructing new accessible-to-all trails and other public access features along the Upper Truckee River in Meyers.
Working on the site of the former Tahoe Pines Campground, the conservancy will also create new wetlands and restore habitat along Lake Tahoe’s largest tributary.
Improvements include reconstruction of the parking area; creation of a pathway, pedestrian bridge, and stream overlook pad; and removal of fill from the floodplain. The conservancy will keep the Tahoe Pines site closed during construction to ensure public safety. Access restrictions will likely end in October.
~ CTC press release
MOVING IN, MOVING UP, MOVING ON
Tahoe Donner Selects New General Manager
TRUCKEE
After a rocky and speculative finish by former Tahoe Donner general manager Robb Etnyre (read Tahoe Donner General Manager Ousted for No Cause and Clearing the Air for the full story), the homeowners association board of directors has selected David Mickaelian to fill the role, effective July 13. Mickaelian is currently finishing out his service as city manager in Healdsburg.
Prior to being appointed city manager, Mickaelian served as assistant city manager and community services director in Healdsburg, a city with approximately 145 full-time employees and an annual budget near $80 million. Initially hired in 2005 as community services director, his ability to adapt to changing community expectations and evolving operational requirements and projects will bring experience and expertise to Tahoe Donner.
~ Tahoe Donner press release
Public Utility District Announces Hire of New CFO
TRUCKEE
Truckee Donner Public Utility District announced that Michael Salmon has joined the executive leadership team as chief financial officer. Salmon beat out a talented pool of over 50 candidates in a nationwide search led by the executive recruitment firm Peckham & McKenney and supported by Pamela Hurt Associates. The hiring process included the development of prioritized skill sets, an updated candidate profile, advertising and recruitment brochure, and an innovative interviewing and selection process.
Salmon was formerly the controller for Northstar California Resort and has been with the Tahoe Donner Association since 2007, where he was serving as director of finance and accounting.
~ TDPUD press release
