KidZone Breaks Grounds; Phase 2 of the Worm Project; Vice Mayor Appointed to Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board; More

NORTH LAKE TAHOE

In 2025, the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District (NLTFPD), in partnership with the Incline Village General Improvement District (IVGID), launched the 176.5-acre Worm Project, a wildfire fuels reduction initiative named for the long, narrow shape of the treatment area.

The project is creating an intensively managed forest buffer around neighborhoods above Highway 431 in Incline Village, extending from private property boundaries onto IVGID and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) lands. By reducing hazardous vegetation, the project helps lower wildfire risk, improve firefighter access, and strengthen the protection of lives, homes, and critical infrastructure.

Work includes thinning understory vegetation and removing smaller, suppressed trees while retaining approximately 10% to 15% of native brush in a mosaic pattern. This approach supports wildlife habitat, protects soil stability and water quality, and preserves the area’s natural forest character.

Phase 1, encompassing 62.6 acres, was completed in July 2025. Phase 2, covering the remaining 113.9 acres, is scheduled to begin July 20, and is expected to be completed by September. The work will be performed using hand crews and low-impact, remotely operated mastication equipment operated by a qualified contractor to minimize disturbance while efficiently reducing hazardous fuels.

Phase 1 was fully funded by IVGID. Funding for Phase 2 is supported through multiple partnerships, including:

• A State of Nevada AB 578 Better Together Nevada Shared Stewardship Grant, administered by the Nevada Division of Forestry (NDF), funding 94.9 acres with a 10% funding match from IVGID.
• A USFS Hazardous Fuels — Community Protection Grant, administered by NDF, funding 10.9 acres with a 50% funding match from IVGID.
• A Stewardship Agreement between NLTFPD and the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit supporting treatment of the remaining 8.1 acres.

For project updates, wildfire preparedness information, and other community announcements, visit nltfpd.org.

~ North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District press release

CALIFORNIA

The week of July 13, Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA) introduced HR 9746, the Biomass Facility Construction Act. This legislation would create a tax credit totaling 30% of the cost of construction for biomass facilities and allow them to concurrently receive the existing tax credit for energy produced via biomass.

“Our forests are overgrown and in desperate need of cleanup,” said Kiley. “A large contributor to this heightened wildfire risk is the buildup of limbs, leaves, shrubs, bushes, and dead wood, otherwise known as biomass. When biomass accumulates in our forests, it creates more fuel for wildfire.”

A large part of wildfire mitigation efforts is cleaning up this biomass, but contractors struggle with disposing of this material because there aren’t enough biomass facilities to bring it to. To help address the lack of facilities, this legislation provides a tax credit for biomass facility construction and energy production. This will lead to the construction of more biomass facilities, creating more access for contractors to offload this material and lower the costs of wildfire mitigation efforts.

Kiley spoke on this legislation during a United States House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing. Listen to his remarks here.

~ Rep. Kevin Kiley press release

PLACER COUNTY

On July 14, the Placer County Board of Supervisors approved three ordinances placing proposed amendments to the Placer County Charter before voters.

Two of the proposed charter amendments will appear on the Nov. 3, 2026, statewide General Election ballot. One would extend the timeframe for the board of supervisors to fill a vacant supervisorial seat from 30 days to 60 days and clarify ballot placement requirements when a vacancy occurs at least 130 days before a statewide direct primary election.

The second would allow alternative procedures for removing the county executive officer when specified in an approved employment agreement, while preserving the board’s oversight authority.

The board also approved placing a third charter amendment to be placed on Nov. 7, 2028, statewide General Election ballot. That measure would replace the current board of supervisors compensation formula, which is based on supervisor salaries in neighboring counties, with a benchmark tied to 55% of the base salary of a California Superior Court judge, subject to an annual adjustment cap of 10%.

If approved by voters, the charter amendments will take effect in accordance with state law. If the measures are not approved, the current charter provisions will remain in place.

The recommendations were developed by the 2025 Charter Review Committee. A charter review committee is convened every five years as required by the Placer County Charter. Over eight months, the committee reviewed county governance practices, gathered public input, and researched best practices before recommending the proposed amendments.

Adopted by voters in 1980, the Placer County Charter serves as the county’s governing document and establishes the structure, powers and responsibilities of county government.

~ Placer County press release

STATELINE

The latest meeting of the Nevada State Legislative Committee for the Review and Oversight of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and the Marlette Lake Water System took place on July 17 at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency office in Stateline.

The committee, composed of eight state legislators, holds meetings every other year during interim sessions to discuss the work of TRPA, the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program, and Nevada state agencies in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

During the July meeting, speakers will provide informational presentations to the committee on water quality and lake clarity, aquatic invasive species, and the latest scientific research taking place at Tahoe.

This is the fifth of six meetings scheduled through August of this year. Other priority topics that have been heard this year include transportation, housing, forest health, and wildfire. The committee webpage has all previous meeting materials and topics listed here. Members of the public are welcome to attend in person or online and to provide input in writing or during scheduled public comment times.

~ Tahoe Regional Planning Agency press release

PLACER COUNTY

As families prepare for the new school year, Placer County Public Health is offering free back-to-school immunization clinics for eligible children who are uninsured or have Medi-Cal and may have difficulty accessing the vaccines required for school attendance.

The clinics will be offered in Auburn throughout July, August, and September and are available by appointment only. To verify eligibility and schedule an appointment, parents or guardians should call (530) 886-1883 or email placeriz@placer.ca.gov.

While families are encouraged to receive vaccinations through their child’s regular health care provider whenever possible, these clinics are designed to serve children who are uninsured or who have Medi-Cal but face barriers accessing routine medical care.

California law requires children to be immunized before attending school, preschool, or childcare unless they have a valid medical exemption from a licensed physician. Parents and guardians can learn more about school immunization requirements by visiting the state’s Shots for School website.

The clinics are offered through the federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program, which provides vaccines at no cost to eligible children. Immunizations help protect children and communities by preventing serious diseases such as measles, meningitis, polio, chickenpox, and whooping cough.

For more information about school immunization requirements, recommended vaccination schedules and other immunization resources, visit the Placer County Public Health Immunization Program webpage.

~ Placer County press release

NEVADA

Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) is encouraging families to get a head start on back-to-school immunizations by attending one of three upcoming summer vaccine clinics, both in the community or at NNPH’s main location.

• Tuesday, July 21: Northern Nevada HOPES, 580 W. Fifth St. in Reno, 3 to 6 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 1: Family Health Festival at Hug High School, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Saturday, Aug. 8: Northern Nevada Public Health, 1001 E. Ninth St., Building B, Reno, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

NNPH public health nurses from our immunization program will provide school-required and recommended vaccinations for students aged 4 to 18. While walk-ins are welcome, appointments are strongly recommended to reduce wait times.

Families who get vaccinated in July and early August can avoid the larger crowds that typically occur closer to the start of the school year while ensuring children are ready for the first day of class.

Parents and guardians planning to attend should know:

• Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
• Bring a photo ID for the parent or guardian.
• Bring the child’s insurance card, if available. Families without insurance can still receive vaccines at no cost.
• Bring vaccination records if the child received vaccines outside Nevada or outside the United States.

Appointments for all three clinics can be scheduled by visiting NNPH’s vaccination events webpage. 

~ Northern Nevada Public Health press release

LAKE TAHOE

The 21st Annual Tahoe Bike Month reached new milestones this June, with record participation demonstrating the Lake Tahoe community’s continued commitment to biking for sustainable transportation.

Organized by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition, Tahoe Bike Month celebrates bicycling as a healthy, fun, and environmentally friendly way to get around the Basin. Through community events and a friendly competition, participants are encouraged to choose bikes for everyday trips whenever possible. Every ride helps reduce vehicle emissions, ease traffic congestion, support cleaner air and water, and advance a safer, more connected network of biking routes throughout the region.

This year, 547 riders participated in Tahoe Bike Month, completing 12,792 rides and traveling 95,591 miles — the equivalent of 1,327 trips around Lake Tahoe. Riders also climbed a combined 6,461,154 feet of elevation throughout the month.

Participation increased by 7% over last year, marking the highest engagement in the event’s 21-year history.

The month-long celebration is part of broader regional efforts to expand transportation choices, reduce reliance on single-occupancy vehicles, and support a healthier, more connected Lake Tahoe. Safe biking routes, improved trails, and multimodal transportation options help residents and visitors experience the basin while reducing impacts on the environment.

Learn more about sustainable travel in Tahoe at linkingtahoe.com and explore the interactive bike map at map.tahoebike.org. 

Tahoe Bike Month will return in June 2027.

~ Tahoe Regional Planning Agency press release

TRUCKEE

The Town of Truckee recognizes Vice Mayor Courtney Henderson’s appointment by Gov. Gavin Newsom to the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Henderson brings a background in public health, strategic leadership, and local government to the role. She has served on the Truckee Town Council since 2020 and will continue serving the community while taking on her responsibilities with the regional board.

The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board protects and enhances water quality across one of California’s most ecologically significant regions, including the Lake Tahoe Basin, the Eastern Sierra, and the Mojave Desert. Its work helps safeguard public health, protect natural resources, and preserve the watersheds that support communities throughout the region.

Truckee is part of the Lahontan watershed, and the health of its water resources is closely connected to the community’s environment, economy, recreation, and quality of life. Henderson’s appointment reflects the importance of protecting these shared natural resources and aligns with the Truckee Town Council’s commitment to sustainability as one of its five strategic priorities.

The Town of Truckee congratulates Vice Mayor Henderson on her appointment and looks forward to continuing to work with regional partners to protect the natural resources that sustain our communities.

~ Town of Truckee press release

NEVADA COUNTY

On July 14, Nevada County Supervisors presented certificates of recognition to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and the 21 agencies that were part of their response effort when a group of backcountry skiers and their guides were caught in an avalanche on Feb. 17. The avalanche resulted in the tragic loss of nine lives with six survivors rescued. Moonshine Ink reported on the tragedy in A Tragedy Unfolds: 39°22’32.2”N 120°19’39.7”W.

Sheriff Shannan Moon shared an overview of the response, which included hundreds of personnel, ski teams, snowmobiles and SnoCats, aerial operations, and avalanche mitigation. The team remained nimble, adapting its operations and response tactics in the face of ongoing adverse weather.

The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and its partners rescued all survivors from the mountain on the day of the avalanche and, despite ongoing hazardous weather conditions, continued recovery efforts through Feb. 21 until all decedents were safely recovered from the mountain. The response reflected the entire team’s dedication and commitment to bringing every loved one home. The team even returned to the mountain on Feb. 27 to retrieve every possible personal artifact they could locate for the families.  

Sheriff Moon and supervisors recognized those whose lives were lost, including three backcountry ski guides: Andrew Alissandratos, Nicole Choo, and Michael Henry; and six guests: Carrie Atkin, Lizabeth Clabaugh, Danielle Keatley, Kate Morse, Caroline Sekar, and Katherine Vitt.

The 21 agencies that supported the response efforts were: Nevada County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Washoe County Search and Rescue, California’s Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, California Highway Patrol Air Operations, Care Flight Truckee, Sierra Avalanche Center, Pacific Gas & Electric, United States Forest Service, California State Parks, Truckee Fire, OpenSnow, Tahoe Donner’s Alder Creek Adventure Center, Boreal Mountain Ski Resort, Truckee Tahoe Airport, Town of Truckee, Truckee Police Department, Truckee Donner Land Trust, and California National Guard.

~ Nevada County press release

LAKE TAHOE

The nonprofit Tahoe Fund announced that Tom Baxter, Chris McNamara, and Tom Seeliger have joined its board of directors. Each of the three bring valuable professional experience and deep connections to the Tahoe region that will help advance the efforts of the organization to improve the Lake Tahoe environment for all to enjoy.

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An attorney who specialized in finance and was a partner at O’Melveny & Myers in Los Angeles and New York for over 30 years, Baxter formed several nonprofit organizations for clients and friends. A lifelong outdoor enthusiast, he has hiked the entirety of the John Muir Trail, climbed the California 14ers, worked summers in Alaska, and taken mountaineering trips to Mexico, Peru, and Europe.

A dedicated trail advocate and outdoor entrepreneur, McNamara has taken a hands-on approach to transformational local infrastructure. His leadership helped bring the Ski Run Boulevard revitalization and Ski Run Park to life in South Lake Tahoe, and he and his wife helped establish the Tahoe Fund’s Trail Endowment to create a sustainable funding model for the long-term care of the region’s extensive trail network. McNamara is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of GearLab, the founder of SuperTopo guidebooks, and the president of Orogenesis Collective. An accomplished climber, he is a former world-record-holding big wall climber with over 80 ascents of El Capitan, a pioneering wingsuit BASE jumper with a dozen first descents in the U.S. and Baffin Island, and the founder of the American Safe Climbing Association.

Seeliger is a sixth-generation Northern Nevadan who grew up in a multi-generational family business rooted in the Basin. Over the course of his career, Seeliger has worked as a geologist, environmental engineer, and in finance for over 25 years. He served as a director of Edgewood Companies for 12 years, as well as an advisory board member and shareholder. 

Learn more at tahoefund.org/boardofdirectors. 

~ Tahoe Fund press release

CALIFORNIA DISTRICT 3

Rep. Kevin Kiley (I-CA) and his office received the 2026 Democracy Award by the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF) for Best of Constituent Service.

The award recognizes exceptional dedication to serving constituents through effective work in the district, including casework. It highlights a congressional office’s commitment to resolving constituents’ requests for assistance, providing personalized support, and ensuring that constituents receive the assistance they need.

The Congressional Management Foundation is the premier bipartisan foundation dedicated to strengthening the first branch of government. The Democracy Awards are CMF’s signature program recognizing the best in congressional non-legislative achievements.

~ Rep. Kevin Kiley press release

TAHOE CITY

Tahoe City Public Utility District (TCPUD) will conduct a consolidated general election with both Placer County and El Dorado County Elections Departments on Nov. 3. Two board member seats will be up for election.

TCPUD provides safe, reliable drinking water and water for fire protection, wastewater collection, and parks and recreation services to constituents along the North and West shores of Lake Tahoe. The district is governed by a five-member board elected by majority vote of the registered voters of the district. Each board member serves a 4-year term. Anyone interested in running for a seat on the board must be a registered voter in either El Dorado or Placer County and reside within TCPUD’s jurisdictional boundary.

Board members are expected to dedicate a significant amount of time in their official capacity, including serving on one or more district board committees (finance, sewer and water, and parks and recreation) and actively participating in district board meetings, which are held on the third Friday of the month at 8:30 a.m. in the district board room at 221 Fairway Dr., Tahoe City. Board members receive district medical, dental, and vision benefits and, in accordance with section 16002 of the Public Utility District Act, also receive a $400 per month stipend. 

The filing period begins Monday, July 13, at 9 a.m. and ends Aug. 7 at 5 p.m. If an incumbent fails to file for their term by the last day of the filing period, the time will be extended five days, ending Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 5 p.m.

Declaration of Candidacy papers are available at the Placer County Clerk-Recorder’s office at 3175 Atherton Rd., in Rocklin.

If you would like more information regarding TCPUD, please visit tcpud.org or contact Terri Viehmann, district clerk, at (530) 580-6052. 

~ TCPUD press release

NEVADA

NV Energy has begun issuing more than $63 million in customer refunds, including interest, related to previously announced customer class misclassification errors. Overall, 3.5% of residential premises were impacted. The refunds are part of a formal resolution reached earlier this year with the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada and the Nevada Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.  

NV Energy announced last year that a small number of multifamily premises were assigned an incorrect rate classification when service was established, resulting in some customers being overcharged.

Refunds are being issued following the completion of a comprehensive review of residential customer rate classifications. Separately, NV Energy engaged CBIZ, an independent third-party advisor, to review and assess the company’s analysis, conclusions, and processes used to identify and correct customer classification issues. 

Any additional issues that are identified will be corrected. Rather than wait until the September deadline established by the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada, the company chose to issue customer refunds while this review work continues. 

Refund credits for eligible current customers will be applied to their next bill. If a customer’s refund exceeds the amount owed, the remaining balance will be applied as a credit to future bills. Former customers will receive refund checks by mail at their last known address. All affected customers will receive a letter with information about their refund.

To help prevent similar issues in the future, NV Energy has strengthened its internal processes and procedures. The full report is available for review at: nvenergy.com/refunds. 

~ NV Energy press release