News Briefs
2025 Lake Tahoe Clarity Report Released
LAKE TAHOE
The 2025 Lake Tahoe Clarity Report, released on June 9, shows that the annual average clarity remains at a plateau, neither significantly improving or declining compared to previous years. The annual average was 69.2 feet in 2025. That is seven feet clearer than last year’s average of 62.3 feet, but not statistically different from recent years, mostly due to a continuing trend of relatively low clarity during summer.
Clarity is measured as the depth to which a 10-inch white disk, called a Secchi disk, remains visible when lowered into the water. Under the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program, the states of California and Nevada, along with more than 80 public and private organizations, are actively working to restore lake clarity to its historic 97.4 feet, which was the average level recorded between 1967 and 1971.
In 2025, UC Davis scientists took 20 readings at Lake Tahoe’s long-term index station and 12 readings from the mid-lake index station.
Past research indicates that fine particles in the upper waters are the main factor governing lake clarity. As in previous years, water clarity in 2025 correlated with a seasonal peak of fine particles. In 2025, TERC researchers began lining up decades of data on the potential drivers of clarity, alongside Secchi depth, to better examine which drivers of water clarity may shift from year to year. These drivers could include sediment and debris entering the lake from streams or the atmosphere, as well as the complex interplay of phytoplankton and tiny picoplankton that may cloud the water.
In 2026, researchers will use new techniques to investigate the role of phytoplankton, including their tiniest component — the picoplankton — as well as the lake’s physical dynamics. They will deploy new imaging technology to visualize particle aggregation in unprecedented detail.
~ UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center press release
Open BriefSupervisors Approve Balanced $1.5 Billion Draft Budget
PLACER COUNTY
The Placer County Board of Supervisors approved a balanced, approximately $1.5 billion preliminary budget on June 9 for fiscal year 2026/27, emphasizing fiscal responsibility while sustaining critical services, facilities, and future growth. The balanced budget reflects an 11.6% increase from the prior year to meet the county’s growing service demands, particularly in west Placer.
The budget advances the county’s strategic priorities and its “Getting Growth Right” initiatives, which guide investments ranging from public safety to health and human services, infrastructure, and economic development.
Nearly half the total budget is dedicated to public protection and health and human services, helping ensure safe, healthy communities throughout Placer County. The plan keeps the county financially prepared for the future, continuing to grow and adapt to meet the needs of its residents. County staff will return to the board on June 30 to seek final approval of the budget.
Total budgeted revenues are forecasted at approximately $1.40 billion, a 9.3% increase over the prior year. Property taxes, the county’s largest discretionary revenue source, are projected to increase by nearly $15 million, or 5.3% over the prior year adopted budget. Sales taxes are estimated at $37.2 million, up 0.7% and estimated hotel taxes are holding flat, at $29.7 million.
Total budgeted expenditures are forecasted at $1.47 billion, a 11.2% increase over the prior year.
The board also reaffirmed its commitment to housing affordability, a challenge affecting communities throughout California.
On the same day, the supervisors approved a list of transportation projects that will allow Placer County to receive an estimated $13.24 million in Senate Bill 1 funding during fiscal year 2026/27.
The funding, provided through California’s Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, will support road maintenance and rehabilitation projects throughout the county, including pavement preservation, storm-damage repairs, roadside vegetation management, and bridge maintenance and repairs.
County officials said the funding will help maintain and rehabilitate approximately 18 miles of county roads, including two miles of asphalt overlay projects on county roads in the Tahoe Basin, while improving safety and preserving transportation infrastructure.
~ Placer County press releases
Open BriefRep. Kiley Joins NYT Editorial Board in Calling For Congressional Action on Election Reform
WASHINGTON, D.C.
On June 10, Rep Kevin Kiley (I-CA) issued the following statement in response to the New York Times endorsing the principle behind a bill he is co-sponsoring with Rep. Jay Obernolte to speed up vote counting in California.
“California’s glacial vote counting is a national embarrassment. The New York Times and the Washington Post agree: California needs to reform its system and restore trust in the process,” said U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley. “Instead of admitting their failings, Sacramento politicians refuse to even admit what is obvious to the entire country: our system is broken and needs to change,”
The New York Times echoed Rep. Kiley’s call for reform writing: “With California refusing to change its system and a few other states having similar problems, the appropriate remedy is a federal law.”
“That’s why the House should immediately take up my bill H.R. 2694 the Election Results Accountability Act, which requires prompt reporting of vote tallies,” Kiley said. “There’s no need to accept what the Times called ‘a failure of governance.’”
Kiley urged Congress to act “in time to prevent the same failures from occurring in this fall’s elections.”
~ Rep. Kevin Kiley press release
Open BriefSolving California’s Forest Problem, Protecting Nevada’s Water Supply
TRUCKEE RIVER
The nonprofit Truckee River Watershed Council (TRWC), alongside staff from the Tahoe National Forest, is launching a new forest health project near Boca Reservoir in late June that will help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire locally, and protect the drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people living downstream in the Reno/Sparks area.
In total, the project anticipates treating approximately 1,940 acres of U.S. Forest Service lands over the next three years to improve overall forest health. The project will remove ladder and surface fuels and use mechanical thinning to produce a healthy distribution of trees of varying sizes to decrease stand density and improve forest resilience and wildlife habitat. Fireline construction and any necessary trail reconstruction will also be completed.
The Boca Forest Health Project is part of a broader effort by TRWC and its partners in the Middle Truckee River Watershed Forest Partnership (MTRWFP), which aims to treat 60,000 acres by 2034.
This project is one of six active projects being implemented by MTRWFP this summer, which has already treated 11,772 acres in its first two years of implementation. Planning is underway for another 13,000 acres. Partner organizations include the TRWC, TMWA, National Forest Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, and Tahoe National Forest’s Truckee and Sierraville ranger districts.
Learn more about the MTRWFP, project details, and temporary trail closures at truckeeforests.org/project-updates.
~ Truckee River Watershed Council
Open Brief$1 Million Gift to Advance Surgical Care at IVCH
INCLINE VILLAGE
The Incline Village Community Hospital Foundation is proud to announce a transformational $1 million gift from the Offerdahl Family Foundation in support of the Surgery Enhancement Project at Incline Village Community Hospital (IVCH). This extraordinary contribution, made possible through the generosity and leadership of Richard and Linda Offerdahl, helped the foundation successfully reach its $10 million fundraising goal.
The Surgery Enhancement Project will improve operational efficiency at IVCH, modernize critical infrastructure, enhance clinical and support spaces, and ensure the hospital is well-positioned to meet current and future community needs. The project will also include the addition of a new patient registration window designed to improve patient flow, increase comfort, and help alleviate pressures created by growing patient volumes.
In recognition of their extraordinary generosity and longstanding commitment to the community, the Incline Village Community Hospital Foundation is honored to name the patient registration area after the Offerdahl Family.
The Offerdahl Family Foundation joins the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation and many generous community donors in making this milestone possible. Richard and Linda Offerdahl’s commitment to local healthcare spans decades and has left a lasting impact on Incline Village. From helping save the hospital following its closure in the 1980s to supporting the expansion of the emergency department, their leadership and philanthropy have played a vital role in sustaining and advancing healthcare in the community. Their dedication extends beyond healthcare through their longstanding support of local businesses and organizations, including the Incline Village Crystal Bay Association.
~ Tahoe Forest Health System press release
Open BriefInvestment Made for Nevada Conservation, Outdoor Recreation
NEVADA
Gov. Joe Lombardo and the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (NDCNR) Conserve Nevada Program are proud to announce a historic $42 million investment in outdoor recreation and conservation projects across Nevada. This funding strengthens Nevada’s $8.8-billion outdoor recreation economy, expands access to public lands, protects critical natural resources, and supports frontier, rural, and urban communities.
Through collaborative partnerships, NDCNR’s Conserve Nevada Program is awarding more than $12 million in grants for projects that will protect 34,816 acres of recreation area and critical habitat and open nearly 48,906 acres for public recreation. Funding will support habitat restoration and recreation access along Carson and Truckee rivers, among others. Significant investments are also being made at Tahoe Meadows.
The Conserve Nevada Program is also supporting more than $29.5 million in new investments statewide. An additional $3 million is being invested in major trail systems that benefit both Nevadans and visitors, including the Lake Tahoe East Shore Trail. More than $7.5 million will further protect Nevada’s natural and cultural resources through targeted investments in recreation and conservation projects managed by the Nevada Department of Wildlife and the Nevada Division of State Parks.
To learn more about Conservation Bond Grants in Nevada, visit dcnr.nv.gov/blogs/bond-program-benefits-every-county-in-nevada.
~ Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources press release
Open BriefConservation Leaders Raise the Alarm on Cuts at Natural Resource Agencies
CALIFORNIA
With just days remaining before the budget is finalized, California conservation leaders are sounding the alarm about proposed staffing cuts at the state’s environmental agencies. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 2026/27 budget revision includes the elimination of 346 vacant positions at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, State Parks, the State Water Board, and California Coastal Commission.
The positions proposed for elimination are critical to the state’s ability to perform essential permitting, public safety, and land and natural resource protection work. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife would be particularly hard hit by these cuts. According to the Senate Budget Subcommittee #2, 45 of these positions are wildlife officers, jobs that are critical to the state’s enforcement, conservation, and public safety work. California has one of the lowest number of wildlife officers per capita in the United States, despite its size and geographic diversity.
Also at risk is California’s ability to protect wildlife, plants, and other natural resources. For example, CDFW staff routinely reviews a wide range of projects on behalf of Californians to ensure that these projects do not result in significant impacts to California’s wildlife.
The California Senate has proposed to restore approximately 40% of the proposed staffing cuts in the natural resource protection agencies. The assembly, despite the recommendation to restore all of these positions by the assembly subcommittee overseeing these agencies, has proposed to eliminate all proposed staff positions — mirroring the administration’s proposal. This difference between the two houses in the legislature remains a live debate as the California legislature works to meet the deadline to send the state budget to the governor for signature by June 30.
~ Power In Nature Coalition press release
Open BriefConcerts at Commons Kicks Off Free Summer Concert Series
TAHOE CITY
The Tahoe City Downtown Association (TCDA) invites residents and visitors to kick off another summer of live music as Concerts at Commons returns to Commons Beach on Sunday, June 14. The free community concert series will bring 12 concerts to the shores of Lake Tahoe every Sunday through Sept. 6 except July 5.
Concerts are free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring low-back chairs, blankets, family, and friends while enjoying an evening of music, dancing, food, shopping, and lakefront views. On-site food and beverages will be available for purchase featuring Lagunitas, Butter Wines, Tahoe National Brewing, Alibi Hoppy Hour, The Rub Shack, and Little Truckee Ice Creamery. Please note that no dogs are allowed on Commons Beach.
New this year, free event shuttles will be available from Olympic Valley and the West Shore for every concert presented by North Tahoe Chamber, TNT-TMA, Palisades Tahoe, and TCDA. Complimentary bike valet service provided by the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition will also return.
The concert series is presented by the Tahoe City Downtown Association, Tahoe City Public Utility District, and North Tahoe Chamber with major sponsorship from Tahoe Forest Health System, Granlibakken Tahoe, Tahoe National Brewing Co., Butter Wines, and additional community partners.
For the full lineup and event details, visit concertsatcommonsbeach.com.
~ Tahoe City Downtown Association press release
Open BriefNevada County Arts & Culture Unveils New Brand Identity
NEVADA COUNTY
Nevada County Arts Council has formally introduced its new public name, Nevada County Arts & Culture, along with a refreshed visual identity designed to better reflect the organization’s expanding role in Nevada County’s creative and civic life.
The brand refresh follows the launch of Culture Forward 2026–2032: Nevada County’s Arts & Culture Action Plan, the completion of the organization’s new strategic framework, and a period of board and staff deliberation about how the organization’s name, mission, programs, and public-facing communications should align for the years ahead.
The new identity was developed in collaboration with Kevin Byrd, an interdisciplinary artist and creative director with enduring ties to Nevada County. His work with Nevada County Arts & Culture grew out of a staff and board process focused on mission clarity, brand architecture, public accessibility, and the organization’s next phase of countywide cultural stewardship.
The refreshed brand system establishes a simpler and more consistent visual framework across Nevada County Arts & Culture’s programs, initiatives, cultural districts, publications, and partnerships.
To learn more about Nevada County Arts & Culture, visit nevadacountyarts.org.
~ Nevada County Arts & Culture press release
Open BriefMoving In, Moving On, Moving Up Briefs
AAUW-North Tahoe Awards NTHS Students STEM Scholarships
NORTH LAKE TAHOE
The American Association of University Women North Tahoe Branch (AAUW-NT) has awarded $10,000 in scholarships to two highly accomplished students from North Tahoe High School. The scholarships celebrate young women who are keenly interested in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) careers. These grants bring AAUW-NT’s total scholarship awards to $59,500 for 20 deserving young women since 2012 thanks to the generosity of its North Tahoe and Truckee members.
This year’s AAUW-NT STEM Scholarship awardees are Hannah Humbert-Hollerbach and Azul Garcia-Garcia. Each will receive a grant of $5,000 to pursue STEM studies at university. Hollerbach graduated from North Tahoe High School and will begin studies in biology at UC Berkeley this fall. She aspires to a career in biological research. Garcia graduated from North Tahoe High School and will pursue studies in mechanical engineering at Cal State Fullerton. She is keen to make a positive impact through engineering design and innovation.
AAUW-NT is committed to advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. AAUW-NT provides scholarships annually to graduating young women residing in the North Tahoe High School attendance area who intend to pursue STEM studies and have financial need. In addition to these scholarships, AAUW-NT sponsors 7th-grade girls to Tech Trek, a week-long science and math camp designed to develop interest and self-confidence in STEM subjects, and sponsors high school students to Girls State, a leadership and citizenship-training program.
~ American Association of University Women North Tahoe Branch press release
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