Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 07/10/2025, Staff Report

The North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District (NLTFD), in partnership with the Incline Village General Improvement District (IVGID), is initiating the Worm Wildfire Fuels Mitigation Project, a two-phase effort to reduce wildfire risk and enhance community safety in the wildland-urban interface above Highway 431.

The project—named “The Worm” due to its winding, elongated shape. The project spans 142.6 acres of IVGID-owned land and is designed to create a 132-foot-wide buffer zone of intensively managed vegetation between forested areas and residential neighborhoods.

• Phase 1: Covers 64.5 acres, scheduled to begin the week of July 14, 2025, and be completed in 4 to 5 weeks.
• Phase 2: Will treat an additional 78.1 acres, with completion expected in the summer of 2026.

The primary objective is to reduce the brush component within the project area while retaining 10–15% of native brush to preserve the natural forest aesthetic and support wildlife habitat. This fuels break will serve as a critical line of defense in the event of a wildfire, improving firefighter access and reducing fire intensity near homes.

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Originally Published in Moonshine Ink, 07/10/2025, Written by Jon Grant

A shipwreck on a foreign land. A girl disguised as a boy who falls for a duke. A duke who pines for a countess who swoons for the girl (disguised as a boy). The gluttonous drunkard Sir Toby Belch. And Feste, the fool with the wisdom to somehow tie it all together.

Twelfth Night — with its entanglements, its absurdities, its romance — headlines the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival’s 2025 season, returning to Sand Harbor’s outdoor, lakeside stage 7 nights a week from July 5 to Aug. 25.

“It’s one of Shakespeare’s great comedies,” said Sara Bruner, the organization’s producing artistic director designate. “Our production in particular explores its deeper notes of tragedy and loss while celebrating the joy of the play.”

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Photo Credit: Moonshine Ink

New satellite studio expands local news coverage and student opportunities in Tahoe region

KUNR Public Radio has officially opened a new satellite studio on the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe campus, marking a significant step toward expanding news coverage and student journalism opportunities in the Tahoe Basin.

The studio, located inside the Prim Library building, is already active. KUNR reporter Maria Palma is now reporting directly from Incline Village, covering topics ranging from proposed environmental legislation to wildfire preparedness and the growing concern around harmful algal blooms in Lake Tahoe.

“Having a local studio means we can show up more often, respond faster and tell stories with more depth, and that’s what public media is all about,” said Maria Palma, KUNR’s Lake Tahoe reporter. “At a time when public media is under threat, being present in places like Tahoe shows our commitment to keeping people informed and connected.”

Support from the University helped make the studio and office space a reality. In addition to housing the station, the University is funding the full-time reporter dedicated to the Lake Tahoe region for the first two years.

“Thanks to this studio in the Prim Library building, our reporter Maria Palma will be able to help fill a news desert in North Lake Tahoe by providing public service news and information for all of our listeners,” said Brian Duggan, general manager of KUNR. “This studio will also be a home base for Reynolds School of Journalism students who will have opportunities to report about Lake Tahoe, too.”

The new space also anchors the Lake Tahoe News Project, a student internship program focused on multimedia reporting. Through the project, students at the Reynolds School of Journalism gain hands-on experience reporting on critical topics including the environment, local government, education and energy—both for broadcast and digital platforms. Coverage is available in English and Spanish.

The studio’s opening represents a deepening of KUNR’s presence in the region and a strategic effort to expand coverage in a part of the state often underserved by broadcast outlets.

KUNR Public Radio is a nonprofit, non-commercial, listener-supported public radio station licensed to the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education. The station has broadcast from the University’s Reno campus since October 7, 1963, and became an administrative unit of the Reynolds School of Journalism in 2018.

To hear KUNR’s latest stories from the Lake Tahoe region, visit kunr.org or tune in live.

– @unevadareno –

The University of Nevada, Reno is a public research university that is committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. As a Nevada land-grant university founded in 1874, the University serves 21,000 students. The University is a comprehensive, doctoral university, classified as an R1 institution with very high research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Additionally, it has attained the prestigious “Carnegie Engaged” classification, reflecting its student and institutional impact on civic engagement and service, fostered by extensive community and statewide collaborations. More than $800 million in advanced labs, residence halls and facilities has been invested on campus since 2009. It is home to the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and Wolf Pack Athletics, maintains a statewide outreach mission and presence through programs such as the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Small Business Development Center, Nevada Seismological Laboratory, and is part of the Nevada System of Higher Education. Through a commitment to world-improving research, student success and outreach benefiting the communities and businesses of Nevada, the University has impact across the state and around the world. For more information, visit www.unr.edu.

The North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District (NLTFPD), in partnership with the Incline Village General Improvement District (IVGID), is initiating the Worm Wildfire Fuels Mitigation Project, a two-phase effort to reduce wildfire risk and enhance community safety in the wildland-urban interface above Highway 431.

The project—named “The Worm” due to its winding, elongated shape. The project spans 142.6 acres of IVGID-owned land and is designed to create a 132-foot-wide buffer zone of intensively managed vegetation between forested areas and residential neighborhoods.

• Phase 1: Covers 64.5 acres, scheduled to begin the week of July 14, 2025, and be completed in 4 to 5 weeks.
• Phase 2: Will treat an additional 78.1 acres, with completion expected in the summer of 2026.

The primary objective is to reduce the brush component within the project area while retaining 10–15% of native brush to preserve the natural forest aesthetic and support wildlife habitat. This fuels break will serve as a critical line of defense in the event of a wildfire, improving firefighter access and reducing fire intensity near homes.

Burnbot Inc., a wildfire risk reduction company, will begin working in the designated areas of the Worm Project starting July 14. Residents may notice remotely operated mastication machines which are extremely low impact will be utilized. Please do not be alarmed—these efforts are part of a planned and carefully managed wildfire mitigation strategy.

A map of the project area is available to the public and highlights the scope of both phases. The treatment corridor winds through key areas above Incline Village, reinforcing the region’s wildfire preparedness strategy.

For more information or to view the project map, please contact NLTFPD Forester Jason Furmaniak at jfurmaniak@nltfpd.net.

Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 07/08/2025, Staff Report

Volunteers were greeted by blue skies and clean beaches this morning as they arrived to participate in Keep Tahoe Blue’s July 5th “Keep Tahoe Red, White & Blue” Cleanup at sites ringing Lake Tahoe. Today’s event marked 12 years of the region’s largest volunteer cleanup event and continued movement toward cleaner beaches, more people practicing environmental stewardship, and improved beach management around the Fourth of July holiday.

“This is the direction we love to see — less litter and more people leaving the beach better than they found it,” said Marilee Movius, sustainable recreation manager for Keep Tahoe Blue.

653 volunteers found 26% less litter today than at last year’s event, totaling just under 1,375 pounds.

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Photo: Tahoe Daily Tribune

Today, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced that the 29th annual Lake Tahoe Summit will be held on August 6, 2025, in South Lake Tahoe, California. This year’s theme is “Protecting Lake Tahoe: Balancing Sustainable Recreation and Conservation.” The Summit will honor the legacy of California Senator Dianne Feinstein, who, along with Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, created the Summit in 1997. The Summit will be held at Valhalla Tahoe, Senator Feinstein’s favorite venue and site of the last Summit she hosted in 2019. Federal, state, and local stakeholders and representatives of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California will meet to continue Feinstein’s work to protect the lake for future generations.

“I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to host the annual Lake Tahoe Summit this year. Senator Dianne Feinstein was a stalwart protector of Lake Tahoe, and as someone who has the honor of filling her seat in the U.S. Senate, I look forward to continuing her commitment to protecting this precious resource for future generations,” said Senator Schiff.

Senator Schiff has a long history of environmental activism and recently introduced the “Rim of the Valley” legislation to preserve open space in the greater Los Angeles area. During his tenure in the House of Representatives, Schiff championed the Rim of the Valley study, which created the blueprint for the current legislation to protect unique natural and cultural resources and provide a continuous corridor for wildlife migration. Preserving Lake Tahoe, the largest Alpine Lake in America, is a natural fit for Schiff and he is eager to host his first Lake Tahoe Summit in partnership with his Senate and House colleagues, state and local officials, community organizations and the Washoe Tribe.

WHEN:         Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at 10:00 am PT

WHO:                    California and Nevada Senators, Governors, and Members of Congress Representing Lake Tahoe

  Keynote Speaker will be Lake Tahoe resident and Academy-Award nominated actor, Jeremy Renner

REGISTRATION:   General registration for in-person or virtual attendance HERE.

WHERE:                Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

On-site parking is not available, so we encourage you to use public transportation or our complimentary shuttle service. Please see additional information here. Walking and biking are great options, too. The Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition will provide a complimentary bike valet.

Here is the official message from the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District: 

Due to damage sustained on the fireworks barge during last night’s storm, the 2025 Incline Village fireworks show has been canceled.

Out of an abundance of caution, Incline and Ski beaches will remain closed until further notice while community partners assess the situation and develop a recovery plan.

Your safety is our top priority. Please stay tuned for updates through official channels.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Official Message from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office:

The 2025 Incline Village Fireworks Show has been cancelled after last night’s storm caused damage to the fireworks barge.

The following beaches are closed until further notice:

• Ski Beach
• Incline Beach
• Boat Ramp

Open: Burnt Cedar Beach (for IVGID Punch Cards and Pass Holders Only)

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is assisting to secure the area and support recovery efforts. For your safety, please avoid the closed areas, both on land and on the water.

If you discover any fireworks debris or unexploded materials around Lake Tahoe, do not touch it. Please report it to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Non-Emergency Dispatch at 775-785-WCSO (9276) for disposal.

Thank you for your cooperation as we work to ensure the safety of our community.

Stay connected to official channels for the latest updates. @washoesheriff @nltfpd

Originally Published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune, 07/04/2025, Written by Leah Carter

The Incline Village General Improvement District met last Thursday to discuss updates to the Incline Beach House Project, a new tennis center play pass program, and an expanded fire agreement.

Board members started with an update on the Incline Beach House Project, which is nearing final decisions. “I’m excited to see the community feedback and see where they stand as we start to make final decisions,” said Michaela Tonking. 

As of June 24, the design-build team at CORE Construction has submitted design development drawings and will proceed with construction drawings, scheduled for submission by the end of August. The project has been in progress for nearly a decade, and nearing this stage of the process marks a step closer to making the developments tangible. 

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