This year, the annual Tahoe Summit, started nearly 30 years ago by California Senator Dianne Feinstein, Nevada Senator Harry Reid, and President Bill Clinton, was centered around the theme of “Protecting Lake Tahoe: Balancing Sustainable Recreation and Conservation.”

Unlike other advocacy opportunities the NTCA has participated in, this gathering, which has historically served as a bipartisan collaboration in support of protecting Lake Tahoe, presented a unique chance to meet and connect with more elected officials from both states at a single event than we’ve had the privilege of participating in before.

It provided a chance to explain how our local business community has helped establish and expand opportunities for public-private partnerships. And, it was an opportunity to highlight the TBID and its role in broadening the funding sources for our community’s priorities – such as transportation and trails, human impact mitigation, environmental stewardship initiatives, as well as business advocacy.

NTCA president and CEO Tony Karwowski shared with California Senator Adam Schiff, Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen, Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, California Assemblywoman Hadwick, and Senator Alvarado-Gil, among others, how the NTCA and the committees it convenes are putting TBID dollars to work on behalf of our community in support of collaborative stewardship efforts in North Lake Tahoe and beyond.

He also addressed the NTCA’s involvement in the creation of the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan, its implementation, and the efforts we’re aligning on across agencies, businesses, NGOs and land managers to elevate the Tahoe experience for all.

By directly engaging and building relationships with elected officials, citing real examples of how North Lake Tahoe is investing in itself, we not only elevate local leadership but also increase the likelihood of securing future state and federal support for community-driven solutions.

This summer and fall, ECO-Clean Solutions is again leading the charge to clean Lake Tahoe’s beaches in partnership with TOT-TBID Dollars At Work. As part of year 2 of a 3-year grant program, ECO-Clean will conduct 14 cleanings across key lakefront properties and public beaches, removing harmful debris, protecting native species, and keeping Lake Tahoe clean. In 2024, ECO-CLEAN Solutions removed 19,753 non-native/inorganic items, including 9,195 pieces of plastic. The overall area cleaned was approximately 482,000 sq/ft.

Below is the full schedule of 2025 cleanings, including demo events open to the public.

2025 Beach Cleaning Schedule

Kings Beach State Recreation Area

• July 2, 3 & 5, 2025
• October 1 & 2, 2025

Mourelatos Lakefront Resort

• May 7 & 8, 2025
• September 10, 2025

Franciscan Lakeside Lodge

• May 7 & 8, 2025
• September 18, 2025

Lake Forest Public Beach

• May 15, 2025
• September 18, 2025

Moon Dune Public Beach

• May 14, 2025
• September 11, 2025

Demo Cleanings & Public Events

These special cleanings are paired with education and demonstrations of ECO-CLEAN’s innovative technology:

Commons Beach – Farmers Market Demo & Cleaning

• July 17, 2025

Tahoe Vista Recreation Area – Demo & Cleaning

• September 11, 2025

TOT-TBID Dollars At Work helps to fund BEBOT and other projects focused on human impact mitigation. Learn more here.

NTCA President and CEO Tony Karwowski shares his insights from the CalTravel Board of Directors Meeting.

As part of the NTCA’s advocacy efforts, I attended the CalTravel Board of Directors Winter Meeting in San Francisco last week. I participated in conversations related to destination stewardship, North Lake Tahoe’s hosting of the CalTravel Summit in October 2025, and more.

This forum also provided an opportunity for North Lake Tahoe to have a voice at the table as it relates to proposed legislative actions that can have impacts on the tourism industry and affect businesses in our region.

Other topics discussed include:

• San Francisco is working hard with new leadership to provide a safe, clean city with a thriving business community targeted at reviving the tourism industry. As San Francisco is a major entry point into Northern California for international visitors, North Tahoe will benefit from the success of tourism in San Francisco as international visitors return. 
• The two-year legislative session has opened. CalTravel is monitoring proposed legislative actions that have both positive and negative impacts on the tourism industry and preparing positions on the bills moving forward for the membership. At Advocacy Day on May 20, NTCA will join over 200 other Travel and Tourism industry representatives to meet with legislators and share the real-world impacts of the proposed legislation on our local businesses and communities. 
• Visit California gave an update on the statewide Destination Stewardship planning process they have been working on in conjunction with the 12 different tourism regions and representatives of those regions. As a partner involved in the High Sierra region planning effort, NTCA was able to bring themes that surfaced in our Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan development process. We also helped integrate regional priorities into the state-funded effort while highlighting relevant priorities like workforce housing, transportation, human impact mitigation, and environmental stewardship.
• CalTravel also highlighted CalTravel Summit 2025, which will be held at Everline Resort in Olympic Valley from October 6-8, 2025. This is their largest annual gathering, bringing over 400 travel and tourism leaders for three days of compelling speakers, interactive breakout sessions, and unique networking opportunities—all geared toward professional and personal growth. Through our strong partnership with CalTravel, NTCA was instrumental in bringing this iconic summit to North Lake Tahoe, allowing us to showcase our destination to the most influential travel professionals from across the state of California and beyond. There is a discounted rate for members who wish to attend. For more info, visit https://www.caltravel.org/upcoming-events and let us know if you would like to attend!

Sara Van Siclen

Published in Moonshine Ink on December 12, 2024 >

As the snow begins to fall, many of us are eagerly planning our winter trips to the ski resorts. For years, the routine has been the same for residents and visitors alike: load up the car, drive to the resort, and look for parking for a day of skiing or snowboarding. But with the introduction of parking reservations at Northstar California Resort and Palisades Tahoe starting last winter, it’s time to consider an alternative: taking fare-free transit to the slopes.

This season presents the perfect opportunity to explore transit options. Not only do these services provide an environmentally-friendly, free, and convenient solution when resort parking is full, but they also offer a chance to connect with fellow skiers and enjoy a more relaxed, community-focused experience.

Last winter, the parking reservation programs at Northstar and Palisades helped stagger arrival times, easing congestion on weekends and reducing traffic on Highways 89 and 267. Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit (TART) has been supporting this change, offering fare-free and convenient transportation alternatives. By utilizing the TART Park & Ride program, TART’s mainline bus service, and TART Connect, skiers and snowboarders can leave their cars behind and take free transit to the resorts.

For visitors heading to Palisades, TART and Palisades Tahoe have teamed up to offer a free weekend Park & Ride program again this season at two locations: Truckee High School and the Tahoe City Transit Center. From there, passengers can catch a free shuttle to the resort. New for this season, the TOT-TBID Dollars at Work program, which reinvests revenue into the community, will be funding additional shuttles that will add service and reduce headways to every 20 minutes when traffic is flowing smoothly.

Palisades Tahoe skiers and riders are encouraged to use Mountaineer, the free, on-demand transportation service providing rides within Olympic Valley, Alpine Meadows, and between the valleys. For more details, visit mountaineertransit.org.

Northstar also offers a convenient Park & Ride service on weekends. Parking is available at Lift Workspace near the Truckee Tahoe Airport with free hourly TART service to Northstar. Additionally, supplemental shuttle services will operate on holiday weekends to accommodate the larger crowds expected on those dates.

Sugar Bowl and Donner Ski Ranch are joining the transit trend this winter with shuttle service between Truckee and Donner Summit. Starting this season, there will be free daily shuttle service from the Coldstream transit stop in Truckee to these resorts. Employees, visitors, and residents can catch a TART bus to the Coldstream bus stop or get an on-demand ride from TART Connect, then transfer to a shuttle that will take them directly to Sugar Bowl or Donner Ski Ranch. This new service offers a hassle-free alternative to driving up Old 40 or I-80.

In addition to Park & Ride options, TART Connect provides on-demand microtransit to help skiers make that first and last mile connection. TART Connect allows riders within a designated service area to request a fare-free ride from their home or rental property to the nearest shuttle stop. Simply download the app, schedule a pickup, and you’ll be on your way shortly. This added layer of convenience makes it easier than ever to leave your car at home.

These transit options are made possible through the collaboration of local organizations, including Placer County, the Town of Truckee, Tahoe Forest Hospital, Visit Truckee-Tahoe, Palisades Tahoe, Northstar, Sugar Bowl Resort, and North Tahoe Community Alliance.

By ditching your car and enjoying a more relaxed journey to your favorite ski resorts this season, you’ll also have the opportunity to enjoy the ride and connect with others on the way to the slopes. You might just find that the journey to the resort is as fun as the skiing and riding itself.

All schedules and route details are available at tahoetruckeetransit.com.

Sara Van Siclen is the executive director of the Truckee North Tahoe Transportation Management Association, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering public-private partnerships and resources for advocacy and promoting innovative solutions to the unique transportation challenges of the Tahoe/Truckee Resort Triangle. Sara lives in Truckee with her husband, son, and dog, Jax.

The Lake Tahoe Ambassador program received grant funding to hire additional participants in North Lake Tahoe this summer. The Sierra Nevada Alliance is actively recruiting to fill four (4) more positions. Interested students can email le’a@sierranevadaalliance.org.

About the Lake Tahoe Ambassador Program

The nonprofit Sierra Nevada Alliance is hiring Lake Tahoe Ambassadors for various sites around the Lake Tahoe Basin this summer. During the summer, Ambassadors are stationed at various popular beaches, trailheads and visitor centers around Lake Tahoe during peak times. Ambassadors motivate and inspire community members and visitors to recreate responsibly while enjoying Lake Tahoe’s parks, trails and beaches. In addition, Ambassadors receive training in basic environmental research skills and complete a summer-long research project with a professional mentor, utilizing the data collected on the job.

Learn More

About the Sierra Nevada Alliance

Since 1993, the Sierra Nevada Alliance has been working to protect and restore Sierra lands, water and wildlife. The organization manages a variety of service programs, legislative initiatives and community engagement programs to make progress on priorities including climate resiliency, resilient forests, and watershed protection and restoration. Created to be a hub for stewardship, the Sierra Nevada Alliance facilitates the successful ambassador program throughout the Tahoe Basin by empowering and collaborating with partners including the NTCA.

In a recent 101.5 Tahoe Truckee Radio Community Spotlight, NTCA Marketing Director, Kirstin Guinn, shared three key initiatives funded by TBID dollars that fall into the marketing world to promote environmental stewardship to residents and visitors alike.  

Listen Now

What is the TBID?

The TBID, or Tourism Business Improvement District, is how North Lake Tahoe generates revenue from tourism and shopping locally. The business community agreed on a self-assessment of the revenue that tourism generates in restaurants, retail shops, and activity providers like rental shops. Those tourism dollars then get funneled back into the community through the TOT-TBID Dollars At Work program. 

Clean, Drain and Dry with the Tahoe Water Trail

• NTCA is investing TBID dollars into a partnership with the Lake Tahoe Water Trail. The water trail has been around for years – it’s 72 miles of liquid fun – and this partnership expands education around stopping the spread of invasive species in Lake Tahoe and the surrounding lakes. This campaign focuses on the role that “Clean, Drained, and Dry” plays when it comes to inflatable paddleboards. New Zealand Mud Snails can be transported in just a few drops of water – think about the water that collects in the folds of a paddleboard or the paddle. NTCA is enabling the Lake Tahoe Water Trail to expand its outreach to rental shops in North Lake Tahoe’s drive-up markets and educate paddleboarders about the importance of “Clean, Drain, and Dry” before they launch. 

Learn About the Lake Tahoe Water Trail

Expanding Bike Valets with the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition

• NTCA is working with the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition to create more bike valets around the North Shore this summer. Last summer, the Bicycle Coalition, a group of passionate and entirely volunteer locals, wanted to offer more bike valets around North Lake Tahoe but needed resource support to execute the vision. This summer, TBID dollars will enable the organization to purchase additional valet set-ups and hire a part-time coordinator to increase bike valets in the region, reducing cars on the road.

Learn About the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition

Sierra Nevada Alliance Ambassador Program

• For the second consecutive summer, NTCA is investing in the Sierra Nevada Alliance Ambassador program. In partnership with the Sierra Nevada Alliance and Truckee Trails, the program hires local youth to hang out on popular beaches and trailheads and talk to people about responsible stewardship, model good behavior, and hand out dog poop bags. This is an impactful way for young people to interact with the public. They also provide data for the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, and in some cases, they even find smoldering illegal campfires and put them out. NTCA plans to continue to grow this program with our partners and make it the most coveted summer job in Tahoe!

Learn About Ambassador Program

These partnerships are an invaluable piece of the puzzle when it comes to human impact mitigation around North Lake Tahoe. They are a great investment of TOT-TBID Dollars At Work. 

The North Lake Tahoe community is invited to attend a Washoe cultural event, hosted by the Gatekeeper’s Museum on Saturday, May 18. Members of the Washoe community, independent artists and conservation groups are holding a community-centered conversation about the Rights of Nature and the future of Da’aw’ ‘Tahoe through decolonizing the design of a stewarding process that holds Indigenous Knowledges at the Center.

Artists, scientists and Washoe basketmakers, singers and Knowledge Keepers are creating the Future Gardens together, a process of land stewarding that prioritizes indigenous leadership and the material, cultural and spiritual plants of importance to the Wà:šiw. 

This event will include Washoe-led song, dance, stories, demonstrations and discussions as well as museum and garden tours. 

Plant seeds and imagine together!

Hosted on the patio by the Gatekeeper’s Museum
Saturday, May 18
11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
130 West Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, CA

The National Association of Conservation Districts’ Stewardship Week, an annual program since 1955, stands as one of the nation’s largest initiatives dedicated to promoting the conservation of natural resources. Between the last Sunday in April and the first Sunday in May, this week-long event reminds us of our responsibilities to safeguard our precious natural resources. With today’s environmental challenges, resilient forests are indispensable in fostering a sustainable world. This year’s theme, “May the Forest Be with You, Always”, signifies our commitment to responsible forest stewardship, emphasizing their enduring strength and adaptability.

During NTCA’s April edition of the First Tuesday Breakfast Club, Kerri Timmer, Regional Forest Health Coordinator, Agriculture, Parks and Natural Resources Placer County, shared information about the county’s forest health program, focusing on wildfire risk reduction and the use of the Land Tender tool for prioritizing work. Discussion followed her presentation about the challenges of working with federal agencies, the importance of continuity in projects, and the potential of the county’s forest coverage for better attention.

Environmental Stewardship is a key element of NTCA’s mission. As an active partner in the collaborative development of the Basin-wide Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan, the NTCA is activating the plan’s vision and actions in its efforts to better manage outdoor recreation and tourism. The robust plan’s goals also include ensuring the sustainability and preservation of an iconic natural treasure and our local community.

Learn more about NTCA’s role in the Destination Stewardship plan, as well as how TOT-TBID Dollars at work go towards projects and programs that cultivate environmental stewardship and tourism impact mitigation in the North Lake Tahoe Region.

To learn more about Earth Day festivals in North Lake Tahoe, visit gotahoenorth.com. Plus, locals and visitors alike can take the Traveler Responsibility Pledge to share a commitment to preserving the natural wonders of the Lake Tahoe region.

The Tahoe Fund and USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) are looking for community-based artists to “beautify” the blank interiors of the restrooms at the Stateline Fire Lookout Trail in Crystal Bay, the Logan Shoals Vista Point on Tahoe’s East Shore, and the Tallac Historic Site on the South Shore. Officials hope murals depicting Tahoe’s plants, animals, and beautiful landscapes will reduce vandalism and inspire people to take care of Tahoe.

“We are excited to rally the creativity of our local artist community,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “By painting murals on the walls inside the restrooms, we hope to inspire people to take better care of these spaces and—by extension—the Tahoe environment.”

Inspired by a similar idea from the Bureau of Land Management in Henry Lake, Idaho, this mural project intends to enlist artists and community groups in the California and Nevada area to complete the artwork.

“We’re looking for artists who can use their creativity to seamlessly establish a ‘sense of place’ within the Tahoe region and also inspire people to be stewards of the environment,” said Daniel Cressy, Public Services Staff Officer, LTBMU. “Just like visitors in Henry Lake have experienced, our hope is that surprise encounters with art that depicts the beauty that surrounds us in Tahoe will be a fun, memorable way to think about how each of us can make a difference.”

In Idaho, the response to the restroom art has been well-received, with visitors saying things like: “I’ve been in many campground bathrooms. This one is the best by far!,” “Your art in the john surprised me and made my day! Thank you!!,” and “I swear those bathrooms are going to end up on TripAdvisor as one of the ‘must see’s…”.

Kelly Brothers Painting will generously supply paint for each mural. 

Artists interested in submitting a proposal for consideration must do so through this Google Form time-stamped no later than 6 p.m. Pacific Time Friday, March 29, 2024. Artists will be judged and selected by the Tahoe Fund, LTBMU and select community members in April. Mural installation will occur in May 2024, weather permitting.

Learn more about the project and submission criteria at https://tahoefund.org/paintamural.

Recently, the Mountaineer Celebrated its Fifth Anniversary and Impact and Influence on Lake Tahoe’s Transportation Solutions. The cumulative effort of all Tahoe/Truckee microtransit services lakewide has provided rides to over 1,269,235 passengers (from December 1, 2018 through Nov. 28, 2023).

Learn more about transportation options this winter below.

Whether headed to work, running errands, or going to a favorite place to recreate, sitting in traffic will undoubtedly put a damper on the experience. That’s why public and private entities in North Lake Tahoe are all focused on finding and implementing ways to reduce traffic congestion throughout the region. This winter, new and untested programs, as well as long-standing initiatives will be used to try to help solve our traffic, parking and transportation problems.

For them to work, it will require active use and participation by residents, visitors, local businesses and their employees. Our cumulative efforts to make use of parking reservations, park and ride, carpooling, and free public transportation options has the potential to make a difference for us all.

Here’s what to know about new parking management and reservation requirements and the easiest ways to get around this winter:

Resorts Implement New Parking Reservation Requirements

To help ease traffic congestion on area roadways and elongate the arrival times of resort guests during peak periods, both Northstar California and Palisades Tahoe will require parking reservations on weekends and holidays before 1 p.m. While some are paid, many are free.

Learn more about resort-specific parking plans and be sure to book parking reservations in advance; there are penalties for parking without a reservation when they are required:

• Northstar
• Palisades Tahoe

Additionally, be aware that Placer County has been contracted to conduct parking enforcement within the Olympic Valley, Alpine Meadows, and Northstar communities to discourage unauthorized parking on residential streets and where parking reservations are required. Vehicles without valid resort parking reservations will be cited, and fine amounts will escalate for each additional violation. Find the fee schedule here.

Free On-Demand Microtransit Services Are Offered Daily

On the North and West Shores from Incline Village to Tahoma, TART Connect offers free, on-demand door-to-door shuttle service daily from 8 a.m. to midnight starting December 14. No transfer is needed in Carnelian Bay to connect to other zones, and shuttles are dog-friendly and have ski racks. Book rides using the TART Connect app or by calling (530) 553-0653.

To get from lakeside communities to Northstar or Palisades Tahoe, TART Connect riders can transfer to mainline TART buses which run routes to the resorts hourly. View route schedules online and download the Transit app for real-time arrival estimates. This is a great way to get to the resorts if you don’t have a parking reservation!

In Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows, Mountaineer’s free on-demand service will operate with 9-passenger, dog-friendly vans equipped with ski/snowboard racks between December 8, 2023 and April 7, 2024 as follows:

• Daily in Olympic Valley from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., with service until 2 a.m. during WinterWonderGrass (April 5-7, 2024). Early morning service will also be offered beginning at 5 a.m. for the World Cup, Feb. 22-25, 2024.

• Thursday through Monday in Alpine Meadows from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with additional service offered on Tuesday and Wednesdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 19-20, Dec. 26-27, 2023 and Feb. 20–21, 2024.

• Daily between Olympic Valley and Alpine Meadows from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Passengers can request rides through the Mountaineer app, which is free to download in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. Inter-valley transportation will continue to be provided between the two Palisades Tahoe base areas by the Base to Base Gondola, which operates daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Carpool and Use Free Winter Park & Ride Service

This season, Palisades Tahoe and Northstar California have teamed up with the Truckee North Tahoe Transportation Management Association to offer free Park & Ride shuttles from locations in Truckee and Tahoe City on weekends:

To get to Palisades Tahoe, park at either:

• TRUCKEE: Between the TTUSD office and KidZone Museum (11603 Donner Pass Road)
• TAHOE CITY: Tahoe City Transit Center / 64 Acres (165 W. Lake Blvd.)
• View and download the Palisades Tahoe schedule

To get to Northstar California, park at:

• TRUCKEE: Lift Workspace parking lot next to Enterprise Rent a Car (10266 Truckee Airport Road)
• View and download the Northstar California schedule

Choose Park & Ride to avoid parking reservations, cut down on fuel emissions and save some money at the gas pump!

Other Ways to Get Around

Heading to Palisades Tahoe from the West Shore on the weekend? The resort will resume its seasonal Sherwood Shuttle for those traveling to the resort from the West Shore this winter. Set to begin operations on weekends when the Sherwood lift starts spinning on the Alpine side of the resort, guests will be able to park in the Sunnyside lot and catch a free shuttle to the back side of Alpine. Weather and conditions permitting, the first shuttle leaves at 8:30 a.m. and the last shuttle returns at 4 p.m. Ticket, pass, or confirmation of a pre-purchased lift ticket is required to ride. Check here for schedule updates.