May 2026 Conservancy Newsletter
Published: May 18, 2026
May is Wildfire Awareness Month, and the California Tahoe Conservancy joins with its 21 partners in the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) in encouraging Lake Tahoe Basin (Basin) residents and visitors to take meaningful steps to reduce wildfire risk before the season begins. Read on for an update on a west shore project to enhance forest and wildfire resilience, events where you can learn more about wildfire risk and what you can do to help, and more.
Jason Vasques, Executive Director
California Tahoe Conservancy
Wildfire Awareness Month in Lake Tahoe
Building on the “Get Defensive” campaign, this year’s focus is on taking early, consistent action at home and across the community to strengthen wildfire resilience Basinwide. Read more about steps residents and visitors can take.
Conservancy Forestry Project Continues in Tahoma
Work continues on the Conservancy’s forestry project on almost 150 public properties in Tahoma in El Dorado County. On the west shore, as in much of the Basin, forests are far more crowded with trees than before 20th century fire suppression. Thinning overcrowded trees and brush helps reduce wildfire risk, so that our forests can continue to provide wildlife habitat, shady refuge for people walking and biking, and clean air and water.
The Conservancy’s contractor is active on 118 Conservancy properties, seven USDA Forest Service properties, and 23 El Dorado County properties. The contractor is mulching small-diameter trees, branches, and shrubs, and cutting larger trees and branches into firewood rounds. Community members can collect firewood with a free Conservancy fuelwood collection permit.
The Conservancy plans forestry projects like these in coordination with the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team, and in support of the goals of the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program.
California Natural Resources Agency Hosts Discussion on 2026 Wildfire Outlook
Tuesday, May 19 from noon – 1:00 p.m.
Record temperatures melted the mountain snowpack and seared landscapes from one end of the state to the other in March. Forecasts call for wildfires to start as early as late spring.
Join California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot and state leaders for the latest on conditions and hear what California has been doing to prepare for peak fire season, protect communities, and accelerate wildfire safety projects.
Fire Adapted Communities Webinar Featuring Conservancy Staff
The Tahoe Network of Fire Adapted Communities is hosting a webinar on May 21 from 6:00-6:30 p.m. that will feature Conservancy staff. Join to learn more about how the Conservancy manages forest health and wildfire risk on the thousands of forested Conservancy properties on the California side of the Basin.
Visit the Tahoe Living With Fire website to register for the webinar.
Get Outside: Tahoe Trails, Beaches, and More
With spring in full effect, it’s a great time to enjoy Lake Tahoe trails and beaches. Better still, with National Day just ahead, it’s also a great time to pitch in and volunteer with any of Tahoe’s outstanding nonprofit partners to help keep the trails and beaches in great shape.
Volunteer opportunities:
- Keep Tahoe Blue volunteer opportunities
- Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA) volunteer opportunities
- Tahoe Rim Trail Association volunteer opportunities
Find a Trail / Find a Beach
Could you use help finding a shared-use trail to walk, bike, or roll? The Conservancy is proud to support the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition’s Tahoe Bike Map, available in print for free at local bike shops, or online in an interactive format.
Looking for a less crowded beach? A dog-friendly beach? A beach where you can launch your kayak? Check out the TahoePublicBeaches.org website, a joint project of the Tahoe Fund and the Conservancy, with input from all of Tahoe’s public land managers.
Meet the Conservancy: Scott Cecchi
Meet Scott Cecchi, a project manager for the Conservancy’s Recreation and Public Access program. Scott develops projects that help protect Lake Tahoe’s environment and connect people and our natural spaces. Watch the video to hear and see more about Scott and his work.
Upcoming California Tahoe Conservancy Board Meetings
The Board will meet on June 18, 2026. An agenda will be available on the Conservancy website ten days prior to the meeting.
Lake Tahoe in the News
26th annual Tahoe-Truckee Snapshot Day connects community to its watershed, South Tahoe Now, May 7, 2026
Tahoe Boaters Encouraged to Clean, Drain, Dry this Season | Tahoe Boat Inspections, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, May 8, 2026
STPUD advances 2026 infrastructure investments and proposed rate adjustments, South Tahoe Now, May 10, 2026
Show Your Love for Tahoe While Protecting It
When you order a California Lake Tahoe license plate, you help build biking and hiking trails, restore fish and wildlife habitat, and protect Lake Tahoe’s famous beaches and blue waters. 96 percent of all funds from Tahoe plate sales come back to Lake Tahoe.
Show Your Love for Tahoe While Protecting It
When you order a California Lake Tahoe license plate, you help build biking and hiking trails, restore fish and wildlife habitat, and protect Lake Tahoe’s famous beaches and blue waters. 96 percent of all funds from Tahoe plate sales come back to Lake Tahoe.