Tahoe Conservancy Awards $590,000 in Planning Grants for Lake Tahoe Beach Recreation and Access Projects

Conservancy Board Also Approves Acquisition of Property at Van Sickle Bi-State Park Entrance

South Lake Tahoe, Calif.—The California Tahoe Conservancy Board has approved two planning grants, totaling $590,000, for projects to improve recreation and public access at beaches in South Lake Tahoe and Kings Beach.

“Through recreation enhancements and upgrades to modern accessibility standards, these projects will make it easier for everyone—residents and visitors alike—to experience and enjoy Lake Tahoe’s shoreline,” said Conservancy Board member and South Lake Tahoe City Councilmember Tamara Wallace.

The Board approved a $500,000 planning grant to the City of South Lake Tahoe for improvements at Regan Beach. The funding will help the City continue planning for improvements that include new restrooms and concession facilities, upgraded picnic areas, shoreline stabilization, and a launch and storage area for kayaks and stand-up paddleboards.

The Board also approved a $90,000 grant to the North Tahoe Public Utility District (NTPUD) to complete environmental analysis for improvements at Secline Beach. The NTPUD is exploring recreation, lake access, and accessibility enhancements at Secline Beach, which includes a small Conservancy property, in the heart of the community of Kings Beach in Placer County.

At the same meeting, the Board authorized the Conservancy to acquire an environmentally sensitive parcel at the entrance to Van Sickle Bi-State Park in South Lake Tahoe and 10,000 square feet of land coverage on an adjacent parcel for up to a total of $1.73 million.

The parcel, located at 3828 Montreal Road, includes part of the entrance road and unpaved shared-use trail to Van Sickle Bi-State Park. The Conservancy co-manages the Park, a popular outdoor recreation destination within walking distance of the Lake Tahoe Basin’s busiest tourism hub, with Nevada State Parks. In addition to the park access, the acquisition protects wildlife habitat, scenic resources, and water quality at the Park’s entrance from potential private development.

Land coverage refers to structures such as homes, driveways, and parking lots that prevent rain and snowmelt from infiltrating into the ground, causing storm water runoff. Such runoff carries fine sediments and other pollutants that harm Lake Tahoe’s water quality. The Conservancy will retire these land coverage rights, thereby reducing future development on environmentally sensitive lands in the Basin.

At the same meeting, the Board discussed the Tahoe for All grant program. Through Tahoe for All, the Conservancy intends to continue to support programs and projects that provide positive and inclusive outdoor experiences for communities that face barriers to enjoying Tahoe recreational opportunities. The Board also discussed 2024 accomplishments by the Conservancy and its partners.

Media contact: Chris Carney, Communications Director, chris.carney@tahoe.ca.gov, 530-543-6057

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The California Tahoe Conservancy is a state agency, established in 1984, with a mission to lead California’s efforts to restore and enhance the extraordinary natural and recreational resources of the Lake Tahoe Basin. Learn more at tahoe.ca.gov.