Over $350,000 in Nevada Lake Tahoe License Plate proceeds will help Tahoe Basin

LAKE TAHOE, NV – From Lake Tahoe’s crystal-clear water, to the surrounding forests and serene backcountry, the Tahoe Basin is a world-class natural and recreational treasure. As part of continuing efforts to keep Lake Tahoe beautiful for generations to come, every year, proceeds from Nevada Lake Tahoe License Plate (NV-LTLP) sales and annual renewal fees are invested in projects that help protect and preserve Lake Tahoe's unique natural environment.

This year, the Nevada Division of State Lands is excited to announce that over $350,000 in NV-LTLP proceeds will help fund the following environmental preservation and restoration projects:

• Marlette Virtual Nature Trail: The Nevada Division of Natural Heritage will create a virtual trail experience from Spooner Lake to Tunnel Creek that will allow users to explore dozens of points of interest along the trail, learn about local plants and wildlife, and experience the cultural and geologic history of the area. Once developed, the virtual trail can be downloaded free of charge so visitors can tour the trail from the comfort of their home, whether they are planning a trip to Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park or just want to learn more about Tahoe’s incredible natural diversity.
   
• SCUBA divers will continue their third year to remove litter and identify litter “hot spots” in the Lake: The non-profit organization Clean up the Lake will conduct a series of dives to trace how litter moves around Lake Tahoe and document where it accumulates. Trash that is removed will be analyzed by the Desert Research Institute and the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center to help identify the major sources of litter pollution in the Lake.
   
• Developing a Tourism Stewardship Roadmap: The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, along with other Basin partners, will develop a strategic plan to enhance sustainable recreation and tourism opportunities at Lake Tahoe over the next 20 years. The information will be used to prioritize recreation and tourism projects, as well as provide updates to the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program.
   
• New monitoring and research programs for lake clarity: Two complementary projects will explore algal growth in the Lake:

1. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency will launch a new program to monitor algae near Lake Tahoe’s shoreline. The program will identify locations along the lakeshore that are impacted by heavy concentrations of algae to determine whether boaters, aquatic invasive species, or other factors are contributing to losses in clarity.
    
2. University of Nevada, Reno researchers will study how watersheds and nutrients contribute to declines in water quality and increases in algal growth. This data will help inform strategies and solutions to help prevent the growth of algae around Lake Tahoe.
    

• Tahoe Rim Trail visitor use monitoring: The Tahoe Rim Trail Association will track and analyze visitation numbers and gather information from public surveys to inform recreation needs along the Tahoe Rim Trail. Land managers intend to use the data to assess opportunities to reduce the amount of damage to the trail and surrounding vegetation.
   
• Sensitive plant monitoring: A research team from the University of Nevada, Reno will create a monitoring program to study Lake Tahoe Draba, a rare high-elevation plant which only grows in three locations solely in the Tahoe Basin. Data collected during this project will inform future protective measures for the species and may help prevent its extinction.

The challenges in Lake Tahoe continue to change and grow every day. As wildfire risks, climate change, and ever-growing demands for outdoor recreation continue to compound in Lake Tahoe, supporting the long-term sustainable health of the Tahoe Basin is more pressing than ever.

Right now, over 23,000 Nevadans are helping to protect Lake Tahoe through the purchase and annual renewal of their Nevada Lake Tahoe license plates. Since the first license plates were sold in February 1998, the NV-LTLP program has generated over $11 million through sales and annual renewal fees, funding over 165 preservation and restoration projects on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe.

All Nevadans can help preserve and protect Lake Tahoe by purchasing a Lake Tahoe license plate for $61 with an annual renewal fee of $30. To help protect Lake Tahoe by purchasing a plate, please visit: dmvnv.com/platescharitable.htm.

If you purchase a Lake Tahoe license plate before April 1, you can also receive a free ticket to one of several participating Lake Tahoe ski resorts. Go to tahoeplates.com to learn more about the “Plates for Powder” program.

To learn more about the projects funded by the NV-LTLP program, visit lands.nv.gov/tahoe-plate and follow @NevDCNR on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using #EveryPlateCounts.