Locals Help to Identify Biggest Threats to Lake Tahoe Basin

This winter, the Tahoe Resource Conservation District launched a Facebook contest in support of its “Tahoe’s Most un-Wanted” campaign in order to collaborate with the community for its series of educational posters. The wild-west themed posters are intended to help locals and visitors to identify some of the most pressing threats to the Tahoe Basin, as well as what people can do to help mitigate environmental challenges. Community-identified threats to Tahoe included pollution from trash, traffic, leaf blowers, invasive fish, fire danger, homes without bear bins and more.

“By reaching out to the community for ideas Tahoe RCD was able to identify additional topics for the campaign, while also bringing traffic and some great conversations to our Facebook page. There were lots of creative ideas submitted!” said Sarah Ford, Conservation Planner at the Tahoe RCD.

The Tahoe RCD would like to thank all of the participants in the contest for submitting creative new ideas and congratulates the Tahoe’s Most un-Wanted Faceboook Contest winners. Heather Krantz, Randy Loftis, Taylor Harrison, Colin Stras, and the Sugar Pine Foundation all won great prizes from local Tahoe businesses, such as an Emerald Bay Cruise for two on the Rum Runner, a bike or ski tune at Watta Bike in Meyers, free bowling at Tahoe Bowl, a free pass to High Altitude Fitness, and a cake from Cakes by the Lake. Visitors to the Tahoe Resource Conservation District’s Facebook page voted on entries submitted to select the winners.

Tahoe’s Most un-Wanted posters currently available for display include “Aquatic Invasive Species”, “Terrestrial Invasive Weeds”, “Sediment from Runoff”, and the most recent poster, “Nutrients from Fertilizers and Pesticides.” Local residents, teachers, visitors and organizations are welcome to pick up posters at the Tahoe Resource Conservation District offices at 870 Emerald Bay Rd. in South Lake Tahoe.

“Through the involvement of the Lake Tahoe community, we hope to continue to promote awareness of environmental issues and the need to protect Lake Tahoe,” said Sarah Ford, Conservation Planner at the Tahoe RCD, who has been helping to promote the campaign. “Be sure to check out our facebook page (www.Facebook.com/TahoeRCD) and keep your eye out for our Tahoe’s Most un-Wanted posters around town!”

— Pete Brumis is Public Outreach coordinator for The Tahoe Resource Conservation District. He can be reached at pbrumis@TahoeRCD.org.