LTCC addresses concerns about 33-year-old Demonstration Garden

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - What started as a dream in 1984 became reality in 1991 when the Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) Demonstration Garden held its grand opening after a year of construction. Designed with the collaboration of several agencies, groups, and individuals, the garden was created on seven acres to showcase attractive native and adapted plants while using conservation techniques to address water quality concerns. Several gazebos and sitting areas were added with tree and plant descriptions along a pathway that meandered through the displays.

Today, it looks neglected, and what was once thriving is looking deprived of attention. Benches and seats are broken or in need of sanding and staining, aspen tree shoots have taken hold of some pathways, and most of the descriptive signs are missing or ruined by the elements. The irrigation system is not functional, and homeless are camping under the gazebo.

Over the years volunteers, the Lake Tahoe Demonstration Garden Committee, the Tahoe Resource Conservation District, and others, maintained the garden. It was the home to the annual Autumn Fest, and more recently, the LTCC Foundation Taste of Gold. The garden's amphitheater could be rented for weddings and other events, but today the parking lot is closed off and used for construction equipment being used on the numerous upgrade projects on campus.

On a walk through the garden this weekend, I could tell someone had been around this summer as the pathways had been raked of pine needles, and after emails from concerned locals who were sad about the garden's "appalling" condition, I expected much worse. There was also no trash in the area.

Many former volunteers are deeply saddened by what they once turned into a thriving mecca in the middle of the forest.

One of the concerned residents wrote to the LTCC Board of Trustees and College President Jeff DeFranco. DeFranco responded, telling them they have a small maintenance staff that is limited in their capacity to perform their primary responsibilities of maintaining a community college while also dedicating time to the garden’s upkeep. DeFranco told them they do annual irrigation maintenance and "trimming of brush."

Before the Demonstration Garden was created, the area was very disturbed by human activity as it once served as a borrow pit for the construction of roads and later as a recreation area for off-road vehicles (though one did race by as I walked through the garden). The soils were bare, compacted, and could not support much vegetation and directly contributed sediment into Lake Tahoe through the adjacent Trout Creek.

"We understand the demonstration garden is important to some of our community members," said LTCC spokesperson Mark Thomsen. "While it can be challenging to bear the financial and maintenance responsibility of the garden, please know we are doing our best, given our range of responsibilities, to provide the best educational and life-changing opportunities for our students."

Thomsen said things changed at the garden after COVID when a lot of the partnerships that kept the garden going were dissolved, leaving the maintenance responsibility to LTCC.

"Our top priority is our students and ensuring we provide a high-quality education for both degree-seeking students and local community members," added Thomsen. "Our plan for the garden moving forward is to continue the maintenance we are currently doing in the short term. By fall 2025, we expect to regain access to the parking lot, which will facilitate more access and upkeep on our part. We are also evaluating every aspect of the signage and the original intent of the garden, as some of the best practices introduced initially are no longer considered best practices and some of the signage may need to be removed."