research

Recovery from snowpack drought to take at least four years

Even though the winter of 2016 brought a strong El Nino, it wasn't enough to recover from the previous years' dismal snowpacks.

In a report released by a team of researchers led by UCLA, the snow water equivalent (SWE) seen in 2015, when added to the previous three years of drought, was the worst seen in 1,200 years.

Since the SWE in the Sierra snowpack directly affects the state, the scientists also said that, even if the Sierra has average snowpacks, it will take
California until at least 2019 to recover.

Glenn Lucky’s tricycle debuts at Nevada State Museum

On an 18-speed tricycle, one man crossed 12 states over three months to raise more than $10,000 on a mission from Nevada’s state capital to the nation’s capital in 1988.

Glenn Lucky wanted to raise awareness and funding for cerebral palsy research, a condition that has challenged him all his life, but never held him down. The vehicle he used to make his incredible journey debuts at the Nevada State Museum, Carson City, just in time to celebrate the Epic Ride bicycle event through Northern Nevada.

Shared pain pills fueling opioid epidemic

As lawmakers grapple with how best to combat the nation’s prescription painkiller abuse crisis, a recent survey is shedding light on how patients who get these medications — drugs such as OxyContin, methadone or Vicodin — sometimes share or mishandle them.

Mark Twain heads West again to Virginia City, Carson City and Lake Tahoe

Event Date: 
June 23, 2016 - 12:00pm

The historical American character and humorist, Mark Twain is returning to Nevada and Lake Tahoe California, so be on the lookout for an elderly man with a distinctive mound of unruly white hair, wearing a white suit with an ever-present cigar in his hand. Actually, Rob Alvey, a professional geologist and adjunct Professor at York College in NYC is coming. Alvey, an award winning geologist with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund Division is well regarded for his unique sense of humor and an uncanny resemblance to Samuel Clemens alter ego, Mark Twain.

Elevated Fitness celebrates 4th anniversary

Elevated Fitness, South Lake Tahoe's high altitude, carbon-neutral, human-powered fitness facility, focuses on dynamic and scientific workouts at their gym located at 4000 Lake Tahoe Blvd, Suite 8. They are celebrating their fourth year on the South Shore with a 2 for the price of 1 special. Two people join for the price of one, or, one person can join for two months at the price of one.

Their member's success is from science and movement based workouts which get maximum results through safe, progressive programming based on research, not through trends and machines.

Property owners fighting weeds in the Tahoe Keys

In an effort to prevent the growth and spread of invasive weeds in the Tahoe Keys, residents are being proactive in the fight to keep their lagoons clean. The Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association (TKPOA) has submitted an updated Integrated Management Plan to the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board for approval.

TKPOA's plan is an adaptive, holistic one to greatly reduce aquatic invasive weeds in its lagoons.

Opinion: Invasive clams should not be forgotten

Imagine walking into your house to find an infestation of termites. Not only are the termites annoying, but they’re hard to get rid of and are slowly but surely destroying your home. Similarly, Asian clams and their expanding population are ruining a place that is home to many. Asian clams were not reacted to fast enough, resulting in some serious issues for Lake Tahoe, and old plans to eradicate them have not proven fully effective, so, new plans must be thought of and considered seriously to save the clarity of the lake and the economy of Tahoe.

25th America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride on Sunday

Mountain Resort Television reporter Nicole Marsel interviews Curtis Fong about Sunday's annual America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride, an event he created 25 years ago.

Students making a difference with memory loss patients at Barton

We all have certain songs that bring back vivid memories—a first crush, a family vacation, or even just riding in the car with friends. Why does music form such strong associations?

Research shows that people with dementia will respond to familiar songs from their past helps them regain memories from when they first heard that song. Even for persons with severe dementia, music can tap deep emotional recall. For individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s, memory for things—names, places, facts—is compromised, but memories from our teenage years can be well-preserved.

Wounded Warrior Andrew Bachelder added to American Century Championship

Retired Staff Sergeant Andrew Bachelder, a decorated veteran of Iraq and the ongoing war in Afghanistan, has been added to the American Century Championship field of celebrities for their annual Lake Tahoe tournament July 19-24, 2016.

Bachelder earned a spot by winning the George W. Bush Presidential Center’s Warrior Open this past October in Irving, Tex.

Volunteers needed at CA State Parks and UC Davis Environmental Center

California State Parks Foundation has created a way for people to enjoy their parks while volunteering for a day. This is happening across the state in response to budget cuts.

Park Champions is having their first workday at Ed Z'Berg Sugar Pine Point State Park on Thursday, June 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to remove invasive plants in order to restore habitat for the birds and the bees. Tools, training and snacks provided. The Sierra State Parks Foundation will also offer volunteers a free guided tour.

Column: Beating Aquatic Invasive Species At Tahoe

Around the world, invasive species are notorious for their ability to out-compete native plants and animals. Once introduced to an area, they can spread out of control and fundamentally change both landscapes and ecologies, and then pose incredible challenges to manage or eradicate.

Opinion: The Next Step To Making Tahoe Great - Loop Road

Our home of beautiful South Lake Tahoe is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the world. With around 4.3 million visitors in 2011, as well as certain main events and holidays where our city's population doubles and even triples. With this nonstop tourism occurring throughout South Lake Tahoe, it only makes sense to have a “downtown” area, which is what the loop road will provide. Despite the concerns of how the loop road will hurt our community, there are a lot of long term social and environmental benefits involved in this project.

Lake Tahoe Community College Speaker Series: Dr. Jamie Orr and 3-D Printing:

Event Date: 
May 25, 2016 - 6:00pm

Can you make a homemade pizza with a 3-D printer? A gun? A movie prop? An iPhone case?

The answer is "yes" and you can find out about the endless possibilities of printing with a 3-D printer, and what its potential is in the future at the next Lake Tahoe Community College Foundation's Speaker Spotlight Series.

Celebrities teeing up for Gene Upshaw Golf Tournament

NFL Hall of Famers, former Major League Baseball players and other sports celebrities will gather July 17-18 to once again pay tribute to the former Oakland Raider at the 8th annual Gene Upshaw Memorial Golf Classic at the Schaffer’s Mill Golf & Lake Club in Truckee, Calif.

Upshaw, who often played in the Celebrity Golf Tournament in South Lake Tahoe, died of pancreatic cancer in 2008 at Tahoe Forest Hospital.

Consequences of Lake Tahoe Basin tree mortality

Event Date: 
May 10, 2016 - 5:30pm

Prolonged drought periods often result in forest tree mortality, but this death varies across the Lake Tahoe Basin. The causes of tree mortality range from native bark beetles, forest pathogens (both native and invasive), stressors such as drought and salt stress, as well as historical land-use.

SNC Tahoe and other Nevada colleges win grant for STEM and health research

Sierra Nevada College on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe has been awarded a five year grant to develop infrastructure for health-related research and STEM education in the state of Nevada. The National Institutes of Health program grant was given jointly also to the University of Nevada, Reno; UNLV, College of Southern Nevada; Great Basin College; Nevada State College; University of Nevada School of Medicine; Western Nevada College; and Truckee Meadows Community College.

90 players committed to playing in Celebrity Golf Championship

Charles Barkley, Justin Timberlake, and Steve Kerr and Andre Iguodala of the Golden State Warriors lead a group of 90 sports and entertainment stars coming to South Lake Tahoe for the 27th annual American Century Championship, July 19 – 24, 2016. Many were hoping to see Steph Curry on the list, but with the Olympic Games in Rio just after the tournament, speculation is that he had to skip the stop in Tahoe.

Google research van staying an extra day on the South Shore

The Google Research Van started off in North Carolina and made its way across the country with eight stops in Atlanta, Colorado, Utah, Reno and, of course, the South Lake Tahoe/Stateline area.

Research was conducted at each stop to determine how people use Google products, and what users are looking for in the future.

Disasterous Deepwater Horizon Oil spill topic at next UC Davis talk

Event Date: 
May 19, 2016 - 5:30pm

It has been six years since BP's offshore oil drilling disaster. On April 20, 2010 one of the largest accidental marine oil spills in the history of petroleum industry occurred, the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill which discharged an estimated 210 million gallons of oile were discharged into the ocean, and multiple efforts to contain the flow failed.

Lake Tahoe's clarity drops five feet

Warmer water led to a loss in clarity of Lake Tahoe in 2015, according to data released Tuesday by the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. The average annual clarity (measurements from both summer and winter) is at 73.1 feet, a 4.8 foot decease from the previous year.

This isn't all bad news though, the clarity is still over nine feet greater than the lowest recorded average of 64.1 feet in 1997.

Researchers lower a 10-inch wide disk called a Secchi into the lake, and researchers measure the depth of its visibility.

Google research van to make a stop in South Lake Tahoe

Event Date: 
April 21, 2016 - 1:00pm

Google wants to get a better idea of how people use their products, so it put a few researchers inside a van and sent them off to drive around the country to find out. That van makes a stop in South Lake Tahoe on Thursday, April 21, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Kahle Community Center.

The local community is invited to stop by and provide feedback on Google products, and for doing so, get Google swag or Starbucks gift cards as a thank you.

Future-Ready South Shore forum and luncheon

Name: Future-Ready South Shore Forum & Luncheon
Date: April 26, 2016
Time: 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM PDT

Digitization your historic materials at free North Lake Tahoe event

Event Date: 
June 26, 2016 - 10:00am

This summer, the North Lake Tahoe Historical Society and the University of Nevada, Reno Photography Program will be co-hosting digitization day, a one day event where you can bring your historical Lake Tahoe photographs, postcards, and memorabilia in for professional-quality scanning.

Participants will be given free copies of scans on USB drives, and will have the option to donate a digital copy of materials for inclusion in the NLTHS’s databases, contributing to the visual history of Lake Tahoe.

Former FOX40 producer sentenced to prison for attack on media sites

Matthew Keys, 29, former web producer and network site administrator for KTXL FOX40, a Sacramento television station, was sentenced today to two years in prison for inciting, assisting, and conducting a weeks-long campaign of online attacks against FOX40 and The Los Angeles Times, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner and FBI Special Agent in Charge Monica M. Miller announced.

Illegitimate massage parlors focus of proposed South Lake Tahoe enforcement

The definition of a massage parlor according to Wikipedia is: A place where massage services are provided. Some massage parlors are fronts for prostitution and the term "massage parlor" has also become a euphemism for a brothel, to the annoyance of professional masseurs.

Jamie Anderson in town for Boarding for Breast Cancer event at Sierra

Event Date: 
April 2, 2016 (All day)

Olympic champion Jamie Anderson from South Lake Tahoe will be part of 20th Boarding for Breast Cancer (B4BC) Snowboard and Music Festival, Shredding the Love on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort.

Lake Tahoe lecture: Garden Planting for Native Bees & Butterflies

Event Date: 
April 7, 2016 - 5:30pm

Enlightened gardeners realize that it is not enough for a garden to be just beautiful. Gardens must also attract crucial pollinators and conserve water. Gone are the days of lush, green, thirsty lawns. We can replace turf with species that are well adapted to the local climate, save water, reduce runoff, and support wild creatures in the face of habitat loss and climate change. Learn how to support the local ecosystem and insect pollinators like native bees and butterflies, too, at the next UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) lecture on April 7, 2016.

Time change can lead to sleepy drivers

With most of the country turning their clocks back and switching to Daylight Saving Time on March 13, the National Sleep Foundation is leading the observation of National Sleep Awareness Week to highlight the importance of drivers being aware of the potential dangers of the time shift.

“Many people have a hard time adjusting to the time change, and it can affect their driving,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said. “Even the most careful drivers become confused and use poor judgment when they are sleepy.”

"Brave the Shave" St. Baldrick's event to raise money for childhood cancer research

Event Date: 
March 5, 2016 - 5:00pm

The event has already raised over $45,000, even though the shaving doesn't begin until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 5. This is the fifth consecutive year for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation event, Brave the Shave for Kids with Cancer, in South Lake Tahoe. They have moved it this year to the Heavenly Mountain Resort California Lodge located at 3860 Saddle Road.

The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity that funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government.

WHAT: St. Baldrick’s Foundation Brave the Shave for Kids at Heavenly

TRPA to survey locals and visitors about travel modes

Event Date: 
February 19, 2016 (All day)

Lake Tahoe, Stateline, NV – The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency will conduct travel surveys with visitors and residents at several recreational and commercial locations throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin starting Friday, Feb. 19, 2016.

Tahoe Warm Room celebrates two months since doors opened

It started with a spark of energy provided by Diana Hankins in December of 2013, and Thursday night two years of constant work and determination were celebrated at the Tahoe Warm Room during an Open House.

The Tahoe Warm Room opened their doors on December 18, 2015, and since then they have served 74 different people who have come in from the cold to keep warm, get clothing and blankets, a hot cup of coffee and meet with a social worker, if desired.

UC Davis bringing Science Fair to South Lake Tahoe; Volunteers needed

Event Date: 
March 31, 2016 - 4:45pm

The UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Education Research Center (TERC) is expanding their successful Science Expo program to South Lake Tahoe through funding they were awarded last week by Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe.

Through a partnership with the Lake Tahoe Unified School District, TERC will host three days of the expo March 30 through April 1 at Lake Tahoe Community College.

During the day the expo will be presented to students in South Lake Tahoe and the community is invited to a public session March 31 from 4:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

LTCC Fire Academy shaving heads at St. Baldrick's; Seeking donations

Students in Class 10 of the Lake Tahoe Basin Fire Academy are shaving their heads to raise money to find cures for childhood cancers during the annual St. Baldrick's Foundation fundraiser on March 5 at Heavenly Mountain Resort, and they are seeking the community's support.

St. Baldrick's is a volunteer-powered charity that shows solidarity with young cancer patients through annual head-shaving events around the world that raise awareness and money for cancer research.

Why is snow white? Physics of snow to be discussed at next TERC lecture

Event Date: 
February 18, 2016 - 5:30pm

Do you play in the snow? Dr. Bernhard "Benny: Bach will discuss the physics of snow during the next lecture series hosted by UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) on February 18, 2016.

Expert to Speak on Mythological Themes in Star Wars

Event Date: 
February 8, 2016 - 7:00pm

Dr. Carl Rubino, the Winslow Professor of Classics at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, will discuss the ancient mythological roots of the perennial Star Wars films in this free lecture on February 8 at 7 pm.

Al Tahoe Elementary could reopen if California bond measure passes

Closed due to declining enrollment since June of 2004, Al Tahoe Elementary School could reopen if a $9 billion bond measure passes in California this November. There is now an increase in enrollment in grades K-5 in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District, with an average grade size of 300, compared to an average of 274 students in grades 6-12. Its because of a growing lower grade population and a movement towards children starting school at the age of 3 that Al Tahoe would be used to house the younger students.

Federal funds aiding wildfire preparedness at Tahoe

The latest round of funding through the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) includes more than $3 million for projects to help reduce wildfire risk in Lake Tahoe communities.

The funding award for Lake Tahoe is part of nearly $40 million going to projects around Nevada to reduce wildfire risk, conserve landscapes, restore wildlife habitat, and improve public recreation. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced the funding awards this January.

Find out if Curiosity found life on Mars during next TERC talk

Event Date: 
January 28, 2016 - 5:30pm

Is there life on Mars? The Curiosity rover is currently exploring the Gale Crater on Mars and the NASA Mars Science Laboratory team has discovered lake and river deposits that show that ancient Mars was habitable by Earth-like life.

Dr. Dawn Sumner, from UC Davis and the NASA Mars Science Laboratory team, will be speaking in Incline Village at the next UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) talk held on Thursday, January 28 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Before Hwy 50 it was horses and wagons on the Johnson Cut-Off

The trip is hot and dry. A layer of several feet of dust lined the route, flying around as the wheels of the wagons and hooves of the horses pass over. The road is steep and over granite along the 130 miles from the Carson Valley to Placerville. When not the middle of summer, the road is muddy or buried by snow. A horse could cover the terrain in 24-hours.

The road is Johnson's Cut-off and the year is 1852. It was built by John Calhoun "Cock-eye" Johnson as a way to cut off 50 miles and 2,000 feet in elevation from the common route people took over Donner Summit as they emigrated West.

Multi-media artist brings exhibit to Lake Tahoe Community College

Event Date: 
January 14, 2016 - 5:00pm

Multimedia artist Cynthia Hooper, whose videos and paintings capture various landscapes found in California and Mexico, is bringing her artistic talents to Lake Tahoe Community College’s Haldan Gallery this winter. Research & Desire: Recent Videos and Paintings by Cynthia Hooper opens Thursday, Jan. 14, with an Artist’s Reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Haldan Gallery. Hooper will give a short talk about her work at 5:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served, and all are welcome to attend this free event. The exhibit remains open until March 18.

Thousands of Nevada earthquakes kept seismologists busy in 2015

If you live in Nevada, chances are you felt an earthquake in 2015. The University of Nevada, Reno's Seismological Laboratory said there were 17,500 earthquakes in the state during the year, 231 of those recently in south Reno.

South Tahoe High graduate Graham Kent in the director of the Nevada Seismological Lab. "While the Reno shaking is fresh in our minds, what's really bumping the number up from the background rates is the energetic sequence in far northwestern Nevada, the Sheldon sequence," he said.

Climate change experts and meteorologists attending Operation Sierra Storm

Event Date: 
January 8, 2016 - 8:00am

South Lake Tahoe is host to Operation Sierra Storm each year, a leading national weather conference that brings together those that report the weather with South Lake Tahoe activities and top climate scientists.

The three-day conference runs from January 6-9, 2016 and the public has the opportunity to attend the Friday sessions that feature California State Sen. Pro Tem Kevin de León and Alexander (Sasha) Gershunov, Research Meteorologist for Climate, Atmospheric Science and Physical Oceanography at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Seven innovative mobile applications to lift your mood

Mobile applications are one of the newest methods available to help elevate your mood. If you have a smart phone or tablet, mobile applications are convenient, entertaining, and inspiring. They don’t take a lot of time and are often free of charge.

Here are some of my favorite apps that provide mood-lifting tips and entertainment. All are free to download and available on multiple phone platforms, unless otherwise noted.

Man charged for sending death threats to Placerville company

A 57-year-old man from Washington has been indicted on charges he posted threats on a popular news website that he was going to kill an officer of StemExpress, a company in Placerville, Calif. that sells stem cells and human tissue to biomedical research companies.

Scott Anthony Orton, of Puyallup, was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after he posted threats on July 16, 2015 after videos surfaced that supposedly showed a relationship between Planned Parenthood and StemExpress.

TRPA fines Martis Camp Club for unauthorized dredging

To resolve a pending violation for unauthorized dredging, the Martis Camp Club has agreed to pay a $5,000 fine and restore the area disturbed at its Martis Camp Beach property, located at 6920 North Lake Blvd., in Placer County. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board approved the settlement agreement yesterday.

Second winner in Chamber's Go Local and Win contest announced

"Go Local and Win" is the holiday campaign offered the Tahoe Chamber to encourage people to shop in town and not off the hill, and by doing so shoppers can win weekly prizes.

The second winner was announced today, just for shopping on the South Shore and submitting her receipts. Edita Sirusaite won ski tune, demo or rental from Powder House and is now in the running for the grand prize at the end of the year. Last week, Jennifery Lay won the first weekly prize.

First winner in Chamber's Go Local and Win contest announced

"Go Local and Win" is the holiday campaign offered the Tahoe Chamber to encourage people to shop in town and not off the hill, and by doing so shoppers can win weekly prizes.

The first winner was announced today, just for shopping on the South Shore and submitting her receipts. Jennifer Lay won a Heart Rock & Herb gift basket and is now in the running for the grand prize at the end of the year.

Go Local and Win - Shop in South Lake Tahoe this season and win

Shoppers buying locally in South Lake Tahoe between November 28 and January 1 might be taking home more than a gift for someone on their list this season.

"Go Local and Win" is a campaign by the Tahoe Chamber to encourage people to shop in town and not off the hill. By doing so, not only will they support local businesses, they can also win prizes each week.

Keep Fluffy and Fido away from these toxic items!

Dear Hopeful Henry,
I read your article about Halloween safety, thank you for the information on the artificial sweetener now showing up in peanut butters. I was hoping you could advise on what other food items are bad for my dog.

Thanks,
Betty

Betty, so glad you found the information from last week’s article useful and your question is a great one. To answer your question with the most accuracy I obtained this list from the ASPCA Poison Control Center.

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