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Fall brings a different pace to Lake Tahoe, and getting around the South Shore without your car is easier than ever.

Lake Link's expanded service now connects more of the South Shore, while Tahoe Transportation District buses add another free option for reaching beaches, trails, businesses, and neighborhoods without searching for parking. Recent technology improvements have also made trip planning and transfers more seamless, helping Car-Free, Care-Free Tahoe work better for everyday travel.

A recent guest column takes a closer look at what has changed and how these improvements are making lake-friendly transportation more practical for residents and visitors alike.

FALL IS FEEDING SEASON FOR TAHOE'S BEARS

Tahoe's bears are especially active right now as they search for the calories they need before winter. That often brings them closer to neighborhoods, parked cars, and other places where human food and trash can become an easy meal that puts bears in harm's way. 

A few habits can help keep a healthy distance between bears and people. Always secure trash and other attractants, clear food and scented items from your vehicle, and give any bear you encounter plenty of room. Preventing access to human food helps bears stay wild and reduces the chance of dangerous encounters for people and wildlife.

MARINA TEAMS TRAIN TO SPOT AQUATIC INVADERS

Protecting Lake Tahoe from aquatic invasive species takes trained eyes across the Basin.

Our latest Eyes on the Lake training brought together 26 staff members representing all 12 Tahoe marinas to learn how to identify and report invasive species before they can spread. For the attendees, this training is more than useful knowledge. It is also required for marinas to earn their operating permits.

With marina teams working directly around boats, docks, and launch areas every day, that shared knowledge adds another important layer of invasive species protection for the Lake.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHTS

Before retirement, Lynn Hori relied on volunteers to help bring stewardship and conservation programs to life in her biology classroom. These days, she is returning that support to Lake Tahoe.

Lynn joined Eyes on the Lake in 2015 and later became a Tahoe Blue Crew Leader, giving her more ways to care for the North Shore community her family has long called home. Her cleanup work goes beyond picking up litter. She values the data volunteers collect because it helps reveal patterns and inform future pollution prevention efforts around the Lake. That's Science to Solutions at work.

Curiosity follows Lynn everywhere. As a certified California Naturalist, she documents Tahoe's plants and wildlife on hikes and keeps watch for aquatic invasive species while kayaking.

Her full story spans more than a decade of volunteering, North Shore stewardship, and even a little ukulele.

It took six young students from Tahoe Kids Academy to haul a broken patio umbrella out of their cleanup zone. For Blue Crew leader Amie Watanabe, that kind of teamwork is exactly why they adopted their corner of Tahoe in the first place.

Since forming their Tahoe Blue Crew in April, the kids have taken pride in caring for their school grounds and carried those cleanup habits with them beyond their zone. They also see firsthand how quickly litter becomes harder to manage. Plastic is their most common find, often broken into tiny pieces from bottles, wrappers, and other discarded items.

Amie hopes those lessons stick wherever the kids go. She also has one Lake protection habit she thinks everyone should know, plus a memorable reason it may be easier to remember than you think. Click the button to get the full story.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Evie Usich grew up in the Bay Area seeing Keep Tahoe Blue stickers everywhere. She didn't know it then, but her own path would eventually lead back to that familiar message.

Along the way, she studied marine science and environmental policy, researched coastal wetlands, spent months backpacking through the Southwest, and worked at Sugar Bowl Resort. Each experience deepened her interest in how people and the places they love shape one another.

Today, as a North Shore Liaison, Evie sees that connection play out in the communities around her. One moment that stands out came at Truckee Thursdays, when local kids stopped by the Keep Tahoe Blue booth and realized that cleaning their paddleboards could help prevent aquatic invasive species from spreading.

For Evie, those conversations represent something bigger. They reflect a growing connection between Keep Tahoe Blue and North Shore communities.

As more residents learn about the organization's work, invite staff to local events, and look for ways to get involved, she sees new opportunities to build partnerships, expand year-round programs, and help protect the Lake that brought her here in the first place.

Inspired by the forests and trails around Tahoe, these favorites are made to bring the Tahoe spirit wherever you go.

• Forest Bandana: Made from US-grown cotton with water-based ink, this bandana supports our Tahoe Forest Stewardship Day efforts. Perfect for you or your pup!
• Trail Marker Zip Hoodie: Designed locally and featuring accurate USGS data, this zip hoodie blends organic cotton and recycled polyester for a comfortable, everyday layer.
• Trail Marker Water Bottle: Keep your beverages colder, longer in this 32 oz. stainless steel bottle. Featuring the same accurate USGS data as our Trail Marker Hoodie, these two make the perfect pair from office to trailhead.

2026 UPCOMING EVENTS

Lake Tahoe gives us a lot to care about. There's a way to help that fits your interests, skills, and schedule.

Create your Keep Tahoe Blue volunteer profile to see upcoming opportunities and find ways to get involved around the Tahoe Basin. Watch the brief video to see how to get started.

Keep Tahoe Blue

2877 Lake Tahoe Blvd,

South Lake Tahoe, CA

Kerrigan Family Boutique

Open Thursday–Saturday, 11am–5pm

 Located lower level, street entrance 

© 2026 Keep Tahoe Blue. All rights reserved.

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