Lake Tahoe License Plate Program

Special vehicle license plates to benefit Lake Tahoe are available through the Department of Motor Vehicles. Buyers of these plates pay fees of $61 the first year and $30 each continuing year. Of these fees, $25 the first year and $20 each subsequent year go into a dedicated Lake Tahoe fund, which is administered by the Division of State Lands. These funds are to be used for projects and programs that will preserve or restore the natural environment of the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Since the first license plate was purchased in 1998, this program has generated more than 3.8 million dollars. A total of 48 projects have been funded to date, including:

• Public Education Outreach

  • Snapshot Day Citizen Water Quality Monitoring

  • 4^th Biennial Tahoe Science Conference

• Water Quality Improvement Projects and Research

  • NDOT, Washoe County, Placer County and private property owners are teaming together to implement a bi-state water quality improvement project in Crystal Bay/Brockway area (in progress)

  • Research to determine the potential water quality benefits associated with street sweeping (in progress) 

• Other Research and Monitoring Studies

  • Inventory and Monitoring of Butterfly species

  • Plant and Animal Responses to Fuel Treatments in the Tahoe Basin

  • Avian Nesting Success in Aspen Habitats of the Lake Tahoe Basin

• State Park Improvements

  • The installation of three contour benches, an information kiosk, two interpretative panels and a pedestal in an open area overlooking Marlette Lake and Lake Tahoe  (in progress)

  • Installation of bear proof garbage and recycling containers and hot coal safety enclosures at Sand Harbor State Park (completed)

• Invasive Species Research/Removal Projects

  • The study of warm-water non-native fish in Lake Tahoe

  • Asian Clam Pilot Removal and Monitoring Project (in progress)

  • A Risk Assessment of Spread, Habitat Choice, and Potential Impact for Asian Clam (in progress)

  • Treatment of high priority noxious weeds in the public rights of way and NV State Parks (in progress)

Grant Application and Procedures:  These funds are available as grants, which are awarded annually. The submittal deadline for Grant Round 13 will close on October 23, 2009.

• To download a copy of the Grant Application and a detailed description of the application procedures, click HERE.  Please note that significant changes have been made to the Application and Grant Procedures.  Please read carefully.

 For more information on submitting an application for the 2010 season, please contact:

The Nevada Tahoe Resource Team
Phone: 775-684-2736
Fax: 775-684-2721
E-mail: eharrison@lands.nv.gov

Statutory Authority:
NRS 321.595-321.5957
NRS 445A.170-445A.190

1993 Chapter 355
1989 Chapter 111