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UC Davis conducts year-round research at Lake Tahoe through its environmental center based in Nevada’s Incline Village. Now, the university’s Tahoe Environmental Research Center may get another home in Placer County’s Tahoe City.
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At a meeting Tuesday, the Placer County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a memorandum of agreement with the university to explore transforming three underutilized county-owned buildings in Tahoe City’s town center into a regional science, education and community hub.
The county government and UC Davis will work together to evaluate if the project at the former Tahoe City fire station and surrounding properties is viable. In addition to advancing research, the county hopes the partnership will enhance public space, boost economic development and make science more accessible.
“We all know that any time there is a university presence in a town or city, it’s great and there are always reverberating effects throughout the community and beyond,” Supervisor Shanti Landon said Tuesday. “This is a really great potential partnership, and I’m really excited about it. I’m looking forward to more as the community outreach happens.”
The university and county will now conduct studies, gather community input and examine the long-term viability of the project before committing to renovation, construction and any lease agreement. The three properties at the heart of the agreement are the old fire station, the Tahoe City Community Center and the Bechdolt Building, which the county bought in 2021.
A new education center
For more than a decade, the county has tried to identify a feasible redevelopment idea for the buildings that will provide meaningful public benefit. To that end, it conducted a community-led analysis and solicited alternative project concepts. In 2022, it entered an agreement with nonprofit Climate and Wildfire Institute to explore establishing a physical space for its environmental education mission. That, however, did not advance to the implementation phase and the agreement has expired.
UC Davis, meanwhile, has expressed interest in expanding its presence in Tahoe City since 2022. The Tahoe Environmental Research Center already has a station in Tahoe City where it keeps most of its field equipment and research vessels in addition to hosting education exhibits during the summer.
Cara Hollis, spokesperson for the research center, said a long-term lease of the county properties would allow UC Davis to expand its educational offerings in the region. A new education center, Hollis said, is the top priority.
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The majority of the university’s public-facing programs in the Tahoe basin are based out of the Tahoe Science Center in Incline Village. With the goal of providing science-based information about the Tahoe region to foster responsible stewardship, the center interacts with more than 11,000 people annually, including 4,000 local students, through public tours, lecture series and training programs.
“Because education is central to our mission, expanding to Tahoe City would let us drastically increase the number of visitors and residents we can interact with each year,” Hollis said. “Tahoe City is a walkable community, and the potential property is near a public beach, giving us opportunities to take our education program outside.”
What’s next for Tahoe City property?
With approval from the Board of Supervisors, the agreement will now formally be signed by UC Davis. The county and university will then do due diligence and collect information to determine if a long-term partnership is financially viable.
To that end, Placer County has committed $500,000 to conduct technical studies and advance planning efforts. This money has been moved from its reserves without an impact on the county’s general fund.
A spokesperson for UC Davis’ Tahoe Environmental Research Center said the university would contribute funds too but the amount is not yet known. The county, per the agreement, will only commit more money if it is “financially recoverable” through the lease term and the project is proven to produce measurable public value.
The university and county will also gather public input before developing plans and cost estimates. If the project is deemed viable, UC Davis will lead the efforts on fundraising and grant acquisition to finance construction costs. A definitive timeline is not yet available, officials said.
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This story was originally published October 20, 2026 at 2:55 PM.