Along the Nevada shores of Lake Tahoe, Burnt Cedar Beach is known for its lakeside outdoor pool, picnic areas beneath alpine forests and its protected swimming cove of crystal blue waters.
And now, for its mysteriously poisoned trees.
Starting in 2022, someone has repeatedly harmed trees at the beach by pouring a strong-smelling substance around their bases or placing it into holes drilled near their roots, according to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.
Sixteen poisoned trees have been discovered this year, following 12 in previous years, according to law enforcement officials. All but one of the trees that were previously poisoned died within months and had to be chopped down.
Washoe County investigators said this week that they were awaiting the results of soil samples to determine more about the substance. They believe the cases over the years are connected, given the similar circumstances and the targeting of trees at the same location.
“The deliberate destruction of these trees is deeply troubling and represents a significant loss for the entire community,” Sheriff Darin Balaam said in a statement. The total damage to the trees is estimated to be around $300,000, according to the sheriff’s department.
About 35 miles southwest of Reno, Nev., Burnt Cedar is considered a restricted-access beach, open to people who live in the community of Incline Village, Nev., and their guests, as well as visitors to local hotels, said Paul Raymore, a spokesman for the Incline Village General Improvement District.
District staff members have been racing this week to remove the soil around the latest poisoned trees to hopefully spare them the same fate as the previous ones that succumbed, he said.
“Perhaps we’ll be more successful saving some of the trees this time around,” Mr. Raymore said.
On July 24, Washoe County sheriff’s deputies discovered a pine tree with a strong odor near its base similar to that of previous tree-poisoning incidents at the beach, officials said. They returned on Sunday after more poisoned trees were discovered.
A trail camera captured a light on in the area at approximately 2 a.m. on Sunday, and deputies believe the incident occurred around that time. They are asking anyone with information to share it.
