The Town of Truckee has officially earned designation as a Bee City USA affiliate, joining communities across the country working to support pollinators and expand healthy habitat.
The designation is the result of a community effort that began with students from Tahoe Expedition Academy, who approached the Truckee Town Council in 2024 and 2025 about pursuing Bee City status. This spring, the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS) partnered with the Town to lead the certification effort and ongoing program management. On August 11, 2026, the Truckee Town Council adopted Resolution 2026-40, formally committing the Town to becoming a Bee City USA affiliate.
Bee City USA is an initiative of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation that provides a framework for communities to support native pollinators. The program focuses on increasing native plants and nesting habitat, reducing pesticide impacts, educating the community and incorporating pollinator-friendly practices into local planning and operations.
“Sustainability is a priority for the Town Council, and becoming a Bee City USA affiliate is another way we can put that commitment into practice,” said Mayor Anna Klovstad. “Supporting pollinators and the native habitat they depend on contributes to a healthier, more resilient environment and this program gives us a practical framework to continue that work alongside our community.”
TINS will serve as the lead nonprofit supporting Truckee’s Bee City USA program. Its role will include coordinating a standing Bee City committee, supporting pollinator habitat projects, expanding educational opportunities and community events, developing native plant resources, pursuing grant funding, and leading the annual reporting and renewal process.
“TINS is excited to spearhead Bee City USA in Truckee,” said Sarah Hockensmith, outreach director for TINS. “As a small but powerful mountain community, we have an opportunity to recognize the important role bees and other pollinators play in our ecosystems while also asking what we can do to support them in return.”
“Together with our partners, including the Town of Truckee, Tahoe Truckee Unified School District, UC Davis, Slow Food and Tahoe Expedition Academy, we want to help our community build a deeper connection with pollinators,” Hockensmith said. “That means creating habitat, supporting research and community science, and expanding education in our schools. We’re seeking grant funding and community partners to make this work possible, so if you’re interested in helping grow Bee City initiatives in Truckee, we’d love to hear from you.”
The partnership will create opportunities for community members, schools, scientists, local organizations and the Town to work together on pollinator conservation. Potential efforts include pollinator gardens, educational programs, community events, and resources to help residents learn more about native plants and pollinator-friendly landscaping.
“This designation represents a meaningful opportunity to formalize and strengthen the work already taking place in our community to protect pollinators and their habitat,” said Councilmember Jan Zabriskie, who served as the Council liaison for the project. “The partnership with TINS provides the expertise and organizational framework necessary to translate that commitment into sustained, practical efforts. I am particularly pleased that an idea first brought forward by local students has developed into a collaborative initiative that can provide lasting environmental and educational benefits for Truckee.”
As a Bee City USA affiliate, Truckee will maintain a standing committee focused on pollinator conservation, support public awareness and educational activities, share pollinator resources with the community, and report annually on local efforts. The program will also provide a framework for identifying future opportunities to create and improve pollinator habitat throughout the community.
Additional information about Truckee’s Bee City USA efforts and opportunities for community involvement will be shared as the program develops.
For more information about Bee City USA, visit beecityusa.org.
For learn more or to contribute to Tahoe Institute for Natural Science’s work, visit tinsweb.org.