$147K Reward For Info On Person Poisoning Pine Trees At Lake Tahoe Beach

The poisonings resulted in an estimated $300,000 loss, according to the Washoe County Sheriff's Office.

By Anna Schier, Patch Staff

Sep 20, 2026 7:21 PM PDT

There have been 28 pine trees affected at Burnt Cedar Beach in Nevada’s Washoe County — six in 2022, six in 2024 and 16 this year — resulting in an estimated $300,000 loss, according to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office. (Google Maps)

WASHOE COUNTY, CA — A $147,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of whoever is poisoning dozens of trees over the span of several years at a Lake Tahoe beach, authorities said.

There have been 28 pine trees affected at Burnt Cedar Beach in Nevada's Washoe County — six in 2022, six in 2024 and 16 this year — resulting in an estimated $300,000 loss, according to the Washoe County Sheriff's Office.

The reward is the result of a $25,000 commitment by the Incline Village General Improvement District and $122,000 from a group of private donors known as the Friends of Burnt Cedar Beach, authorities said. Information must be provided by March 31, 2027, and lead to a successful prosecution within two years of the date it is provided, according to the district.

"Detectives with the Washoe County Sheriff's Office continue to investigate the case and are asking anyone who may have information, regardless of how insignificant it may seem, to come forward," the sheriff's office said Friday in a news release, having previously noted that the poisoner could face felony charges.

The 2026 poisonings were discovered in May, July, and, most recently, on Aug. 2, according to the district. The most recent incident is believed to have occurred between 11:30 a.m. Aug. 1 and 5 a.m. Aug. 2, the sheriff's office said, adding that a trail camera captured a brief light near the area around 2 a.m.

The poisoner poured a substance around the bases of the trees or placed it into holes drilled near their roots, according to the sheriff's office.

Anyone with information about the poisonings is asked to contact the sheriff's office at 775-328-3001 and reference case No. 26-4225, or submit anonymous tips through Secret Witness at 775-322-4900 or secretwitness.com, the sheriff's office said, adding that a $1,000 Secret Witness reward is also available or information that leads to an arrest and prosecution.