The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency recognized four people May 23 for their commitment to protecting and enhancing Lake Tahoe’s environment with Lake Spirit Awards.

People whose passions include building new paths and trails led the way in nominations this year, with improving mountain biking routes, creating new multi-use paths, and advancing pedestrian and bicycle safety among the interests of the award winners.

TRPA gives the awards, which were started in 2011, to people from the North and South Shores who are either citizens or agency representatives/environmental scientists.

This year’s Lake Spirit Award winners are:

South Shore Citizen: Gavin Feiger

Feiger is a passionate bicycle advocate who has shared his love of pedaling by doing everything from teaching elementary school students bike safety to analyzing existing bike parking and writing grants to get more bike racks.

North Shore Citizen: Sue Hughes

Hughes was instrumental in improving and maintaining the Incline Flume Trail, a trail above Incline Village popular with hikers, runners, and mountain bikers.

South Shore Agency Representative/Environmental Scientist: Jacob Quinn

If you’ve enjoyed any of the recent additions to mountain bike trails at Lake Tahoe’s South Shore, it’s likely Quinn had a part in your ride.

North Shore Agency Representative/Environmental Scientist: Amy Berry

As the CEO of the Tahoe Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building broad support and funding to restore and enhance Lake Tahoe’s natural environment, Berry has helped raise more than $7 million from private donors, including more than $1 million for a new section of bike path from Incline Village to Sand Harbor.