Camp Richardson campground, road plan proposal up for public comment

A 30-day public comment period began Thursday on plans associated with upgrades at the Camp Richardson Resort campground along Highway 89 near South Lake Tahoe.
Plans include upgrades and enhancements to the campground day use facilities as well as BMPs and road improvements to ease traffic congestion around the campground and along Highway 89 at the popular Lake Tahoe resort.
Below is a news release from the U.S. Forest Service as well as the Environmental Assessment.

Forest Service seeks comments on proposed Camp Richardson Resort campground project

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit released the Environmental Assessment (EA) and is seeking comments for the proposed Camp Richardson Resort Campground and Vehicle Circulation Best Management Practice (BMP) Retrofit project. The proposed project is designed to reduce water quality impacts and traffic congestion along Highway 89 and within the resort, upgrade campground and day use facilities, improve parking and emergency access and provide access for people with disabilities at the resort.

Proposed upgrades to the three campgrounds include installation of BMPs, reconfiguration of existing intersections, roads and spurs to improve circulation, construction of a new campground entrance on the south side of Highway 89, replacement of the four existing restroom/shower buildings with seven accessible restroom/shower buildings, installation of bear-proof trash dumpsters and food lockers, accessible fire rings, picnic tables and barbecues at all campsites , new underground water, sewer and electrical systems, installation of fire hydrants and construction of a new recreational vehicle waste dump station. Campground overflow and guest parking areas are proposed near the resort's bike/ski rental facility and the ice cream shop. The EA analyses four alternatives, including the Proposed Action which would provide 170 full utility hookup sites, 50 single family sites, 27 12-person group sites and six 24-person group sites. Year-round operation of utility hookup sites is proposed and seasonal closure gates would be installed to allow for opening and closing of campground areas.

Other proposed improvements to the resort would include new sections of paved bike path that would route users north of the resort from the existing Class I bike path. A new day-use restroom would be constructed near the beach. The existing service road between the north campground area and Jameson Beach Road would be upgraded and vehicle access would continue to be limited to resort maintenance staff and emergency vehicles. BMPs would be installed in the parking areas surrounding the hotel and in coordination with Caltrans, shoulder parking on Highway 89 within the resort corridor would be eliminated. The existing fencing between Camp Richardson Resort and Pope Beach Road would be replaced.

The Proposed Action alternative includes the removal of up to 40 trees with a 30-inch diameter-at-breast height (dbh) or greater, and up to 910 trees with a dbh of less than 30 inches throughout the 79 acre project area. Other project alternatives remove fewer large diameter trees.

The project proposes to amend the Land Resource Management Plan (LRMP) to modify the Persons At One Time (PAOT) day use levels for the Camp Richardson Resort campground area to accurately reflect existing use levels. The amendment would not increase resort use levels.

Project work could start as soon as this spring and would be completed in phases over the next five years in order to provide for continued access to the campground and day use facilities.

Temporary area closures or restrictions in access would occur during project implementation and some short-term noise and visual impacts from these activities would affect the campground and the beach.

The 30-day comment period begins on February 14, 2013, and ends on March 15, 2013. Comments may be submitted electronically to comments-pacificsouthwest-ltbmu@fs.fed.us. For more information, contact Daniel Cressy or Matt Dickinson at (530) 543-2694, or visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/CampRichRetrofit.