Popular South Lake Tahoe waterfront restaurant closed after water shut off

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - An ongoing legal battle between the Tahoe Keys Marina and the Tahoe Keys Property Owners Association (TKPOA) has resulted in the water being shut off to all buildings at the marina.

Since the Fresh Ketch restaurant and adjacent deli are in one of those buildings, the El Dorado County Health Department shut them down due to a lack of water. A notice was also put up on the apartments in the complex advising residents of unsafe living conditions since there was no running water.

The residences were not tagged by the El Dorado Country, and according to Carla Hass of the County who said they only closed the restaurant and deli. She said that task is normally left to code enforcement of the City of South Lake Tahoe.

None of the businesses at the marina have water either, including the water sport rental companies, the South Lake Tahoe Yacht Club and Lake Tahoe Windjammers Yacht Club.

At 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 12 there was an emergency hearing about the situation in front of Judge Steven Bailey at the El Dorado County courthouse. Bailey, who will be retiring at the end of August, deferred the case to Judge Kingsbury. All parties will be back in court at 11:15 a.m. Thursday.

Neither the lawyer for the marina, nor the lawyer for the TKPOA would speak to South Tahoe Now, saying they don't comment on current litigation.

The South Lake Tahoe Fire Department was at the Marina Wednesday afternoon to look into the situation to make sure they would be prepared in the event of a fire. SLTFR Battalion Chief Tim Spencer said they'd bring in a water tender should they need to in the case of an emergency.

Those using the marina were in search of restrooms, but signs on all doors told them they were closed but an outhouse was available next to the boat ramp.

TKPOA runs the Tahoe Keys Water District, the supplier of water to the marina as well as homes and businesses in the area.