South Lake Tahoe meadow cleared of multiple homeless camps and 200 cubic yards of debris
Submitted by paula on Fri, 09/22/2023 - 12:14pm
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Several large dumpsters full of old beds, propane canisters, furniture, and trash were cleared from the meadow along the Upper Truckee River behind Motel 6 in South Lake Tahoe this week.
The multi-day project was spearheaded by the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) with coordinated assistance from the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office (EDSO), South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR), South Lake Tahoe Public Works, South Lake Tahoe Parks and Recreation, Clean Tahoe, El Dorado County Mental Health, the Tahoe Homeless Coalition, the Pack Rat, as well as private property owners.
Loaders went through the meadow encampments to remove over 200 cubic yards of debris that was then placed in dumpsters provided by South Tahoe Refuse. The dumpster was unloaded numerous times.
Included in the debris were 101 propane gas tanks, numerous beds, and couches.
The numerous teams out in the meadow included SLTPD Chief David Stevenson who was on site for three days. For a short time, he helped operate a loader to remove the trash.
Most of the meadow is private property. SLTPD has spent months through its STACS (South Tahoe Area Collaborative Services) officer and other agencies contacting people trespassing in the meadow and offering them various services. Those who refused to leave or accept assistance were advised of trespassing and noticed to leave the meadow and take their trash with them.
Although the meadow was vacated, the massive amount of trash and debris remained behind. Last week, SLTFR fuels reduction and engine crews worked to cut access paths into the area. This week, Clean Tahoe, Pack Rat, and the City departments began hauling trash and debris out of the meadow. The trash was hand-loaded into wheel loaders and transported to a dumpster on the street.
The final part of the project includes abatement of fire hazards consisting of dense man-made structures of dried tree and willow branches. Access path restoration will also be done. This will be completed by SLTFR, Tahoe Douglas Fire, and a California Conservation Corps fire crew next week.
The South Lake Tahoe Police Department is grateful to all the agencies involved. Funding from the State of California “Farm and Ranch Solid Waste Cleanup and Abatement Grant Program” paid for all non-city resources on this project. The grant is administered through the City of South Lake Tahoe and managed by Clean Tahoe.