environment

If aquatic invasive species ever found their way into Lake Tahoe, the effects could be devastating to both the environment and the economy. The management plan in place to combat the problem through boat inspections is now known as a national role model after performing more than 37,000 watercraft inspections and 18,000 decontaminations.

“Lake Tahoe has one of the best aquatic invasive species plans in the United States,” said Donald Maclean, a biologist at the headquarters office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Tahoe’s plan will serve as a model nationwide moving forward.”

Jennifer Quashnick, local author, will introduce us to the first novel from her new Mountaingirl Mysteries series, "The Sierra Nevada Trail of Murder." When chased by a killer, Rachel Winters, her dog Bella, and Private Investigator Luke Reed must uncover a deep-rooted environmental conspiracy stretching across multiple state lines.

Location

Students from the South Lake Tahoe area graduated from Generation Green, a program designed to introduce students to careers in natural resources management through a transformative summer experience.

It’s kitten season! In response to an especially busy kitten season, El Dorado County Animal Services, in partnership with PAWED (People for Animal Welfare in El Dorado County), is offering a limited time reduction on the price of kittens. All kittens at both the Placerville and South Lake Tahoe shelters are currently available for adoption for half-price (only $40).

“The kittens are fun and playful,” said Allison Lozoya, El Dorado County Animal Services Shelter Supervisor. “If you are considering adopting a kitten, come visit us and adopt one or two.”

On July 18th 15 of some of the world’s most legendary athletes and entertainers competed in Lake Tahoe for the Korbel Closest-to-the-Pin Challenge as part of the American Century Championship, currently being played at the Edgewood Golf Course. NFL Former Pro Bowl Quarterback Mark Rypien who was the inaugural tournament champion took home the title after teeing off from Hole 17 and placing his ball just seven feet away from the pin winning a $5,000 donation for The Tahoe Fund from the Korbel Toast Life® Foundation.

On June 17, 2014, the City Council held a workshop regarding the City’s five-year financial forecast and the overall economic forecast for the local community. While the forecast has improved, we need to attract substantial capital investment over the next ten years to grow the economy, meet the community’s needs and fund projects protecting the natural environment.

Tahoe Resource Conservation District watercraft inspectors intercepted a boat on Wednesday that had quagga mussels and an unidentified snail in the boat's anchor locker.

The boat was at the inspection point on Spooner Summit after arriving from Lake Mead, a known quagga mussel infested body of water. Once detected the boat went through two decontaminations and inspections, and then was allowed into Lake Tahoe.

Over the holiday weekend most than 725 boats went through the four inspection points located around the lake which represents a 17% increase over last year's count.

Citations, warnings and medical assistance were given to 169 people during holiday celebrations on South Lake Tahoe beaches operated by the U.S. Forest Service on July 4th.

• 32 - Personal Possession of marijuana (Cites and Warnings)
• 31 - Minors in Possession of Alcohol (Cites)
• 8 – Combination of Arrests for Disorderly Conduct, Cocaine, Crystal Meth, LSD, Pills, Warrant, & Probation Violations
• 12 - 415 Incidents
• 72 – Alcohol Prohibition violations (Cites and Warnings)
• 14 – Medical Aids

Barton Health has announced that Sue Fairley, RN, has been named their new Vice President of Nursing and Ancillary Services. She replaces Mary Bittner, RN, who left in April to pursue a health care teaching career.

Fairley has been in nursing at Barton Health for the last 17 years. In 2004 she became the Director of Nursing and has been serving as the interim Vice President of nursing since Bittner's departure.

Can you survive the next wildfire in Lake Tahoe? Yes, if your community is prepared.

The Lake Tahoe Basin's firefighting agencies and UNR Cooperative Education have come together to promote the "Fire Adapted Community Concept." This type of community has five elements:

1. Community Protection - Well-designed fuelbreaks and safe areas protect the community.
2. Defensible Space - Proper management of vegetation surrounding the home reduces the wildfire threat.
3. Access - Good access helps emergency responders arrive in a timely manner.

After lengthy debate during Tuesday's South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting, a 3-2 vote changed the direction of the second phase of the plastic bag ban.

In January, 2014, a ban on single use bags was implemented for all grocery stores and food vendors in the city limits. That portion of the ban has not changed. What has changed is the second phase which was going to expand the ban to retail stores starting on October 15, 2014.

The Meyers Area Plan is a long term land use and zoning plan for the Meyers Community that will realize the Meyers Community Vision, assist in achieving and maintaining TRPA’s Environmental Threshold Carrying Capacities, implement the Tahoe Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Sustainable Communities Strategy, and implement the policy direction of both the Regional Plan and General Plan.

The Draft Tahoe Valley Area Plan and accompanying documents were released Wednesday, paving the way for finalization after agency and public review and upcoming comment periods. After community meetings and months of review and planning, the "Town Center" concept has been adopted along with "Greenbelt" portions.

The plan reflects the City of South Lake Tahoe's effort to rekindle the economic vitality and spirit of the Tahoe Valley Community. The plan outlines the community's strategy for resurrection.

The South Lake Tahoe Recreation Division is gearing up for another summer season full of adventure, learning, fun and great memories. The Recreation staff is geared up to host the second annual “Spring Into Summer” Kick- Off Party on June 7, 2014 from 10am to 2pm. The event is designed to highlight summer programs, introduce Recreation Instructors and provide tours of the Recreation and Swim Complex in a fun and festive environment.

Free Drop Off of Combustibles For Nevada Residents

Clear out the combustibles from your yard and drop them off for free at the kickoff event being held for “Compost Your Combustibles 2014” at
Heavenly Boulder parking lot this Saturday, May 24th in recognition of Wildfire Awareness Month.” Drop off days will be held through the first Saturday in August.

Rake and remove pine needles and yard combustible waste to prepare your home in the case of wildfire.

The following is an opinion article and does not necessarily reflect the views of South Tahoe Now:

April was a jam packed month at Live Violence Free. In honor of Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Prevention Month, we partnered with multiple community agencies, businesses, and volunteers to bring our community prevention education and awareness about the effects of sexual assault and child abuse.

The recent standoff at the last remaining ranch in Clark County, NV has been widely attributed to environmental protection around the endangered desert tortoise; with the right wing trying to pin the blame on Nevada Senator Harry Reid for his support of the recent Ivanpah solar plant which, generates 392 MW which powers Google servers (See Dana Loesch Radio for an example of the kind of coverage it gets http://danaloeschradio.com/the-real-story-of-the-bundy-ranch/ and http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/04/11/the-nevada-tortoise-war-is-a-right-wing-false-f/198860 for a Media Matters article deb

They’ve been called unpleasant names that can’t be printed. They’ve received death threats. For a few days one may even assume they were hated. That was then.

They’re being called courageous. They’re being called heroes. They’re being thanked for caring about our environment and bringing the effect of fireworks in the lake to the forefront. That is now.

Starting April 1, all Barton Health buildings became smoke free. The smoking and tobacco ban includes all Barton Health facilities, parking lots, grounds, and Barton Memorial Hospital. All patients, visitors, medical staff, vendors, and employees will not be allowed to smoke at Barton. This includes the use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, marijuana smoking, and smoke-free tobacco products such as chewing tobacco. The one exception will be for the two current patients at the Skilled Nursing Center who smoke. No further smoking patients for the center will be accepted.

April 1, 2014 (Stateline, Nev.) -- Lakeside Inn and Casino announced the United States Forest Service would be processing a permit for livestock grazing in Rabe Meadow, land adjacent to the hotel/casino for the purpose of raising prime Angus beef for Brazilian Barbecue at its Latin Soul restaurant. Rabe Meadow has historically supported cattle grazing during summer periods on the shores of Lake Tahoe.

Since March 3rd, trash pick up times in South Lake Tahoe have been moved to two hours later in an effort to reduce wildlife problems and clean up, according to South Tahoe Refuse, protect our unique environment.

While it's too early to tell if the later times will keep bears out of local trash, both Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care and the Bear League say they feel it will make a big difference.

A public workshop on the vision for the South "Y" area will be held on Thursday, February 27 in the South Lake Tahoe City Council chambers at 6 p.m.

Future planning and land use guidance for what is known as the Tahoe Valley Area Plan will be discussed as the City's project leaders seek input from the community as to what the area should be.

The Tahoe Valley Plan reflects the City’s effort to rekindle the economic vitality and spirit of the Tahoe Valley Community and to enhance the area's unique characteristics.

Lake Tahoe is one of California’s greatest natural treasures. It is a beauty to behold, with forested mountains surrounding the deep blue shimmering surface. It is famous for many recreational activities- snowboarding, skiing, hiking, mountain biking, boating, fishing, and sunbathing. But the clear blue waters of Tahoe are in trouble. Invasive species, climate change, and sedimentation all threaten the unique ecosystems of the lake.