environmental

City Council candidates respond to 100% Renewable Energy Committee questions

On April 18, 2017 the South Lake Tahoe City Council unanimously passed a resolution to: 1) Power the South Lake Tahoe community with electricity provided from 100 percent renewable sources by 2032 and 2) Reduce community carbon emissions from baseline by at least 80 percent by 2040, and reduce municipal emissions by 50 percent by 2030.

SLT Council Candidate Stacey Ballard

South Tahoe Now reached out to all nine candidates for South Lake Tahoe City Council and provided the same list of questions to each one of them. Once a day their answers have been published in the order received. Today is our final candidate.

Today's candidate is Stacey Ballard

Profession: Artist/Author

How many years in SLT: I have lived in Tahoe on and off since 1997, over 16 in total.

COVID Kudos: Safer and Better Biking in Tahoe

There are changes in the air and it's not just the leaves. School is going back, construction season is wrapping up, and Al Tahoe Boulevard is getting a new look.

SLT Council Candidate Cristi Creegan

South Tahoe Now reached out to all nine candidates for South Lake Tahoe City Council and provided the same list of questions to each one of them. Once a day their answers will be published in the order received.

Today's candidate is Cristi Creegan

Profession: Business Owner

How many years in SLT: 23 years

Citizen science drives environmental restoration and reservation in Tahoe-Truckee Region

LAKE TAHOE - Volunteer citizen scientists working with the League to Save Lake Tahoe conducted surveys of Donner and Spooner Lakes to detect aquatic invasive species, and restored native wetland habitat in Johnson Meadow in September. Both efforts are aimed at preserving the Tahoe-Truckee region’s unique ecology.

SLT Council Candidate Leonard Carter

South Tahoe Now reached out to all nine candidates for South Lake Tahoe City Council and provided the same list of questions to each one of them. Once a day their answers will be published in the order received.

Today's candidate is Leonard Carter.

Occupation: Retired

How many years in SLT: 32 years

1. Explain why you are running for City Council and what your qualifications are. I believe I can help the council focus on real issues, such as: roads, law enforcement, trash, public safety, fire suppression, and not burn out on spurious popular topics.

Opinion: LTUSD Board supports student-led climate initiative

Former Climate Crew Co-president, Anthony Pedigo, introduced Resolution No. 2020/21-07 in Support of School District Climate Literacy to the LTUSD School Board on September 22, 2020. It was the culmination of a year of passionate student organizing, writing and mobilizing. The resolution passed unanimously.

Teens 4 Tahoe hosts Wilder Than Wild virtual screening

Event Date: 
October 4, 2020 - 5:00pm

Teens 4 Tahoe, an environmental stewardship group formed by six teens in collaboration with the nonprofit Tahoe Fund, will host a free virtual screening of the award-winning documentary Wilder Than Wild: Fire, Forests, and the Future on October 4, 2020 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The virtual event, proposed by the teens living in Tahoe and around the Bay Area, will be the group’s first effort to help educate their peers about wildfire preparedness. It will include viewing of the one-hour long documentary followed by an online Q&A session with Kevin White, the film’s producer.

Hilary Roverud officially named Development Services Director

After more than 15 years of service, Hilary Roverud has been named Development Services Director after filling the position on a temporary basis since the resignation of Kevin Fabino on July 6.

“Hilary is incredibly skilled and loved by the staff she has worked with for so long,” said City Manager Joe Irvin, “As a community, we are lucky to have her in this leadership role and know she will continue moving that department in the right direction.”

Over 8,100 pounds of trash removed from Donner and Tahoe by Clean Up The Lake dive teams

Clean Up the Lake dive teams have removed 8,183 pounds of trash from Donner Lake and Lake Tahoe, most from the summer of 2020.

The team completed a circumnavigation of Donner Lake, covering every inch of eight-mile shoreline at depths up to 25 feet. They removed all they could find in that area, resulting in 5151.5 pounds. They removed 3,032 pounds of trash from the depths of Lake Tahoe.

NV Energy may shut off power to Incline Village for safety concerns

UPDATE 9/17 10:45AM: The Public Safety Outage Management (PSOM) event previously forecast for Friday, September 18 for the Incline Zone is canceled due to updated weather forecasts.

There is a Red Flag warning at Lake Tahoe with elevated fire weather conditions and NV Energy will continue to monitor conditions and take extra steps to mitigate wildfire risk. This includes staging their line crews, vegetation management crews and fire agency partners at specific locations around the lake.
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Nominations sought for 29th annual Best in Basin Awards

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. — The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) is calling for nominations for projects completed in 2019 that display outstanding environmental design to be recognized in the 2019 Best in the Basin awards program, the agency announced today.

Nominations are due by September 28, according to TRPA.

Now in its 29th year, TRPA’s annual Best in the Basin awards program showcases projects around the lake that demonstrate exceptional planning, implementation, and compatibility with Tahoe’s natural environment and communities. The categories are:

Daily kayak trips on the lake in support of Citizen Science Tahoe project

Join Scott Fitzgerrell and UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center director Geoff Schladow as they kayak Lake Tahoe in support of the Citizen Science Tahoe project September 20-26, 2020. Using the app they will collect valuable water quality, algal growth, and microplastics data.

All participants are responsible for bringing their own watercraft, personal protective equipment (flotation device while on the water and a mask while on land), food, beverages, and planning their own transportation to/from the departure and arrival sites.

South Lake Tahoe City Council candidates respond to #IRunWithMaud questions

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There will be two new members of the South Lake Tahoe City Council after the November 3 election. In the coming weeks the pubic will have chances to hear from the candidates both via zoom, in print and possibly in person. Below are eight of the ten candidates responses to questions asked by the local #IRunWithMaud group.

Tahoe Rising to focus on the region's economic picture, recovery and resiliency

The Tahoe Rising Summit is going to bring together leaders, educators, business owners, and community members to learn and take action over three days. Attendees of the three events will discuss challenges facing Lake Tahoe in this current pandemic from economic, community, and environmental perspectives.

Tahoe Rising’s objective is to catalyze change and take action for the benefit of our regional community and economy.

September 30: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Tahoe’s Economic Picture​

South Lake Tahoe artist selected for design of TRPA 50th anniversary coin

The first peak of a new Lake Tahoe commemorative coin was unveiled during Tuesday's virtual Lake Tahoe Summit. The coin is in honor of the 50th anniversary of the bi-state Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and is being minted in the historic U.S. Mint at Carson City's Nevada State Museum.

The work of South Lake Tahoe artist Eleanor BonBon is featured on the coin. It was accepted for the coin after she responded to a Request for Proposal which included examples of her sketching process, all while conceptualizing TRPA’s core values into a visual language.

Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe awards 19 scholarships

Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe (SISLT) awarded scholarships to a group of local students from South Tahoe High, George Whittell High, the Lake Tahoe Basin Fire Academy and Lake Tahoe Community College. The club, serving the community since 1959, has given out over one-million dollars to local graduates over the years.

Interactive story book released to highlight the 59,000-acre Lake Tahoe West restoration project

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif.—Lake Tahoe West partners have released an interactive “story map” to explain ongoing and proposed actions to restore forests and watersheds across 59,000 acres of Lake Tahoe’s west shore. (StoryMap Here)

24th annual Lake Tahoe Summit: Resilient Tahoe

Event Date: 
August 25, 2020 - 10:00am

LAKE TAHOE, Nev./Calif. - The 24th annual Lake Tahoe Summit has moved to a virtual format this year. U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada will be hosting the event that will feature Olympian David Wise as the keynote speaker.

Since the first Lake Tahoe Summit in 1997, the area’s congressional representatives have pledged to keep working together and with local, state, and private sector partners to restore Tahoe’s environment, improve forest health, and confront climate change.

Special City Council meeting to address impacts to South Lake Tahoe and possible fines

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - An emergency meeting of the South Lake Tahoe City Council has been called to discuss the impacts of tourism during the pandemic on the community and steps they can take to mitigate the problems associated with the increase of visitors.

The meeting will be held virtually at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18.

South Lake Tahoe resident tests positive for plague, most likely from flea bite

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A South Lake Tahoe resident has tested positive for plague according to El Dorado County health officials. The individual is currently under the care of a medical professional and is recovering at home.

It’s believed that the person, an avid walker, may have been bitten by an infected flea while walking their dog along the Truckee River Corridor north of Highway 50 or the Tahoe Keys area in South Lake Tahoe. Health officials started investigating the situation after being notified by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).

Virtual public workshop on planned restoration of Meeks Bay

Event Date: 
August 19, 2020 - 5:30pm

MEEKS BAY, Calif. - The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) is developing a plan to restore Meeks Creek to a more natural condition, while continuing to support sustainable recreation opportunities. The LTBMU, in conjunction with Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, and Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, will host a virtual public workshop on the project from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. on August 19, 2020.

Maeson back home in South Lake Tahoe; Family thanks community for overwhelming support

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It has been a wild two weeks for the Howard family, ever since ten-year-old Maeson entered the UC Davis Children’s Hospital with what appeared to be a COVID-19-releated multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), or Kawasaki disease.

Maeson Howard is on the road to recovery and back in his Christmas Valley home with his parents and sister.

Maeson back home in South Lake Tahoe; Family thanks community for overwhelming support

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It has been a wild two weeks for the Howard family, ever since ten-year-old Maeson entered the UC Davis Children’s Hospital with what appeared to be a COVID-19-releated multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), or Kawasaki disease.

Maeson Howard is on the road to recovery and back in his Christmas Valley home with his parents and sister.

Ten on ballot for two open seats on South Lake Tahoe City Council

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Candidate paperwork is filed and we now know have a better picture of who willl appear on the ballot November 3 South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County.

For many positions the deadline was Friday, August 7, but if an incumbent chose not to run, that date was moved to August 12.

This story originally listed 11 candidates for City Council but Kevin Brunner did not get the reqfile. valid signatures to file.

As of Wednesday, August 12 at 5:00 p.m., the following candidates turned in their paperwork:

South Lake Tahoe City Council (Two open seats)

Tahoe Fund grant helps TAMBA get started on Tyrolian Trail construction

A $45,000 grant from the Tahoe Fund has allowed the nonprofit Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA) to begin a trail improvement project that will reconstruct sections of the Upper Tyrolian Trail in Incline Village. The project is designed to enhance the user experience, make critical trail connections, rehabilitate and restore old logging roads to reduce erosion and improve lake clarity. It is expected to be completed by the end of October 2020.

Never Forget, Never Forgotten - Kaleb James Martin Curtzwiler 1/27/82 - 8/9/10

Kaleb James Martin Curtzwiler died August 9, 2010. He was 28.

Mr. Curtzwiler was born Jan. 27, 1982, at Barton Memorial Hospital in South Lake Tahoe. The 2000 South Tahoe High School graduate was an avid soccer player.

Although he did not ski competitively, it was a sport he participated in with his family and one that he excelled at.

Fundraising account set up for South Lake Tahoe 10-year-old

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There has been an outpouring of concern for 10-year-old Maeson Howard who is currently in the UC Davis Children’s Hospital fighting multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) or Kawasaki disease. Since we shared Maeson's story on Monday, many had asked how they can help the family. Maeson attends Lake Tahoe Environmental Magnet School and lives with his parents and sister in Christmas Valley.

As South Lake Tahoe boy fights for his life, dad wants officials to take COVID-19 more seriously

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - As a ten-year-old from Christmas Valley fights for his life at UC Davis, his father has started a fight of his, one that is asking people to take COVID-19 seriously and to stay away from Lake Tahoe in the midst of the pandemic.

Volunteers spend Tahoe Forest Stewardship day restoring Johnson Meadow

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Johnson Meadow was once used as a post-Gold Rush dairy farm, became a place for summer cattle grazing, and is now being restored as part of the Upper Truckee River watershed. The Tahoe Resource Conservation District (TRCD) purchased the Johnson Meadow in 2018, a critical step in restoring the river's watershed that contains significant wildlife habitat, including river, riparian, meadow, and upland habitat areas.

Lane closures over Spooner Summit for NDOT roadside drainage project

Single lane closures will take place on U.S. 50 between Carson City and Spooner Summit beginning July 30 as the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) wraps up a project to reduce roadside erosion and help preserve water quality.

Between July 30 and Aug. 7, drivers will see single lane closures from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. weekdays on both directions of U.S. 50 in areas between Tahoe Golf Club Drive and Spooner Summit.

Draft SR89 Corridor Plan available for the public to review

Event Date: 
September 22, 2020 - 5:30pm

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Years of work by a team of professionals and public outreach has led to the release of the Draft State Route State Route 89 Recreation Corridor Management Plan.

Those who have been on this congested segment of roadway around Lake Tahoe are aware of the long list of issues including traffic issues, parking issues, and safety issues during the summer and popular weekends.

State of the Lake address offered during digital Summer Speaker Series

Event Date: 
July 30, 2020 - 12:00pm

The UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) is offering everyone a front-row seat at the discussion of the annual Tahoe: State of the Lake Report on Thursday, July 30 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Dr. Geoffrey Schladow, the director of TERC, will make the presentation on the data collected, an important element for lake management. Elected officials and public agencies tasked with restoring and managing the Lake Tahoe ecosystem use this data.

Historic Great American Outdoors Act passes the House, now to the president's desk

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Great American Outdoors Act today, a piece of bi-partisan legislation that will fully and permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and provide much needed funding for the crippling $12 billion deferred maintenance backlog at national parks.

California Tahoe Conservancy names Jane Freeman as acting executive director

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - When the California Tahoe Conservancy Executive Director Patrick Wright was named interim director of Governor Gavin Newsom’s Forest Management Task Force, his temporary replacement needed to be found.

The agency's Board of Directors didn't have to look too far and selected the Deputy Director Jane Freeman and their interim executive director for the next six to nine months.

Team selected to build affordable housing project in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Good news for the South Shore after the California Tahoe Conservancy announced today a major milestone in creating affordable housing at the "Y" in South Lake Tahoe.

The partnership of Related California and St. Joseph Community Land Trust (SJCLT) has been selected to build the community's first modular multi-family housing development. They are naming it Sugar Pine Village.

Column: Wildfire threat still looms

If the 4th of July weekend is any indication, Tahoe is under pressure. As coronavirus cases grow nearly everywhere, people naturally look to the mountains, fresh air, and clear water of Tahoe as a respite. Now residents and visitors alike are struggling to adjust to the confusion around re-opening, and visitation that is normally our lifeblood is suddenly a health risk.

Compliance to State health mandates urged to keep South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County open

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - The Board of Supervisors held a meeting on Thursday to discuss the current situation of positive cases of COVID-19 in the county, especially in South Lake Tahoe where numbers are starting to grow.

After almost four hours of discussion, both amongst themselves and during public comment, the Board made the following action items but didn't vote on any county-wide orders:

Local teen facing brain surgery, fundraiser established

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Maddy Moody, a former South Lake Tahoe student and current Douglas High sophomore, will be at the UC San Francisco Benioff Children's Hospital at the end of the month for brain surgery.

Caltrans virtual ribbon cutting on $54.9M South Lake Tahoe project

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Due to restrictions on gathering in groups because of COVID-19, Caltrans created a virtual ribbon cutting and "thank you" video highlighting their four-year $52.9M water quality improvement project on Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe.

Boaters can expect delays at Lake Tahoe inspection stations

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - As demand soars for watercraft inspections at Lake Tahoe, agencies preventing the introduction of aquatic invasive species (AIS) into the lake’s pristine waters caution boaters to expect delays and to be prepared to change boating plans through the July Fourth weekend.

Restaurant reopens after deep cleaning when employee tests positive for COVID-19

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With more and more cases of COVID-19 being confirmed across the nation and more people traveling, the chances of employees at our favorite stores, businesses, and restaurants having the virus are also increasing.

Such was the case this past weekend at The Beacon Bar & Grill in South Lake Tahoe.

An employee showed up for work on Saturday, June 20, and informed management he was running a fever. They immediately sent the employee home. A COVID-19 test taken on Sunday confirmed he was positive for the virus on Tuesday.

Public meeting on Bijou Park Creek Watershed Restoration Project

Event Date: 
June 24, 2020 - 2:00pm

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There will be a public presentation from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24 on the Bijou Park Creek Watershed Restoration Project.

The project is three phases, the first beginning with the removal of the Knight's Inn and addressing flooding issues in that area. The objectives of the complete project are to improve stormwater quality, decrease flooding, restore the Bijou Park Creek SEZ (stream environmental zone), and to install a series of stormwater quality and flood control improvements.

Sierra State Parks opens Environmental Awareness Art Exhibit

TAHOE CITY, Calif. – The Sierra State Parks Foundation hosted a virtual art contest for the 50th Earth Day celebration this past April as a way to bring the community together during this period of social isolation. It was met with an enthusiastic response, receiving 65 submissions from all ages. The theme of the art was "What Does Earth Day Mean to you."

Tahoe inspections begin June 26 for all boats, appointment required

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The next phase of watercraft inspections will begin next week, Lake Tahoe water agencies announced Friday. From June 26 - July 1, and again starting July 6, inspections for the prevention of aquatic invasive species (AIS) will be available by appointment only.

Dr. James Tarwater says goodbye to Lake Tahoe Unified School District

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Dr. James Tarwater will be bringing his 54-year career in education to a close this month as he passes the torch to the new Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) superintendent June 30.

Letter: Every one of us needs to do what we can to Keep Tahoe Blue

On June 10 the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center released findings from its annual Lake Tahoe Clarity Report, which showed average Lake clarity for 2019 was 62.7 feet, the second-smallest annual average depth recorded since systematic annual measurements began in 1968.

Road Beat: A Tale of Two Highlanders

“There can only be one.” The movie Highlander might be considered an acquired taste, but the Toyota Highlander has been anything but. Since its inception in the early 2000s, Highlander has become the dominant force in the mid-size SUV segment. As the antagonist Kurgan said in the movie, though, there can only be one. And one there is, but which Highlander might that be? Spoiler, it’s the Hybrid. For most Toyota devotees, that’s as much reading necessary to decide on their next Toyota. I say next because Toyota buyers are a different breed; they’re loyal.

Column: Tahoe's successes based on working together; eliminating divide

If ever there was a time to draw on the healing powers of Lake Tahoe, it’s now. The COVID crisis, complete with loss of life and wide-ranging financial impacts, is being compounded by human struggle and a wellspring of social justice demonstrations that are gripping the nation. One of our core values at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) is collaboration -- building collaborative relationships to protect Lake Tahoe. I can tell you that Tahoe's successes have not ever come from reinforcing divisions. The imagined “us vs them" simply creates false divides.

Clarity of Lake Tahoe decreased 8 feet in 2019 due to several factors

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - Scientists and researchers have been watching the clarity of Lake Tahoe for decades, rejoicing when one can see almost 100 feet down into the iconic body of water, sadness when clarity drops to record levels.

The clarity of the lake is an important indicator of the changing conditions of Lake Tahoe.

In 2019, Lake Tahoe's clarity decreased nearly eight feet from the previous year's dramatic 10-foot improvement. The average clarity in 2019 was 62.7 feet, the second-lowest on record. In 2017, the recorded clarity was 60 feet. In 1968, it was 102 feet.

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