fourth of july

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With months of people being under "Stay at Home" orders, and if the past few days are any indication, this holiday weekend will be busy at Lake Tahoe as people get out in the fresh air, hike, bike, go to the beach and get on the water.

The July Fourth holiday at Lake Tahoe will look a bit different this year with firework shows canceled, social distancing, the requirement of face coverings in public places and growing concerns about responsible recreation.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Fire season is upon us and many restrictions are now in effect where outdoor burning, campfires, and fire pits are concerned. 2020 started out with the driest February on record since the 1850s, and there is an increased fire danger posed by dead grass and hotter, drier conditions in the region.

It is important to understand that with all of the different fire areas around Lake Tahoe, there are different rules.

District V Supervisor Sue Novasel will be holding a Town Hall meeting to update residents on the outcome of the recent traffic congestion circulation pilot projects that took place over the Memorial Day and Fourth of July holiday weekends.

Information will be shared on both the outcome and future of the pilot projects.

The meeting will be held on November 21 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the California Conservation Corps auditorium located at 1949 Apache Avenue in Meyers.

Novasel will be joined by El Dorado County Department of Transportation staff.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Keeping beaches from feeling the after effects of Fourth of July celebrations is one goal of Take Care Tahoe, a group of more than 30 agencies and organizations dedicated to protecting Lake Tahoe. Take Care is working to address the behaviors that impact Tahoe’s amazing natural environment, and the one big message for the upcoming holiday: please pack out what you pack in.

TOCCATA-Tahoe Symphony Orchestra helps you celebrate the Fourth of July with family and friends, close to home! Our 14th annual “BOPS” concert, conducted by Maestro James Rawie, is a delightful summer event that we perform in two venues at the Lake, in Reno, and in Gardnerville. Revel in full orchestra and chorus performances of patriotic favorites, be swept off your feet by great opera arias, join in a sing-along, and, if you’re the highest bidder, conduct the “The Stars and Stripes Forever”!

The 4th of July is not only a fun holiday, but it is a very busy one in Lake Tahoe. Due to heavy holiday traffic, Caltrans will suspend their roadwork projects at the lake.

Roadwork on U.S. Highway 50 from the "Y" intersection to the Trout Creek Bridge will be suspended starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 3. The regular weekly construction schedule will resume at 9 p.m. Thursday, July 5.

Although construction will be suspended for the holiday, there will be heavy traffic and work zones will still be set up. Please "Be Work Zone Alert."

The Fourth of July holiday period is upon us and signifies the busiest time of year in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) asks residents and visitors to keep the following tips in mind to help everyone enjoy a safe and fun holiday.

To promote public safety, the annual alcohol ban will be in effect at the following locations:

· Nevada Beach on July 4, from 6 a.m. until midnight.

The man who drowned in Lake Tahoe on the Fourth of July has been identified as 41-year-old William Weaver of Citrus Heights.

Weaver fell from a double kayak he and his wife were on at about 3:30 p.m. according to South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Jim Drennan.

Rescue personnel responded to an area off of Beach Drive where Weaver had been taken by people in the area.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Caltrans has temporarily turned off the pedestrian hybrid beacon at Camp Richardson after backup in the congested area became a concern to both motorists and other agencies.

The light on State Highway 89 at Camp Richardson was turned off on June 27 and will remain off through the upcoming weekend and July 4th holiday.

Plans for an upgrade to the recreational facilities at Kings Beach State Recreation Area were unveiled during a public meeting last week. The project includes upgrades to the playground, restrooms, picnic areas, boat ramp and parking area, a relocation of the pier and the addition of an event area and stage, all over the next 20 years.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and the California Tahoe Conservancy (Conservancy) held the meeting to get public feedback, and for those unable to attend the comment/feedback period is available online until February 15, 2017.

The newest lakefront resort being built on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe is set to open in June, 2017, and reservations for the 154 room Edgewood Lodge are already being taken.

On a tour this week of the new lodging property located within the grounds of the Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, work crews could be seen working on the swimming pool, the rooms, lobby, spa, restaurant, the stone fence and all other aspects of the resort which will give visitors a new taste of luxury.

NOTE: Most traffic-interfering work will be restricted until 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 5 due to the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

SPECIAL EVENT

U.S. Highway 50 (El Dorado County) from the “Y” at Lake Tahoe Boulevard and State Route 89 North to Rufus Allen Boulevard: Motorists can expect a moving closure of both lanes from 10 a.m. to Noon Monday July 4 for the City of South Lake Tahoe 4th of July parade.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

"Swim Smart, Swim Safe: know the dangers of cold water" is the message coming from agencies responsible for boating and water safety on Lake Tahoe, especially after the recent deaths in the lake of two healthy men.

Drowning incidents from boating, paddling and swimming often share the same cause, "cold water shock," an involuntary gasp reflex caused by sudden immersion in cold water. Swimmers and boaters suddenly exposed to the cold waters of Lake Tahoe may experience rapid breathing, gasping, fainting, muscle failure and immediate risk of drowning.

The Fourth of July holiday period is the busiest time of year in the Lake Tahoe Basin. For those visiting during the holiday and attending one of the firework displays over the lake, expect extremely crowded conditions and excess traffic. Because of the Basin’s high elevation, expect intense sunlight during the day and much lower temperatures at night. Bring sunscreen, a jacket, and carry a flashlight. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated.

Motorists should keep in mind the Cave Rock area construction project as they plan their travel around Lake Tahoe not only over the Memorial Day weekend, but during all holidays and this summer. The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) is reminding motorists to anticipate minor travel delays.

“We encourage everyone to visit and enjoy Lake Tahoe,” NDOT District Engineer Thor Dyson explained. “But, with many visitors traveling to Lake Tahoe for holidays such as Fourth of July, drivers should plan a little extra travel time for road improvements being made in the Cave Rock area.”

This letter was sent to City of South Lake Tahoe councilmembers Tom Davis and Hal Cole about JoAnn Conner's comments during last week's meeting and shared with South Tahoe Now:

Dear Hal & Tom,

Three new message signs were unveiled in South Lake Tahoe this week, just in time for the holiday weekend. Since the fourth of July is a big tourist draw, it is the perfect time to test out all the message signs can provide to those on the road.

Who wouldn't want to enjoy the lake a little bit longer, hike or bike a little bit longer, or linger over a big meal instead of sitting in traffic over Echo Summit on Highway 50?

The aftermath of the thousands of people who flocked to South Lake Tahoe's beaches last Fourth of July was a ghastly sight. South Lake Tahoe made headlines around the world for the embarrassing amount of trash left on the beaches. It took hundreds of volunteers days to pick up the thousands of pounds of garbage left on the beautiful beaches.

There's a new show in town, and tens of thousands of people will get to see it for the first time on Independence Day.

While many South Lake Tahoe fireworks fans might not even notice, this year's stunning "Lights on the Lake" pyrotechnical performance is now being created by world-renowned 'Fireworks by Grucci' out of New York.

Grucci is a sixth-generation family owned company who owns two Guinness World Records and have been putting on fireworks shows around the world since 1850. They are known as the "First Family of Fireworks."

With illegal and unattended campfires the cause of over 90% of wildfires in the Lake Tahoe Basin, new fire restrictions go into place on July 1, 2015. Campfires and charcoal barbecues will be restricted to designated recreation sites, and other fire-related activities are prohibited until the end of fire season.

“Increased fire danger due to the ongoing drought combined with warmer and dryer weather is a big concern for the basin," said U.S. Forest Service fire management officer, Kit Bailey. "Fire restrictions help reduce the possibility of human caused fires.”

In South Lake Tahoe every year, many new species are brought in and out of the Lake. While some locals have boats, only some use them in other lakes. The city of South Lake Tahoe regulates wildlife brought in and out of the basin and lake by requiring boats to get inspected, but neglects the need to educate the future community about the harmful animals that can be brought into the lake. These are the new workers and people that will be living and giving to the community.

People coming into the basin to attend the annual Lake Tahoe Summit on Tuesday will find new signs on the three Nevada entrances: Kingsbury Grade (State Route 207), Spooner Summit (U.S. Highway 50) and the Mt. Rose Highway (State Route 431).

The signs read, “Entering the Lake Tahoe Watershed — Help Protect It!” They were put up to remind everyone passing by them that Lake Tahoe is a special place that needs protecting by everyone coming to visit (and those who are already here).

Communities across the country are celebrating America's Independence Day and South Lake Tahoe is no different.

Thousands of visitors have come to town to enjoy fireworks, BBQs and family fun. There are many ways to celebrate Friday:

Head out to watch the 3rd Annual Fourth of July Parade at 10 a.m. Cars, trucks and other vehicles will set out from Les Schwab Tires at the Y and head down Highway 50 to the American Legion where there will be a BBQ. Sit along the street (the best views are on the same side of the street as the parade will be moving).

"I believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival," the 2nd President of the United States John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail. "It ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other..."

Adams wrote of the country's celebration of America's independence on July 4.

South Lake Tahoe will have many of those activities for everyone to enjoy, including a parade!