ltbmu

Snow, a good slope and a sled in hand are the ingredients needed for a fun day around Lake Tahoe, but first responders are warning the public to only use official sledding locations or that fun can turn to a bad day very quickly.

Sledding is not as harmless as it looks, just ask the roughly 20,000 kids under age of 19 in the United States involved in sledding accidents annually.

National Forest developed campgrounds in the Lake Tahoe Basin have already closed for the winter season and dispersed camping in Desolation Wilderness and Meiss Country are not affected by the following closure.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The US Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) has lifted its closure order at Taylor Creek so people are once again allowed into the area around the creek. This is a popular area each fall due to the Kokanee Salmon run and heightened wildlife sightings and was closed to both protect bears and discourage large gatherings. The Visitor Center has seasonally closed.

The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) has announced that William “Bill” Jackson has been selected as the new Forest Supervisor for the Lake Tahoe Basin. Jackson is scheduled to arrive at the LTBMU on Dec. 6, 2020, and comes to the area from the White River National Forest in Colorado, where he served as the District Ranger for the Dillon Ranger District.

Christmas tree permits for National Forest lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin will be available for purchase online through Recreation.gov beginning November 16, 2020. Details about designated cutting areas, dates and types of trees that may be cut can be found at https://www.recreation.gov/tree-permits/ltbmu.

The U.S. Forest Service tonight added additional restrictions to its previously announced fire restrictions and closures of campgrounds and day use areas on U.S. Forest Service land in California and the Lake Tahoe Basin starting September 7 at 5:00 p.m.

There is now an emergency camping prohibition that goes into effect on Tuesday, September 8, 2020.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There is a new lightning-caused fire in the upper, eastern side of Christmas Valley area Tuesday afternoon. Crews were at the scene quickly and there is also helicopter support.

Crew 45 from the USFS-Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) and Zephyr Crew 21 are at the remote scene near Luther Spires.

A single-tree caught on fire as did a 30x30 foot square of brush.

Smoke is visible from Alert Tahoe cameras.

A second, smaller fire on Ward Peak, along with Monday's fire on Luther Pass are out, and were kept to less than 1/10 acre.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Just as the Eldorado National Forest managers announced last week, the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) of the National Forest Service said they too have seen the same record increase in illegal campfires.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - After much discussion and deliberation, the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) has made the difficult decision to cancel planned interpretive programs and visitor services at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center through the end of October, including second- and third-grade conservation education field trips. In addition, they have made the decision to cancel the Fall Fish Festival this year, an event that typically draws up to 12,000 visitors over the weekend.

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.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - On June 12, the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) concessionaires will begin opening developed campgrounds in the Lake Tahoe Basin. They are joined by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest who is opening all of its campgrounds in California.

Nevada group campsites and day-use areas that hold less than 50 people will also reopen. Visitor centers and California group campsites remain closed. Both the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and LTBMU offices remain closed.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) is enacting campfire restrictions to protect the health and safety of employees and communities, effective immediately and until further notice. Outside of developed campgrounds and certain permitted facilities, igniting, building, maintaining or using a fire on national forest land in Lake Tahoe will be prohibited.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The planned restoration project on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe is a big one, covering 59,000 acres, and will provide a science-based, all-lands approach to guide restoration approaches on the West Shore over the next two decades to increase the resilience of ecosystems and human communities.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A temporary closure order for USFS beaches and recreation sites around Lake Tahoe has been extended through at least May 15, 2020. The original order was set to expire May 1. To keep in alignment with current federal, state, and local guidance for social distancing, and to ensure the health and safety of its employees, visitors, and volunteers, it was extended.

Trailheads and trails outside of the orange areas of the attached maps, or the ones on the closure website, are not affected by this order but parking lots are closed.

(Since publishing, LTBMU has corrected the date their order expires.)

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - All national forest recreation areas and sites in the South Shore Recreation Corridors are now closed. In an announcement Wednesday, the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) said the closures are to keep in alignment with current federal, state and local guidance for social distancing and to ensure health and safety of its employees, visitors and volunteers.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Do you love the Wilderness? Would you like to help preserve its’ breathtaking beauty and natural pristine environment? Do you love spending time outdoors and helping people? Do you have the willingness and dedication to volunteer and help preserve one of our most popular back-country areas overlooking Lake Tahoe and the Crystal Range?

If the answer is yes, then Desolation Wilderness, co-managed by the USDA Forest Service’s Eldorado National Forest and Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU), may offer exactly what you’re looking for.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The public is invited to an open house hosted by the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) on Thurdsay, February 20 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. They will be providing information and seeking public input on their annual California Department of Parks and Recreation Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division grant applications.

The OHMVR applications request funding for trail maintenance and operation of facilities for off-highway vehicle access in the Tahoe Basin.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - New plans have been released on the State Route 28 corridor from Sand Harbor to Spooner Summit on the east shore of Lake Tahoe. After the success of the East Shore Trail from Incline Village to Sand Harbor, the plan is to continue the shared-use trail with other improvements to highway safety and infrastructure; summer recreational access; water, air and scenic quality; and increase non-motorized access to the corridor.

The USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) has issued a draft decision for the proposed improvements to this area.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Plenty of permits to cut down Christmas trees in the Lake Tahoe Basin remain at both sales locations. Due to permits being sold out after just a week in the past, people were only allowed to buy one of the $10 permits per family this year.

The result is plenty of leftovers.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Not wanting to end up without a Christmas tree permit this year, a long line of people surrounded the USFS-Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit building in South Lake Tahoe Monday morning. When the doors opened at 8:00 a.m., the lobby immediately filled and the line continued to grow.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - When the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) revised their Forest Plan over 10 years ago, many wanted them to include changes to snowmobile and other winter travel access to public lands at the same time. With the amount of public comment and the recognized need to have its own plan, they separated the two.

In 2011, LTBMU started a collaborative group to develop a proposed action plan for Winter Recreation and Over Snow Vehicle (OSV) use in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - People have been asking for weeks when the popular Christmas Tree permits will be going on sale in Lake Tahoe. Though exact details on all of the locations where the permits will be sold, the will go on sale November 25, 2019.

Last year the permits were sold out in two weeks.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) will sell the permits on a first-come, first-served basis. Permit holders may choose from a variety of pine, fir or cedar trees up to six inches in diameter (at the base) in designated cutting areas.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It's that time of year again when the Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) begins the winter closure of their recreational facilities around the Lake Tahoe Basin. Seasonal closures apply to many Forest Service recreation sites including beaches, campgrounds, picnic areas and National Forest roads.