luther pass

NOTE: Most traffic-interfering work will be limited from 6 a.m. Friday until 10 p.m. Monday, May 30 for the Memorial Day weekend.

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

State Route 89 (Placer County): Work continues on a $70.1 million project from Tahoma to just north of Granlibakken Road in Tahoe City that is upgrading storm water drainage and treatment systems, adding curb and gutter, resurfacing and realigning the road, adding new left-turn pockets and widening shoulders on an 8-mile stretch of the highway. Completion is expected by summer 2017.

The South Tahoe Public Utility District (District) is currently in the process of preparing the 2016/2017 budget. We invite the community to participate in a Public Meeting and Presentation on the Proposed Budget and Capital Improvement Plan at the District Offices on May 12, 2016, at 6 pm.

In 2014, the District sent a five-year Proposition 218 notice to all customers; this permitted the District to increase water rates up to a maximum of 6.5% and sewer rates up to a maximum of 6.0%.

Water

The Amgen Tour of California South Lake Tahoe Organizing Committee is seeking 300 volunteers for the combined stages for men and women on Thursday, May 19, 2016.

The men’s elite race Stage 5 will begin in Lodi, Calif. at 10 a.m., and finish around 3:45 p.m. at Heavenly Mountain Resort’s California Base Lodge in South Lake Tahoe totaling 132.4 miles. The women’s Stage 1 will start at 10:50 a.m. and finish approximately at 2:00 p.m. at Heavenly, totaling 72.7 miles.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) lifted fire restrictions on National Forest System lands on Friday, October 30, 2015.

“While conditions have allowed the Forest Service to lift fire restrictions, wildfires can still occur,” said Fire Management Officer, Kit Bailey. “Visitors to our National Forests need to educate themselves about how to safely build and extinguish a campfire, and should continue to be careful and remember that campfires are only allowed in certain areas.”

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at press time and the story will be updated when provided.

7/5

10:18 p.m. - Vacation Rental Noise - Cold Creek Trail

10:39 p.m. - Grand Theft - Fallen Leaf Lake Rd - AN UNKNOWN SUSPECT(S) REMOVED THE VICTIM'S PERSONAL PROPERTY FROM HIS VEHICLE. THE VICTIM WAS NOT SURE IF HIS
VEHICLE WAS LOCKED DURING THIS INCIDENT.

Icy and wet conditions on Highway 89 over Luther Pass on Thursday, June 4 may have been the reason for a single car accident that resulted in the death of a 23-year old Markleville man.

Nathan Hansen, a South Tahoe High graduate, was driving over the summit just north of the Alpine County/El Dorado County line at approximately 1:49 p.m. when he left the roadway and crashed into a large tree.

Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District and the U.S. Forest Service may continue prescribed fire operations next week, beginning Monday, April 6, 2015, weather permitting. Operations are scheduled to take place in Blackwood Canyon between Tahoe City and Tahoma, on the south side of Meeks Bay, on Gardner Mountain near South Tahoe High School and off Gardner Street, in the Tahoe Keys, on Luther Pass near Grass Lake, at Ski Run Boulevard near Heavenly, on upper Kingsbury Grade and on the East Shore near Logan Creek Drive.

Beaches, parks, trailheads, campgrounds and popular Lake Tahoe viewing areas will start opening on April 1 for the 2015 season, almost two months ahead of schedule.

A mild winter has allowed the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) to start opening the popular areas but they won't be fully opened since they won't be fully staffed until closer to summer.

Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District and the U.S. Forest Service are expected to conduct prescribed fire operations around the Tahoe Basin next week, beginning Monday, March 16, 2015, weather permitting.

Operations are scheduled southwest of Meeks Bay, on Gardner Mountain near South Tahoe High School and off Gardner Street, Luther Pass near Grass Lake, Ski Run Boulevard near Heavenly, Edgewood Canyon on lower Kingsbury Grade and near Logan Creek Drive on the East Shore. Operations may last through the next several weeks, as long as conditions allow.

Joint fire operations by the Nevada Division of Forestry and U.S. Forest Service are resuming in the Lake Tahoe area.

Depnding on weather conditions, South Shore operations will take place on Gardner Mountain near STHS and off of Gardner Street, in Christmas Valley, Luther Pass near Grass Lake, on Ski Run Blvd. near Heavenly Valley, on lower Kingsbury near Easy Street, Logan Creek Drive and southwest of Meeks Bay. On the Northern half, activity will be seen in the Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park north of Spooner Summmet off Hwy 28 and at Memorial Point near Sand Harbor.

Lake Tahoe has received much needed rain and snow from a wet Pacific storm on both Friday and Saturday, while more is expected late Sunday afternoon.

Heavenly Mountain Resort received 4-8” of new snow overnight Friday and opened two additional trails on Saturday. Sierra at Tahoe has received 10" of new snow while Kirkwood reports 9" of fresh snow. The big winner of this storm, so far, is Mt. Rose Ski Resort who are reporting two feet of new snow.

A winter weather advisory is in effect in Lake Tahoe from 4 p.m. Sunday through 4 p.m. Monday.

California State Parks and the U.S. Forest Service may continue prescribed fire operations on Monday, January 26, 2015. Operations may take place near Tahoe City on Highway 28 between Rocky Ridge and Lake Forest, near Emerald Bay at Eagle Point Campground, the Boat Camp and behind Vikingsholm, Gardner Mountain near South Tahoe High School, Luther Pass near Grass Lake, Ski Run Boulevard near Heavenly, and on the East Shore near Logan Creek Drive and the north side of Spooner Summit. Operations will last through the next several weeks as conditions allow.

The Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, California State Parks, Nevada Division of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service will continue prescribed fire operations near Sugar Pine Point State Park, Sawmill Pond, Pioneer Trail and Washoan Boulevard, Ski Run Boulevard near Heavenly, Van Sickle Bi-State Park, Luther Pass, Spooner Summit, and Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park in Slaughterhouse Canyon. Operations will last through the next several weeks as conditions allow.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will lift fire restrictions on National Forest System lands beginning Friday, October 3, 2014.

“Although fire restrictions will be lifted on Friday, remember campfires are never allowed in the Desolation Wilderness,” said Forest Service fire management officer Kit Bailey.

With the major forest fires burning throughout California, Oregon and Washington, it's a good time to remind everyone that there are fire restrictions in place in South Lake Tahoe.

The City of South Lake Tahoe and the U.S. Forest Service both have fire bans in place. Campfires and charcoal barbecues have been restricted to designated forest service recreation sites in the Lake Tahoe Basin since June 26, even if campers and back country hikers have a fire permit.

The chemical treatment of invasive plants by the U.S. Forest Service in Lake Tahoe will continue through the summer at about 70 different locations totaling 12.5 acres. In South Lake Tahoe the treatment will take place at the Angora wildfire area, Baldwin Beach meadow, Burke Creek trail, Luther Pass campground, Heavenly Creek Meadow, Heavenly Ski Area, Rabe Meadow and the Spooner Summit fire station as well as at several urban lots that the Forest Service controls.

Prescribed fire operations by the U.S. Forest Service will continue around the Lake Tahoe Basin during the week of April 14, 2014, and are likely to continue throughout the month of April, weather permitting.

During the next few weeks, burning may take place on Spooner Summit on the East Shore, in the Luther Pass Campground off of Highway 89 near South Lake Tahoe, and on the west side of Highway 89 near Tahoma on the West Shore. Operations are ongoing and may continue as weather, staffing, and conditions allow. Locations could vary due to changing conditions.

You may see smoke in three different locations around the Lake Tahoe basin this week as U.S. Forest Service fuel reduction operations continue. Starting Monday, April 7, they will be burning near Spooner Summit on the East Shore, in the Luther Pass Campground off of Highway 89 S near South Lake Tahoe, and on the west side of Highway 89 N near Tahoma on the West Shore.

Operations are ongoing and may continue through the week and next weekend if weather, staffing, and conditions allow.

Prescribed fire operations will continue in the Lake Tahoe basin starting Monday, March 24.

The U.S. Forest Service will have fuels management crews in a few locations around the lake.

Prescribed burn operations will take place in several locations around the Lake Tahoe basin beginning on Tuesday, February 18.

The U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews will be in the Luther Pass Campground off of Highway 89 S near South Lake Tahoe, on the west side of Highway 89 N near Tahoma, and in Slaughterhouse Canyon on Lake Tahoe’s East Shore. Prescribed fire crews may continue operations through the weekend, weather, staffing, and conditions permitting. Locations may vary due to changing conditions.

Citing the cooler temperatures and some snow on the ground as ideal prescribed fire operations, the U.S. Forest Service will resume burning at Luther Pass on Monday, January 6.

All prescribed fire projects are conducted in accordance with an approved prescribed fire burn plan. Burn plans describe specific conditions under which operations are conducted including the weather, number of personnel, and opportunities to minimize smoke impacts. This information is used to decide when and where to burn.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) is working to open many Forest Service-operated facilities and restore public services that had been suspended during the government shutdown, which ended October 17, 2013. “Realizing we’re near the end of our normal operating season in Lake Tahoe, we’re focusing our efforts on those sites that typically remain open for a few more weeks and are extremely popular with locals and visitors alike,” said Forest Supervisor Nancy Gibson. “We look forward to opening these and serving our local community once again.”

Firefighters from Lake Valley Fire Protection District and the U.S. Forest Service extinguished a wildfire near Luther Pass Tuesday afternoon. The fire started about 2:15 p.m. south of Big Meadow T...

This is a reminder that special trout fishing privileges begin on Friday at Heenan Lake in nearby Alpine County, Calif. Here you can catch (and release) some really nice Lahontan Cutthroat Trout for a limited time.
Each year, that season opens the Friday before Labor Day and closes the last Sunday in October (October 28 this year). If you’re interested and if you would like to enjoy a totally different fishing experience, plan to spend August 31 at that easy-to-get-to location.