ohv

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Many head to the Sierra to experience snow in all forms, from the ski slopes to sledding and building snowmen. Even during the pandemic and current "Stay-at-Home" orders in California, area roads were full this past holiday weekend with those seeking play time in the snow.

Each year, law enforcement has to deal with those who seem to have forgotten the laws of being safe on the roadway and parking on the highways, and not observing "no parking" zone rules.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The snow is melting and temperatures are rising, signaling the change of seasons in Lake Tahoe, and the opening of campgrounds, beaches and other recreational areas.

The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) will soon begin the process of opening their facilities in the Lake Tahoe Basin, weather and snow conditions permitting,

The first two beaches to open will be Baldwin and Nevada with an opening date planned for this Saturday, April 27, 2019.

The U.S. Forest Service is preparing an annual application to the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division, to request funding for trail maintenance, restoration, law enforcement, education and safety, and potentially development of facilities, and planning for off-highway vehicle (OHV) access.

On Wednesday, February 13, 2019, the Forest Service will host an open house from 3:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. in Nevada City for individuals and organizations to provide input and review proposals for the application.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The snow has fallen and the kids are out of school so it's time for many to hit the Sierra. Skiers and boarders have the slopes but where do sledders and those just wanting to play go?

Many stop on the highway and pull onto the shoulder (well, sort of) and head to the patch of snow. This behavior is causing problems for law enforcement, other drivers and is an accident waiting to happen.

The Placer County Sheriff's Office has arrested 27-year-old Justin Moe of San Francisco after he allegedly stabbed his girlfriend while she slept in the Blackwood Canyon area of Lake Tahoe.

On Monday, September 24, deputies responded to the area after the victim said the suspect stabbed her, then fled barefoot into the woods wearing a southwestern pattern blanket.

Sheriff K9s responded to search the area to search with deputies. Moe was eventually caught by the Placer Sheriff Off-Highway-Vehicle (OHV) team.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) will soon begin the process of opening recreational facilities in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Weather and snow conditions permitting, Inspiration Point will be the first site to open on Saturday, April 14, 2018. Baldwin and Nevada beaches open April 28. The Taylor Creek Visitor Center opens Friday, May 25. The Tallac Historic Site parking area opens Tuesday, May 15, and will be staffed beginning Saturday, May 26.

The following is a list of opening/service dates, weather and snow conditions permitting:

The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) and the Eldorado National Forest (ENF) will begin the sale of Christmas tree permits on Monday, November 13, 2017. 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. Trees must be cut on the forest where the permit was purchased (the ENF is south and west of the Lake Tahoe Basin, on the west slope).

Snow is preventing some Lake Tahoe West Shore campgrounds from opening, but others are ready to go beginning May 12, 2017.

The West Shore campgrounds still have a large amount of snow at lake level which is causing the delay in their opening. Meeks Bay Campground will open on May 19, and Kaspian and William Kent campgrounds will open on June 2.

Fallen Leaf Campground will open May 12, but some sites will be closed due to wet conditions.

Here is a list of USFS facilities and projected open and close dates:

64 Acres Beach - Year-round, weather permitting (walking access)

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 406 calls in the two weeks between September 27 and October 10, 2016.

Calls Resulting in Arrests:

9/27
Unlicensed drive in the 3600 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Violation of Domestic Violence Court Order in the 1100 block of Acoma Circle
Warrant in the 1000 block of Lakeview Ave

9/28
Drunk in Public in the 3800 block of Pioneer Trail

9/29
Trespassing in 900 block of Rubicon Trail

The State of California is offering financial assistance through grants for well managed off-highway vehicle recreation areas, and the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is applying for one. LTBMU would like to hear what local OHV needs are in the basin, so they are accepting public comment from March 8 to April 4, 2016. .

Funds for the grants come from the State of California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division.

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.

9/13

No Report

9/14

4 p.m. - Search and Rescue - Ralph Dr - EDSO SLT SAR RESOURCES ASSIST SLTPD WITH A SEARCH FOR A MISSING AT RISK PERSON.

Update 8/7/15: The body found off the OHV Trail west of Slate Mountain in the El Dorado National Forest was positively identified today as 45 year-old Edward Cavanaugh of San Francisco. The identification was done by a forensic odontologist, who compared Cavanaugh’s dental records to the upper and lower jaw bones found near his motorcycle. The cause of death is still under investigation.

Off-road enthusiasts will be flocking to the Rubicon Trail once again this summer, and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) team will be there to keep it safe.

The mission of the team is to provide education to the public, maintain the family friendly atmosphere and when necessary, use enforcement to support that education. In its fifteenth year on the Rubicon Trail, the OHV team is again helmed by Sergeant Bryan Brown and staffed with one full-time seasonal deputy and eight part-time deputies who work the OHV team, in addition to their usual duties.

The public has an opportunity to meet Forest Service Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) engineering, trails and recreation staff during an open house on April 2.

This is a great time to ask questions regarding OHV used on designated routes within the Lake Tahoe Basin, the LTBMU Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) and the California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreational (OHMVR) Grant application.

A lack of the snow in the Sierra Nevada isn't just hurting water supplies, it's also hurting vegetation around popular snowmobiling routes.

This preventable problem is being seen around the lake where snowmobiles on too little snow creates ruts in the soil and crushes vegetation.

The U.S. Forest Service is asking snowmobilers to shift their activities to locations with adequate snow coverage, within permitted snowmobile areas. Snowmobile operators should avoid bare dirt and patchy snow and should not ride across streams or over small trees or brush.

Thinning of the forest areas near South Tahoe High and the Sand Pit OHV began last week. This is part of the South Shore Fuels Reductions and Healthy Forest Restoration Project which will thin out about 10,000 acres between Cascade Lake and Stateline, Nevada.

The thinning of trees is for fuels reduction and forest health.

The Forest Service has closed the areas in units 19 and 117 (marked by a red "X" on the map above, from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily through October 14, 2014, for public safety due to heavy equipment operations and falling trees.

The temperatures are rising in South Lake Tahoe and residents and visitors are spending more time outdoors.

The U.S. Forest Service announced Monday that they will be opening recreation areas early. Last year's warm temperatures in April and May brought out people who wanted to enjoy the parks and beaches, only to find them still closed.

Here is a list of opening dates:

Inspiration Point, Logan Shoals, Chimney Beach, and Secret Harbor are opening on April 21.

Sawmill Pond and the Sandpit OHV areas open May 1.

Baldwin Beach and Nevada Beach and Campground open May 9.

El Dorado County Sheriff D’Agostini has created a new position and assigned a full time deputy sheriff to patrol the Rubicon Trail, 40 hours every week, during the OHV season. In the past most of the staffing for the Rubicon Trail was on overtime, and was limited by grant funds.