parking lots

Not only humans enjoy hanging out in Lake Tahoe, the Canadian Goose does as well, and according to many, perhaps too well. The annual goose roundup is now complete with 118 of the geese from Lake Tahoe now living at the Wild Horse Reservoir in Elko County.

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.

With the increasing number of people wanting to shop, eat, enjoy music or stroll at the Heavenly Village, parking has always been an issue. With skiers using the Gondola in the village to access Heavenly Mountain Resort, parking is ever more of an issue. The City of South Lake Tahoe's parking garage has always been available, and they've added a special evening cost of just $5 after 5 p.m.

Another option for parking has opened behind Raley's at the Village Center near Stateline. Parking in this lot was once for Heavenly Village employees, but is now open to everyone for a fee.

One would think a car filled, bumper-to-bumper highway would be the most dangerous place for drivers to be during the holiday season, but no, crowded parking lots lead the list.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) has warned there are increased hazards of parking lot traffic during the holidays. Nationwide there are over 50,000 accidents in parking lots and garages resulting in 60,000 injuries and over 500 deaths. In fact. almost 20 percent of all accidents involving vehicles taking place where most might think driving 5 mph or less would lead to safer conditions.

Recreational facilities managed and owned by the U.S. Forest Service around the lake are starting their seasonal closures.

These winter closures apply to many Forest Service recreation sites including beaches, campgrounds, and picnic areas, which traditionally close in mid-October. Forest roads close around mid-November for soil protection and public safety.

A two-three year project to create a three-mile shared-use path as well as enhance safety, accessibility and water quality on State Route 28 officially got underway Friday with a groundbreaking ceremony at Sand Harbor. Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval led the festivities that will improve the busy and narrow highway which sees more than 2.5 million vehicles and 2,000 pedestrians and bicyclists.

The path will run from the south end of Incline Village to Sand Harbor State Park.

A proposed redevelopment plan for Squaw Valley would include affordable employee housing, new infrastructure including roads and fire safety, as well as environmental improvements according to Squaw Valley Ski Holdings, LLC. They have kicked off and effort to communicate with the public and gain support through "Squaw Tomorrow" for what is being called the Village at Squaw Valley redevelopment project.

The U.S. Forest Service is planning a project to restore the Taylor and Tallac creek ecosystems, an area that provides habitat for numerous protected wildlife speciesfas well as being an important hydrological connection to Lake Tahoe.

Named the Taylor and Tallac Restoration Project, the USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will restore the large wetland complex where the two creeks were once connected through a series of four swales.

Public comment is sought on the Environmental Assessment, Initial Study and Initial Environmental Checklist.

Major components:

Our home of beautiful South Lake Tahoe is one of the biggest tourist attractions in the world. With around 4.3 million visitors in 2011, as well as certain main events and holidays where our city's population doubles and even triples. With this nonstop tourism occurring throughout South Lake Tahoe, it only makes sense to have a “downtown” area, which is what the loop road will provide. Despite the concerns of how the loop road will hurt our community, there are a lot of long term social and environmental benefits involved in this project.

Location

The Sheriff’s Team of Active Retirees (S.T.A.R.) Program in El Dorado County is looking to bolster their volunteer corps. STAR is comprised of senior citizens who are utilized to enhance vital crime prevention services in the community. The STARs conduct patrols in specially marked STAR vehicles, functioning as the eyes and ears of the Sheriff’s Department, reporting any suspicious activity observed. The S.T.A.R. Program is a Crime Prevention Program exercising proactive law enforcement principles.

A man was shot and killed at the Beverly Lodge in South Lake Tahoe Saturday night. At about 7:42 p.m. on January 30, 2016, several people called 911 to report shots being fired at the motel which is located at 34780 Lake Tahoe Boulevard.

Officers from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded immediately as did an EMS unit from the fire department. Upon arrival they found a man who had been shot, lying on the ground outside one of the rooms at the motel. He was transported to Barton Hospital where he died within a few minutes of arrival.

It may seem like lyrics from the Five Man Electrical Band: Sign, sign, everywhere a sign; Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind' Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?

Everyone wants to enjoy the South Lake Tahoe area on the 4th of July holiday weekend. In order to keep everyone safe there are rules and regulations in place to do so.

1. Portable Charcoal Grills Prohibited on All Forest Service Beaches. You can use the limited number of Forest Service provided grills.
2. Campfires are not permitted on National Forest beaches or in the general forest.

Lake Tahoe’s natural geography of steep climbs and long descents against postcard views will offer plenty of sites to catch race action as the top women cyclists compete in Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the Amgen Tour of California Women’s Race May 8-9.

With the start and finish line at Heavenly’s California Base Lodge, spectators will be updated with live race announcements, and entertained with high-energy music, local and Amgen Tour of California exhibitors, food and beverage.

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.

A brush fire started just after 6:45 p.m. Wednesday night in the hills above Carson City between Jacks Valley Road and Clear Creek Road. Fire officials are calling it the Clear Creek Fire and it had burned 150 acres as of 9:45 p.m. The area is not easily accessible. Hot Shots were dropped onto the hills nearby to fight the fire as well as drops from three air tankers and two helicopters. Hand crews will stay on the fire during the night.

The fire was started by lightning and the region saw dozens more lightning strikes into the evening.

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.

Starting April 1, all Barton Health buildings became smoke free. The smoking and tobacco ban includes all Barton Health facilities, parking lots, grounds, and Barton Memorial Hospital. All patients, visitors, medical staff, vendors, and employees will not be allowed to smoke at Barton. This includes the use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, marijuana smoking, and smoke-free tobacco products such as chewing tobacco. The one exception will be for the two current patients at the Skilled Nursing Center who smoke. No further smoking patients for the center will be accepted.

Cold weather and snow this week is allowing Sierra-at-Tahoe® Resort to open for the 2013-14 season on Friday, December 6, 2013 with early season conditions and very limited terrain. The ski resort will operate the Easy Rider Express chairlift which will give skiers and snowboarders access to the right half of Broadway trail. This is a green run and will have small to medium rail features, giving guests a chance to get their park legs back underneath them.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will soon begin the annual process of opening recreational facilities around the Lake Tahoe Basin. Campgrounds, beaches, and forest roads generally open in mid-May, weather permitting. The Taylor Creek Visitor Center and the Tallac Historic Site open Memorial Day weekend.

Before recreation sites can open to the public, the Forest Service must hire crews to staff and manage the sites, clean up from winter, remove safety hazards and wait for the danger of a freeze to pass before turning on water systems.

El Dorado Co. Sheriff's Department in South Lake Tahoe sponsors and supports activities of Sheriff's Team of Active Retirees. In a recent election held during the S.T.A.R. Station Meeting at South Lake Tahoe's Senior Center,
retiring 3 year term Station Leader Dick Young was replaced by Richard Thomson of Thomson's Insurance. Assisting Thomson are past Station Leaders Dick Young and George Schultz.

Other members, each holding specific job titles include Barbara Aragon, Jan and Ernie Claudio, Susan Kidwell, Mary Magana, Bill Sluka, Kay Taylor and Joan Young.

The Tahoe Transportation District and the U.S. Forest Service are asking the public to park in alternate locations to access the Lam Watah Trail while work is underway on improvements that are part of the Nevada Stateline-to-Stateline Bike Path project - Phase 1B. Lam Watah Trailhead parking normally is located on the north side of U.S. Highway 50 just past the casinos in Stateline, Nev., on Kahle Drive.

The Tahoe Transportation District will host an Open House forum on Wed., May 16, to discuss the SR Highway 28 corridor safety and congestion issues. The forum will introduce the East Shore Express, a proposed shuttle from Incline Village to Sand Harbor Beach State Recreation Area this summer as well as updates on the North Demonstration Bikeway, a 3-mile off-road path between Incline Village and Sand Harbor.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California, the Sierra and portions of Southern Oregon.

Here is the fishing report through Jan. 31. The report covers rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California, the Sierra and Southern Oregon.