planning

My daughter and I had been planning our annual Apple Hill trek for several days when I decided to change it up a bit. Since my free time is so rare I figured why not include a visit to our favorite little town Sutter Creek? And then, since we're doing that, might as well throw in a drive down beautiful Highway 4! Since the portion of the road we'll be covering is closed after the first big snow we had to do it! The day was plotted on a map in my head with some verification on google maps. The map said our little trip was going to take 5 hours and 10 minutes and cover 225 miles.

A major milestone for Lake Tahoe’s restoration and environmental redevelopment was reached today with the unanimous adoption by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board of the Douglas County South Shore Area Plan—the first local government Area Plan to be enacted under the 2012 Lake Tahoe Regional Plan—according to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA).

Nearly 2,500 athletes are headed to the North Lake Tahoe area this week for IRONMAN, a full triathlon which will have them running 26.2 miles, biking 112 miles and swimming for 2.4 miles. The sold out event will have the events spread from Lake Tahoe to Squaw Valley and Truckee.

There are 13 age divisions from age 18 to 80 as well as professional and physically challenged divisions. Fifty winners from the event will qualify for the Championship IRONMAN in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii in October, 2014.

"Look at Lake Tahoe as the picture and Highway 50 as the frame" were the words of South Lake Tahoe Mayor Tom Davis as he spoke at the Trout Creek Bridge to Ski Run Boulevard Project Ribbon Cutting ceremony on Friday.

The League to Save Lake Tahoe applauds the California Legislature for unanimously passing SB630, which implements a compromise between California and Nevada to preserve the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

Despite smoky skies, South Lake Tahoe was still a hot spot this Labor Day Weekend. The 4th Annual Sample the Sierra festival brought in masses of people to taste the unique flavors of the Sierra Nevada. The kickoff Winemakers Dinner at Bumgarner Winery spoiled attendees with a five course meal prepared in the wood fired oven with each course appropriately paired with one of Bumgarner’s fine wines. Saturday’s Sip & Shop at Après Wine Company drew more than 20 people to taste C.G. Di Arie wines and gourmet cheeses.

Ribbon cutting ceremony at Lakeview Commons at 2 pm to celebrate the completion of the US Highway 50 Trout Creek Bridge to Ski Run Blvd Project.

The project was a decade in the planning and took 3 building seasons to complete. The project included new storm drains to treat stormwater runoff to protect the lake, ADA compliant sidewalks with lighting and landscaping and Class II bike lanes to give bikers a safer ride.

Lakeview Commons is at the corner of US Highway 50 and Lakeview Avenue.

Former U.S. Vice-President Al Gore said, in his speech to scientists, elected officials, environmentalists, business leaders, fire department officials, students and others in the audience of the 2013 Lake Tahoe Summit, that what we’ve learned at Tahoe can help inform the rest of the world to protect their resources and communities.

There will be a Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at South Tahoe High to celebrate the newly completed Sports Medicine Building on Friday, August 23 at 10 am. The public is invited to attend and tour all of the new buildings. The ceremony will include messages by Lake Tahoe Unified School District Superintendent Dr. James Tarwater , school board, community and student members. View the program.

It has been 17 years since President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore stood on the shores of Lake Tahoe and issued a challenge. They urged the frequently fractious perspectives in the region to come together in support of the restoration of Lake Tahoe.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency is marking this year’s Lake Tahoe Summit by highlighting the Environmental Improvement Program’s 15 years of achievement restoring and protecting Lake Tahoe’s fragile ecosystem.

Launched at the 1997 Presidential Forum at Lake Tahoe by then President Bill Clinton, and Vice President Al Gore, the Environmental Improvement Program (EIP) is a partnership of more than 50 federal, state, and local agencies, private interests, and the Washoe Tribe.

Lake Tahoe organizations whose collaborative work over the past 15 years has been a driving force for advancing Lake Tahoe restoration efforts applauded congressional leaders Thursday for introducing a $415 million reauthorization of the federal Lake Tahoe Restoration Act.

Join Barton Health Saturday, July 27 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. as we celebrate the expansion and renovation of Barton Community Clinic at 2201 South Avenue in South Lake Tahoe, Calif. This community-wide open house will begin at 9 a.m. with a ribbon cutting ceremony, facility tours, complimentary food and refreshments.

Free health screenings, including glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure and body mass index also will be offered. For more information, visit www.bartonhealth.org or call, (530) 543-5537.

The Tahoe Fund, the first and only nonprofit in the Tahoe Basin dedicated to raising money for environmental improvement projects, announced Wednesday the appointment of Timothy Cashman as chair of the board of directors.

Several northern Nevada law enforcement agencies will be teaming up and “Joining Forces” this Independence Day as an additional security measure in providing for a safe holiday weekend.

On Thursday afternoon and evening, police officers from the Reno and Sparks Police Departments, deputies from the Washoe and Lyon County Sheriff’s Offices, and troopers from the Nevada Highway Patrol will be conducting the administrative road block on U.S. Highway 50 in Douglas County.

Headed to Lake Tahoe for the Independence Day holiday? The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit asks residents and visitors to help protect public safety and the environment, and keep wildfire prevention in mind while celebrating.

Possession of fireworks of any kind, including sparklers, is illegal in the Lake Tahoe Basin and campfires are not permitted on National Forest beaches or in the general forest. For those planning to barbecue on the beach, the Forest Service requires the use of portable gas stoves.

Tahoe Keepers will hold an appreciation event with complimentary food and drink for registered Tahoe Keepers at the Live at Lakeview summer music series from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on June 27, 2013.

The first 75 Lake Tahoe Keepers to check in will receive a voucher to Lakeview Café.

The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board has accepted Pollutant Load Reduction Plans submitted by El Dorado County, Placer County, and the city of South Lake Tahoe which will reduce fine sediment discharges into Lake Tahoe.

The Douglas County Board of Commissioners will consider approval of a new area plan for Lake Tahoe’s South Shore on Thursday, June 2. The Douglas County Area Plan is the first to be proposed since the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency adopted the Regional Plan Update in December 2012.

National recognition has been given to the Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species watercraft inspection program once again, this time for the excellence of the public outreach campaign used to educate boaters about the program.

The campaign, directed by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and Tahoe Resource Conservation District, received a Silver Anvil award Thursday from the Public Relations Society of America—the nation’s most prestigious public relations award.

Lake Tahoe Community College is holding a visioning session on Saturday, June 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the LTCC Board Room next to the Library. The community is invited to contribute to a conversation about the future of the College as we move toward 2020.

Changes in state regulations are forcing LTCC to change what we do and who we serve. These changes have created challenges that must be overcome if LTCC is to continue serving the communities of Lake Tahoe.

Cultivating a passion and appreciation for the outdoors is a year-round task, and Heavenly Mountain Resort is stepping up to the challenge by expanding its summer operations to include more interactive, family-friendly learning experiences.

“Lake Tahoe is a year-round destination, and there is a tremendous opportunity to offer more summer activities at the top of the Gondola,” said Pete Sonntag, Heavenly’s general manager. “Our hope is that visitors of all ages and backgrounds are able to create life-long connections to our National Forests through adventure, play and recreation.”

Lake Tahoe fire protection agencies all agree: defensible space isn’t a bunch of hot air. To back up the importance of defensible space, they’re organizing a free Wildfire Awareness Week kick-off event that includes free tethered Smokey Bear hot air balloon rides (weather permitting), firefighter photo opportunities, a pancake breakfast and more on Saturday, May 25th from 8am – 12pm outside MontBleu Resort Casino and Spa.

The State Water Resources Control Board on Tuesday approved certification of a water quality management plan that allows regional planning and water quality agencies to balance infill development needs and environmentally protective policies focused on improving Lake Tahoe clarity.