roads

For 20 years, every August we’ve paused to reflect on our collective commitment to Lake Tahoe’s restoration at the Lake Tahoe Summit. This year, with U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein hosting the event, the issue of climate change will be front and center. Climate change poses incredible challenges for Tahoe, affecting not only the health of its famously cold, clear waters, but the health of its expansive forests and what is to become of our $5 billion outdoor recreation-based economy.

8:45 p.m. update: Firefighters on the Preacher Fire have gained ground on the fire and have been able to get it 20 percent contained. It was actively burning all day with single tree torching, creeping, and wind-driven runs. The total burned remains at 4,651 acres.

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4:45 p.m. update: Acreage burned in the Preacher Fire is a lot less than previously reported due to a glitch in mapping. The fire, which started Monday with a lightning strike, has burned 4,651 acres.

I founded LimeBike because I wanted my son and the future generation to live on a healthy planet. LimeBike aims to provide a sustainable solution to that first and last mile problem: how do we get people from a central location (such as their homes) to their destination (such as their office or the grocery store) in an affordable and accessible way while eliminating our carbon footprints? How do we get the future generations to change their behavior so we can save this planet?

A new Lake Tahoe bike map has been released by the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition that details the latest trails and points of interest all around the lake with separated bike trails, on-road bike lanes and designated bicycle routes.

The paper map will be available for free at Lake Tahoe area visitor centers and bike shops or can be viewed and downloaded on line www.tahoebike.org/where-to-ride/bike-map/.

Two new laws start on Nevada roadways July 1. The "Move Over" Law geared towards protecting Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) workers takes effect as does the Left Lane Law.

Left Lane Law now state that drivers in the fast lane who are holding back traffic behind them can be cited. Violations for being the slow driver in the fast lane will now be a misdemeanor with a first-time $50 fine. The fine would be $100 for a second offense within seven years. Fine number three would be $250.

There will be three presentations at the next El Dorado County Board of Supervisors meeting on June 20 that pertain to fiscal year 2017-18 budget. They are required to approve it by June 30 each year.

"Every year, the County’s Chief Administrator provides a Recommended Budget to the Board of Supervisors for their consideration," said Chief Administrative Officer, Don Ashton. "It is but one step along the path to having an Adopted Budget approved by the Board in September.”

Presentations are scheduled as follows:

9:00 a.m. – Senior Legal Services
10:00 a.m. – Road Work Plan

There are chain controls up on Hwy 80, 88 and 431, and high wind warnings in place through the Washoe Valley. Expect the controls to be removed this morning, but use caution with snow and ice are on other roadways.

It isn't unusual to see some snow in June, but chain controls are unusual. The cold weather that brought the snow is passing and the highs in Lake Tahoe will be 52 today and 80 by Friday.

Here is the forecast from the Nationl Weather Service in Reno:

Last Friday, I delivered to the Board of Supervisors and publicly released the County’s Recommended Budget. The 422-page document deserves some context.

With an increase of $4.5 million to CalPers in 2018, changes to some social service programs, the impact of prison realignment, a "challenging" budget for El Dorado County is now available for public review. It is going to the Board of Supervisors (BOS) as well and they will have future meetings on the subject.

The watercraft inspection spots around Lake Tahoe once again proved their valuable service when a boat at the Alpine Meadows station was found to have quagga mussels on board May 14.

The boat was quarantined for several days and Tahoe Resource Conservation District staff performed multiple decontaminations to ensure all invasive species were removed before the boat was released to the owner.

Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Governing Board voted to increase prevention methods by requiring motorists towing boats to remove drain plugs from their watercraft after leaving the lake.

The winter of 2016/17 continues to leave records behind. It is the first time first time in at least the last ten years Sonora Pass (SR-108) will not be open by the Memorial Day weekend. For the second time in the same period, Ebbetts Pass (SR-4) is not opening before a weekend that usually brings many people into the higher elevations.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif/Nev. - The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will begin the sale of personal use fuelwood permits at the Forest Supervisor’s Office in South Lake Tahoe on Tuesday, May 30, 2017, and at the Incline Village office on Wednesday, May 31, 2017. Permits cost $20 per cord, with a two-cord minimum purchase and a limit of 10 cords per household.

There are two opportunities for people to help prepare Lake Tahoe campgrounds for the upcoming busy summer season. The California State Parks work days will be on May 20 at Ed Z'Berg Sugar Pine and on May 21 at D.L. Bliss .

People may volunteer for one or both days. Tools, training, lunch (and high fives) are included. As a special treat, volunteers are also invited to tent camp too.

Ed Z'Berg Sugar Pine Point State Park
Saturday, May 20, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

D.L. Bliss State Park
Sunday, May 21, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

With the launch of an revamped TahoeRoads.com, the public now has information needed to navigate the roads around Lake Tahoe on both sides of the state line during a road work season that has major projects planned.

This past city council meeting all 5 council members agreed to have staff present us a ballot measure that would increase the city sales tax by 1/2%. This came after a survey was completed and results were presented by the outside independent company contracted by the city. The results indicated that almost 68% of the survey respondents supported the increase as long as the funds would be dedicated by law to roads.

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)

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) released the final decision to reduce hazardous fuels on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe. The West Shore Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Fuels Reduction and Forest Health Project will treat approximately 4,875 acres extending from Emerald Bay to Burton Creek State Park.

Drivers heading off the hill and going into Carson City via U.S. 50 need to be aware of lane shifts on the highway near South Carson Street. The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) will be reducing traffic down to one lane in each direction, and shifting it slightly to the south, starting the evening of Tuesday, April 25 and into early May.

Snow, rocks, boulders, trees and debris are being cleared from roads through the Sierra Nevada that have been closed all winter. Caltrans crews from Districts 9 and 10 are plowing through several feet of snow in some area. While some roads will be opening soon, many have a lot of work to be done before they can open to traffic.

Crews will inspect the road, bridges, culverts to make sure the road is safe for the public before reopening. They will also replace signs that tumbled during the winter.

For the next three summers, Caltrans crews will be in town to work on their U.S. Highway 50 South Lake Tahoe Highway Improvement Project, and Caltrans spoke with locals Wednesday evening about what they could expect during the project which starts May 1, 2017 and should end by winter, 2019. This will be their last Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program (EIP) task to collect and treat stormwater runoff which accomplishes several other goals as well.

$57 million will be spent in South Lake Tahoe to also:

People driving through South Lake Tahoe have mostly likely cringed as their car finds a pothole on a local street. That, or dodged them all by driving in a zig-zag pattern that appears to be that of a drunk driver.

After a winter with extreme rainfall, constant snow removal and high groundwater, there is most likely no street that has been spared an outbreak of potholes.

After Tuesday's City Council meeting, help is on the way!

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 173 calls between March 21-27, 2017.

Calls Resulting in Arrests:

3/21
No Arrests

3/22
No Arrests

3/23
DUI in the 1700 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Burglary in the 1100 block of Fairway Ave
DUI in the 2200 block of Wyoming Ave
DUI in the 1100 block of Keller Ave

3/24
DUI at Fern and Montreal Roads
Transient/Homeless in the 1000 block of Emerald Bay Rd

El Dorado County Supervisor Sue Novasel and her fellow supervisors have taken the first steps to create a Traction Control Ordinance for Lake Tahoe. During their meeting on March 21, approval was given for the concept of an ordinance that, once created, will be back before the Supervisors in April for final adoption.

In coordination with the Community Development Agency, Transportation Division (DOT) and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office (EDSO), Novasel presented the item for vote to create safer roads during heavy snowstorms in the Lake Tahoe area.

12:00 p.m. update: US 50 is currently free of controls.

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The first of several Spring storms is passing over Lake Tahoe today, and with it snow is starting to fall and chain controls are going up on Sierra roads.

Currently chains or 4WD with snow tires are required over US50 from Meyers to Twin Bridges. SR88 requires chains or 4WD with snow tires from three miles east of Ham's Station to five miles west of Pickett's Junction. SR89 requires chains or 4WD with snow tires from Pickett's Junction to Christmas Valley.