trees

Trees on the 46.52 acre Lake Tahoe Airport property will soon be removed as required (and overdue) by the California Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics. It has been 11 years since trees have been removed on the property and there is increasing threat into the navigable airspace at north end of runway from trees. The aircraft that frequent the airport would be unable to takeoff with the increased growth.

For the past five years, the department has issued letters of correction to remove multiple tree obstructions on the runway.

Let the TRTA and our dear friends at the Sugar Pine Foundation take you on a guided hike through groves of interesting trees. The hike will meet at the Kingsbury South Trailhead (Heavenly’s Stagecoach Lodge) and hike south for a little over 3 miles. Along the hike, experts at the Sugar Pine Foundation will spill their knowledge about the crazy and mysterious life of trees. We will hike back to our cars picking up tidbits of cool facts along the way. Anyone like brand new, beautiful single-track trail with a view you’ve never seen?

Due to increased Ferguson Fire activity in the areas adjacent to and on Yosemite National Park, park administrators and fire managers have made the decision to extend the current park closures indefinitely.

"The fire activity inside Yosemite National Park is dynamic," said park officials in a press release. "Over the past 48 hours, fire has impacted all of the roads used to access Yosemite Valley, burning dead and downed trees that can become very explosive and fall without warning."

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for South Lake Tahoe, Meyers, Glenbrook, Alpine County, Place County, El Dorado County, Washoe County, Douglas County an Western Carson City from 6:06 p.m. until 6:45 p.m. Sunday, July 22.

Radar has indicated a strong cell sitting over South Lake Tahoe and Emerald Bay, bringing a chance of quarter size hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph. In heavy hit areas, expect hail damage to vehicles along with wind damage to roofs, siding, fencing and trees.

Another strong thunderstorm cell is above Kirkwood.

The celebrities in South Lake Tahoe this week for the 29th annual American Century Championship (ACC) are here for more than just the golf.

First, there are the friendships they've made over the years at the ACC. They look forward to returning every year to see those friends.

Secondly, there is Lake Tahoe. Those who live in towns around the lake or visit often know why. A beautiful lake, majestic mountains, tall trees and clean, fresh air.

Summer officially arrived yesterday and recreational activities are in full swing in the Tahoe Basin. The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) would like to take this opportunity to remind visitors and residents that wildfires pose a serious threat to Lake Tahoe neighborhoods and communities and we need help to prevent any unwanted fires this summer. Whether camping, hiking or participating in some other activity in the forest, keep in mind the following advice to Keep Tahoe Fire Safe.

Fireworks

Many saw the large tree at Heavenly Village as they drove or walked by, not knowing that it was a hazard and deemed unsafe to be around pedestrians. On Monday, June 4, the tree was cut down by the contractor hired to bring it down, Kenny Curtzwiler and K & K Services, and another local business, Frank's Stump Grinding, took care of the remains and ground level and below.

The 90 foot tree is now firewood, but Dreu Murin of the Heavenly Village management team told South Tahoe Now what is going in its place.

Several Lake Tahoe agencies have joined together to remind residents and visitors to practice proper food storage and trash disposal at all times while in bear country. Intentional or unintentional feeding of bears can result in the bear being killed, fines and/or jail time for violators. Every year law enforcement and state wildlife officers respond to hundreds of calls in which bears may pose a public safety threat and/or are damaging property. In some cases, the animals are euthanized.

Become part of the solution and help save our Tahoe bears!

Both California and Nevada suffered destructive wildfires last year. Nevada saw 768 fires burn more than 1.3 million acres. California experienced the deadliest, largest, and most destructive wildfires in its history. Just a few hours-drive from Tahoe, more than 40 people died and thousands of homes were destroyed in the wine country and North Bay last October. In Southern California, the Thomas Fire ravaged communities and forest lands last December with damaging flooding and landslides piled on after the fire subsided.

A project to improve existing skiing and snowboarding terrain at Heavenly Mountain Resort was approved this week by the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU).

Improvements will include selective widening of ski trails, removing trail obstacles and relocation and/or realignment of some portions of existing snowmaking air and water pipelines to improve user experience, maintain user safety, increase energy and water efficiency, and maintain native species.

This has been National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, so what better time to sit down with the women who answer 911 calls in South Lake Tahoe who are the first step in protecting homes, property and people and the unsung heroes of the community.

With an average of 300 to 400 calls going into dispatch each month, staff has to be ready to handle an emergency at every moment through their shift, which in South Lake Tahoe is normally 10 hours long, though they can be up to 12 hours.

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:

March 16 2:20PM update: Crews have fixed the downed power line and Highway 50 is reopened in the area. Traffic will be held at times at Twin Bridges and Meyers for avalanche control.

Take it easy out there!

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It is a mess along Highway 50 through the Sierra today due to spinouts and downed power lines. The road has been closed in both directions near Silver Fork as crews work on getting a power line off the roadway. Caltrans estimates reopening at 3:01 p.m. at this time.

The 20th annual Earth Day Restoration and Cleanup is taking place at 40 parks up and down the state of California on Saturday, April 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The closest park with a project the public can work on is Grover Hot Springs.

Work there will be to continue maintenance of, and improvements to, the Native Plant Demonstration Garden including irrigation and weed removal, Grover Meadow invasive weed removal and landscape enhancements such as trash pickup, raking, clearing fire rings.

Liberty Utilities is reminding customers to be prepared for possible extended power outages due to incoming winter storms.

The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning and avalanche watch starting Thursday morning for the Sierra and Lake Tahoe areas citing that this weather pattern could be the biggest snowstorm of the season.

”Although we prepare for extreme weather impacts to our electric system, we remind customers that power outages may occur and we encourage them to be prepared,” said Travis Johnson, Liberty Utilities’ VP of Electric Operations.

As the 2018 Olympics come to a close, taking a look back to the 1960 event at Squaw Valley and Lake Tahoe puts a lot into perspective. Perhaps those Olympics should have been called "Against All Odds."

Snowmobilers are being asked to move to areas with adequate snow coverage for their activities and to stay away from bare dirt and patchy snow areas.

With the snowpack in the Sierra at very low levels, and in anticipation of a busy holiday weekend, the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) are informing snowmobile operators to also not ride across streams or over small trees or brush. Operating snowmobiles on too little snow creates ruts in the soil and crushes vegetation.

The U.S. Forest Service has released their draft decision for proposed improvements to existing skiing and snowboarding terrain at Heavenly Mountain Resort. Much of the work will be done on runs outside of the Lake Tahoe Basin boundary.

Those proposed improvements would include selective widening of ski trails, removing trail obstacles and relocation and/or realignment of some portions of existing snowmaking air and water pipelines to improve user experience, maintain user safety, increase energy and water efficiency, and maintain native species.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) is seeking comments on a proposal to reduce excess vegetation on approximately 3,800 acres of National Forest lands on the south end of the Lake Tahoe Basin in order to reduce the risk of wildland fires and create healthier forests.

Natural disasters can occur at any given time and in any given area. The size, duration and damages are usually unpredictable. The devastation, destruction and cost of California wildfires are increasing annually.

Weekly residential customers of South Tahoe Refuse and Recycling in Nevada and California can now get rid of their Christmas trees through their free curbside recycling program.

From December 26, 2017 through January 8, 2018, place the tree out on normal trash pick-up days for pick up.

To have them pick up trees, make sure the following are done:

Cut tree into six-foot lengths.
Remove tinsel, lights, nails and stands from your tree.
Flocked trees are not accepted as they cannot be recycled into compost.

Two homes in South Lake Tahoe were damaged Saturday evening after trees fell onto them as the area was under a high wind advisory. Both homes are located near Heavenly Mountain Resort.

'Tis the season to be merry and ready to have fun in South Lake Tahoe!

Here is a list of some of things one can enjoy this weekend:

Brrrrrr...

The week ahead in South Lake Tahoe will be a clear one, but very cold as a strong high pressure system builds over the Sierra causing prolonged periods of strong morning inversions.

The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a wind advisory for Lake Tahoe from 1:00 p.m. Monday to 10:00 a.m. Tuesday. Winds will be from the East 15-25 mph with gusts to 35 mph. Over the ridges will be as high as 80 mph.