U.S. Forest Service

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will lift fire restrictions on National Forest System lands beginning Friday, October 3, 2014.

“Although fire restrictions will be lifted on Friday, remember campfires are never allowed in the Desolation Wilderness,” said Forest Service fire management officer Kit Bailey.

Improper storage of human food and other scented items, and improper disposal of refuse is a leading cause of human-bear conflict. Due to the fact that bears are attracted to food and things that smell good, proper handing of these items is required at Fallen Leaf and Meeks Bay campgrounds starting October 1.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit has issued the final decision for Forest Order No. 19-14-14 that requires the proper storage of food and refuse.

King Fire community meetings will be held in Squaw Valley this evening and at North Lake Tahoe and Foresthill Wednesday to update the public on the status of the fire.

The meetings will be informational sessions focused on giving the public up-to-date information and answering questions about the fire. They are not a sign that the King Fire poses an imminent threat to any of the three areas.

This evening’s community meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in Olympic Village Lodge, 1901 Chamonix Place, in Squaw Valley.

You may have noticed all of the trees missing from large areas of South Lake Tahoe recently. The U.S. Forest Service has had forest thinning projects going on in several locations around the South Shore in order to reduce forest fire fuels and improve forest health.

The Lake Valley Fire Department was given a $26,000 grant to clear brush and hazard trees from a 6.5 acre parcel in Meyers. The grant was given by the Forest Service to help reduce the risk of wildfire in Meyers.

The parcel is owned by the California Tahoe Conservancy across from the Tahoe Pine Campground.

The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority would like to thank all of our community members, visitors, businesses and agencies who have helped keep our Lake Tahoe beaches clean throughout a busy summer season. Debris on Lake Tahoe’s beaches affects everyone’s enjoyment of the lake, and trash and debris on the beaches and streets can easily find its way to the lake and adversely impact lake clarity, water quality and wildlife.

On Monday, the U.S. Forest Service will start a mastication project on the Northwest shore of Lake Tahoe that will impact a portion of the Tahoe Rim Trail.

For the next 6 weeks, including weekends, staff will be in the area near Page Meadows. They'll be using a piece of equipment called a masticator which reducing the amount of material left behind after a tree thinning project. The machinery may cause flying debris to be thrown up to 500 feet.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit purchased Incline Lake on the north shore in 2011, and after it was deemed unsafe to development downstream it was drained.

Now they are planning on restoring the wetlands in the area and removing the dam.

5:35 p.m. update: Fire crews are getting a hand on a brush fire that was burning on the valley side of Kingsbury Grade. Hwy 207 is still closed at the top.

Two heavy air tankers, one single engine air tanker and one helicopter responded as well as multiple fire agencies. Containment is expected soon on the fire.

According to the U.S. Forest Service, fire numbers were near six acres and they have reevaluated it to be 1.5 acres. There is no threat to homes or structures at this time.

Attendees of the Valhalla Art, Music and Theater Festival learned how to use a cross-cut saw, the primary tool still used today to keep trails open and accessible in the Wilderness. The event celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the 1964 National Wilderness Preservation Act.

U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit staff provided saws, logs and gloves and guided over 50 participants of all ages as they cut through a 10-inch log and received the souvenir slice branded with the 50th Wilderness Anniversary logo.

Sixteen local, state and federal agencies were recognized during Tuesday's Lake Tahoe Summit.

A proclamation signed by by Senators Dianne Feinstein, Dean Heller and Harry Reid, Representatives Mark Amodei and Tom McClintock and Governors Jerry Brown and Brian Sandoval honored the release of the Multi-Jurisdiciont Fuel Reduction and Wildfire Prevention Strategy.

The original strategy, finalized in 2007, has successfully guided wildfire risk reduction projects in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

With the major forest fires burning throughout California, Oregon and Washington, it's a good time to remind everyone that there are fire restrictions in place in South Lake Tahoe.

The City of South Lake Tahoe and the U.S. Forest Service both have fire bans in place. Campfires and charcoal barbecues have been restricted to designated forest service recreation sites in the Lake Tahoe Basin since June 26, even if campers and back country hikers have a fire permit.

What began as a dream in 1977 is now a 165-mile trail around Lake Tahoe for hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers. Retired U.S. Forest Service officer Glen Hampton researched and explored places along the perimeter for the trail to go. He nvestigated aged pathways used by early pioneers, Basque Shepherds, and the Washoe People. The Tahoe Rim Trail Association (TRTA)was founded in 1981 and construction on the trail began three years later.

Citations, warnings and medical assistance were given to 169 people during holiday celebrations on South Lake Tahoe beaches operated by the U.S. Forest Service on July 4th.

• 32 - Personal Possession of marijuana (Cites and Warnings)
• 31 - Minors in Possession of Alcohol (Cites)
• 8 – Combination of Arrests for Disorderly Conduct, Cocaine, Crystal Meth, LSD, Pills, Warrant, & Probation Violations
• 12 - 415 Incidents
• 72 – Alcohol Prohibition violations (Cites and Warnings)
• 14 – Medical Aids

Lake Tahoe fire officials, the U.S. Forest Service and Douglas County authorities are investigating a number of intentionally set brush fires lit near four hiking trails in the Stateline and Zephyr Cove areas.

In the past two weeks, four separate small brush fires have been started off of hiking trails, said Douglas County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Pat Brooks. Because of the nature of the fires, they are believed to have been started by the same person or persons, Brooks added.

The busy 4th of July holiday is just a week away, and with Lake Tahoe's increased crowds, excess traffic, fireworks and dry conditions, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) are asking everyone to use caution.

Looking for an enjoyable way to contribute to the Lake Tahoe community, either as a local or as a visitor?

Adopt-a-Beach is one of the nicest and easiest ways to protect this valuable and beautiful treasure and they're looking for several volunteers to help this summer. This program is sponsored by the City of South Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Visitor's Authority, U.S. Forest Service, League to Save Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and South Tahoe Refuse.

UPDATE June 13, 2014 10:46 a.m. - The search for Vernon “Cody” Matthews over the last few days has not revealed any new information indicating his whereabouts. Sheriff D’Agostini is still dedicated to determining Cody’s location and search operations are continuing. Search and Rescue personnel from El Dorado, Solano, Placer and Contra Costa Counties are on scene along with personnel from the Bay Area Mountain Rescue team and the California Rescue Dog Association. A helicopter from the California Highway Patrol will also be assisting in todays search.

The Fifth Annual Lake Tahoe Birding Festival at Taylor Creek Visitor Center kicked of the U.S. Forest Service's Wild Tahoe Weekend on Saturday. The activities included information booths and hourly guided bird walks along the nature trail through the wetland; Master Falconer, Marie Gaspari Crawford, brought two falcons and a Red tailed hawk to the event. During her two presentations, Crawford spoke about birds of prey and gave some interesting insight to caring for and living with them. She also answered questions and had the birds pose for pictures.

There is a park and ride system for Sand Harbor in place once again for the summer of 2014.

In it's third year, the Tahoe Transportation District’s East Shore Express, the shuttle bus provides rides Incline Village to Sand Harbor. They are able to do so with a federal grant and funds gathered from the selling of Lake Tahoe License Plates.

Get your East Shore Express map.

“Caring is Cool - Lake Tahoe’s clarity starts with you, and there are a number of ways to help!”

That is the 2014 Beach Clean Up theme developed through joint efforts of the City of South Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Visitor's Authority, Douglas County and the U.S. Forest Service Basin Management Unit.

Local agencies are partnering to launch an “Adopt-a-Beach-Tahoe” program that will coordinate regular beach clean up dates around Lake Tahoe from June 15 to September 15.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is seeking public input on a proposal to remove the Incline Lake dam and restore the area impacted by it. The Forest Service purchased the 777-acre Incline Lake parcel, located off State Route 431 in Washoe County, Nev., on July 29, 2008, for its recreational, scenic and natural resource values. During the acquisition process, a site investigation and assessment determined that the Incline Lake dam and spillway do not meet federal, state or local standards for a high-hazard dam (designated as such due to downstream development).

Prescribed fire operations by the U.S. Forest Service will continue around the Lake Tahoe Basin during the week of April 14, 2014, and are likely to continue throughout the month of April, weather permitting.

During the next few weeks, burning may take place on Spooner Summit on the East Shore, in the Luther Pass Campground off of Highway 89 near South Lake Tahoe, and on the west side of Highway 89 near Tahoma on the West Shore. Operations are ongoing and may continue as weather, staffing, and conditions allow. Locations could vary due to changing conditions.

Proactive forest management activities can reduce high-severity fire by up to 75%, save up to three times the cost of fighting forest fires and bring added benefits to people, water and wildlife according to a study released today.