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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In less than 90 days life has changed in South Lake Tahoe, California and the United States. The West caught up quickly to the novel coronavirus pandemic that was first contracted by a human in China on November 17, 2019.

Scientists and doctors pled for the public to stay home to keep the virus from spreading, and that plea worked better in some areas than others.

(Since publishing, LTBMU has corrected the date their order expires.)

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - All national forest recreation areas and sites in the South Shore Recreation Corridors are now closed. In an announcement Wednesday, the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) said the closures are to keep in alignment with current federal, state and local guidance for social distancing and to ensure health and safety of its employees, visitors and volunteers.

USDA Forest Service (USFS) has closed its developed recreation facilities on National Forest land in California in order to assist people in abiding by Governor Newsom's recent statewide shelter-in-place order.

They will be closed until at least April 30 in an attempt to avoid groups of people and promote social distancing of staying more than six feet apart during the COVID-19 crisis.

In a press release, USFS officials said that while they appreciated the public's interest in outdoor recreation they needed to close to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – The public is invited to explore the future of Lake Tahoe's West Shore during one of three public opportunities offered by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, and Tahoe Transportation District. The State Route 89 Recreation Corridor Management Plan outlines the projects needed to improve the visitor experience, reduce traffic congestion, and preserve the environment from South Lake Tahoe to Tahoma.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The public is invited to an open house hosted by the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) on Thurdsay, February 20 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. They will be providing information and seeking public input on their annual California Department of Parks and Recreation Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division grant applications.

The OHMVR applications request funding for trail maintenance and operation of facilities for off-highway vehicle access in the Tahoe Basin.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - New plans have been released on the State Route 28 corridor from Sand Harbor to Spooner Summit on the east shore of Lake Tahoe. After the success of the East Shore Trail from Incline Village to Sand Harbor, the plan is to continue the shared-use trail with other improvements to highway safety and infrastructure; summer recreational access; water, air and scenic quality; and increase non-motorized access to the corridor.

The USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) has issued a draft decision for the proposed improvements to this area.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – Weather permitting, the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team (TFFT) will continue prescribed fire operations over the next several weeks in the Tahoe Basin. They may not be able to continue prescribed fire operations at some sites because of increased snow loads, but some units are able to continue burning.

Members of the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team, which includes local, state and federal fire and land management agencies, are scheduled to continue prescribed fire operations in the Lake Tahoe Basin over the next few weeks, weather permitting.

The 13 areas currently on the planned operations:

The old Tahoe Pines Campground near the intersection of US Hwy 50 and South Upper Truckee Rd. by the California Tahoe Conservancy. 8 acres of Machine Piles.

Upper Kinsbury, Valley Side by the Tahoe Douglas Fire District. 40 acres of Hand Piles.

Again, my family and I have been subjected to the invasive noise pollution inside our home from yet another SnowGlobe event. I live in the county near Sierra House School. I purchased this home to live in a quiet and peaceful alpine environment. Now, my home is 1.18 miles or 6,225 feet from a large and loud musical venue that violates noise regulations, creates pollution, and drains governmental resources in my community. All the while, I am paying tax dollars for services not rendered. It is very disappointing, to say the least!

PLACERVILLE, Calif. - Eldorado National Forest Supervisor Laurence Crabtree announced that he will retire on January 6, 2020, completing a career that spanned 50 years.

North Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Douglas fire protection districts, along with California State Parks, California Tahoe Conservancy and the USDA Forest Service are scheduled to continue prescribed fire operations over the next few weeks in the Tahoe Basin, weather, conditions, and staffing permitted.

Scheduled Prescribed Burns:

Tahoe Pines Campground

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Crews responded to a small fire on the outskirts of South Lake Tahoe Monday evening.

At 5:29 p.m., South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue was called out to a fire near West Way. Not knowing if the fire was on USFS land, or in the City Limits, they responded and Engine 3 was able to extinguish the 20 ft x 20 ft fire.

The person who called the fire in said they saw someone light the fire and walk off and USFS fire investigators are looking into the cause.

It isn't a normal spot for what is called a "warming fire," as it was in the meadow behind homes on West Way.

The Caples Fire burning southwest of Lake Tahoe is now at 2,400 acres and is 25 percent contained. The fire started as a prescribed burn but was changed to a wildland fire Thursday afternoon which allowed more resources to be sent to the scene. It is still within the planned prescribed burn project area.

Smoke is still in the Lake Tahoe Basin and Carson Valley. Smoke sensitive individuals are encouraged to reduce their exposure by avoiding smoky areas, closing windows, or staying indoors.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Smoke coming into the Lake Tahoe Basin and Carson Valley has been a concern to residents but it appears it is now all coming from prescribed burns above Caples Creek, north of SR88.

Thank you for the opportunity to share the concerns of residents in the Ski Run /Needle Peak Road residential area with the proposed 112-foot Verizon cell tower.

There is an urgent need for the South Lake Tahoe City Council to adopt a cell tower ordinance to give reassurance to existing residents that their neighborhoods will not be compromised. There needs to be certainty to telecommunications companies by making clear where they can locate their facilities. An urgency ordinance may be adopted by the City Council with a 4/5 vote of its members.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a Red Flag Warning for the greater Lake Tahoe area from 11:00 a.m. to Sunday to 11:00 a.m. Monday and a Lake Wind Advisory until 5:00 p.m. Monday.

A strong cold front will bring southwest to west winds of 15 to 30 mph with gusts 35 to 45 mph beginning Sunday morning and lasting into Monday. The humidity with this front is low - minimum 8 to 18 percent Sunday afternoon, with poor recovery tonight. Minimum 15 to 25 percent early Monday.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Yellowjackets - they seem to appear whenever you sit down for your picnic lunch or other outside dining enjoyment in Lake Tahoe, especially in the months of July and August.

While the uninvited guests have some redeeming qualities they are predatory, sting pets and humans and are capable of stinging multiple times. Their aggressive behavior ruins many the outside activity. Yellowjackets are actually wasps but shouldn't be confused with other wasps, such as hornets and paper wasps. They are often mistakenly called "bees" (as in "meat bees").

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The 23rd annual Lake Tahoe Summit will be held on Tuesday, August 20 at Valhalla starting at 10:00 a.m. Two governors, two senators, a Washoe elder and other state and federal representatives will be on hand to discuss Lake Tahoe, the environment and the future of keeping Tahoe blue and forests healthy.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - California has just experienced the deadliest and most destructive wildfire seasons with more than 8,500 fires burning an area of more than 1.8 million acres in 2018 alone.

Fire is no stranger to Lake Tahoe.

The USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) is forming a new volunteer team to provide a “uniform presence” in Lake Tahoe areas where they do not have staff available to be in the field or on the many trails.

A formation meeting for is being held for all potential volunteers on Friday, June 28 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at LTBMU Supervisor Office located at 35 College Drive in South Lake Tahoe.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The popular Stream Profile Chamber at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center has been closed since the glass broke during a routine cleaning almost one year ago. With financial help from the Tahoe Fund and Tahoe Blue Vodka, those walking the Rainbow Trail will once again be able to get an up-close underwater view of aquatic life and the spawning Kokanee salmon at Lake Tahoe each year.

The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is holding a grand reopening celebration of the chamber with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon on Friday, June 7.

The following is the second in a series of stories on being a community that is prepared for wildfire.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Vegetation fires are natural and were normal before policies were created to suppress them for fear of uncontrollable and destructive wildfires as seen in the late 1800s. When some of the first residents arrived in Lake Tahoe between the Gold Rush and Silver Strike, it was common to see just six-seven Jeffrey Pines per acre. Trees in the Tahoe Basin were clear cut to provide the lumber for building mines under Virginia City.

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - Anyone passing by the entrance to Round Hill Pines on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe during the summer months knows the traffic and safety issues created by drivers turning into the popular beachfront resort.

On Tuesday night there was a public meeting held to gather ideas on a solution to the ingress and egress issues the road has along Highway 50 in this area. Representatives from the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), US Forest Service, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the Federal Highway Administration(FHWA) were on hand to lead the discussion.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) is seeking public comments for the annual California Department of Parks and Recreation, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division grant application. The OHMVR application requests funding for trail maintenance, and operation of facilities for off-highway vehicle (OHV) access in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The 60-day grant application comment period ends Monday, May 6.