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The upcoming Lake Tahoe Science Conference in Incline Village, Nev. will feature presentations from the Tahoe Resource Conservation District (Tahoe RCD) and its partners. Will Anderson of Tahoe RCD’s Watershed Resources Program will present on modeling of storm events, and Jim Brockett will display photographs highlighting aquatic invasive species control projects underway in Lake Tahoe by Tahoe RCD and its partners.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency is encouraging local residents and part-time homeowners to become “wildfire aware” by taking advantage of public education activities during Lake Tahoe Wildfire Awareness Week happening May 26 to June 3.

“With the fifth anniversary of the Angora fire coming up, this is a good opportunity for our community to discuss the importance of wildfire awareness,” said Joanne Marchetta, Executive Director of TRPA.

Professional road cycling teams continue to take note of Lake Tahoe as a premier outdoor biking destination.
The latest is Liquigas-Cannondale, a professional Italian racing team in the UCI ProTour, who will call North Lake Tahoe home Saturday, May 5 through Friday, May 11 to train for the upcoming Amgen Tour of California, an eight-stage race scheduled for May 13-20 and held throughout the state of California.

Do you love Lake Tahoe and have an interest in learning more about the lake? Do you enjoy science, learning new information, and sharing your knowledge?

Residents who would like to help people learn about the region's environmental assets and challenges are needed to serve as volunteer docents at the Thomas J. Long Foundation Education Center and the UC Davis Eriksson Education Center. Located in Incline Village and Tahoe City respectively, the two UC Davis education centers are well positioned along the North Shore of Lake Tahoe.

Several environmental gains over the last five years have been made at the Lake Tahoe Basin, according to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s “Threshold Evaluation Report” released Wednesday, which highlights water quality as a continued area of concern.

The comprehensive report offers a snapshot of the health of the ecosystem in the Tahoe Basin by documenting the status and trends of more than 100 environmental standards ranging from air and water quality to fish and wildlife. The biggest improvements were documented in air and water quality, and scenic resources.

University of Nevada Reno interim chief Marc Johnson, who took over after the sudden death of administrative leader Milt Click, was selected by the state's Board of Regents as the 16th president of UNR.
“It is a high honor to have been given this opportunity,” said Johnson, who has served as UNR's interim president since April. “I am very gratified by the community and campus support of my candidacy.”

Education Driven
“The University of Nevada, Reno is a quality university with a statewide obligation and presence, and we will continue to communicate with our constituents statewide to better convey what the University represents and how it contributes to Nevada’s future,” Johnson added. “We will continue to grow the University’s national reputation and remain committed to being a University with hands-on learning opportunities that prepares students with the knowledge and skills to be contributing, successful citizens.”

U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Supervisor Nancy Gibson has signed a Decision Notice/Finding of No Significant Impact authorizing restoration activities on National Forest System lands associated with the Upper Truckee River Sunset Stables Reach.

(Editor's note: This is the fourth in a regular feature by South Lake Tahoe-based Certified Wellness Coach and Advanced Integrative Therapist Krista Kline. Visit her website at www.kristaekline.com.)

I want to have fun and live life to the fullest, do it all, see it all! I love to laugh, spend time with family and friends, listen to music, travel, eat, try new things, be challenged, learn, help others, and the list goes on. What is on your list? What are you doing (or better yet, what aren't you doing) to have a little fun in your life?

I don't know what to be more excited about, that we finally received snow or that we have a new face at Harveys Improv. Both are a cause for celebration. The snow should attract visitors and loc...

The action-comedy film "21 Jump Street," currently playing at the Horizon Stadium at Stateline, Lake Tahoe, may seem a little familiar to those who saw the teen comedy "Project X" recently. And for good reason, the writer for both films was Michael Bacall. There's much of the same in both films, high school affairs drugs and teen mammoth parties.

The Nevada State Demographer’s Office, located at the University of Nevada, Reno College of Business, has released its 2011 population estimates. The state gained an estimated 17,152 people from July 2010 to July 2011, an estimated increase of 0.6 percent, about equivalent to the increase of 0.7 percent the prior year. Two years ago, the state lost 27,677 people, a decrease of about 1.0 percent.

(Editor's note: This is the third in a regular feature by South Lake Tahoe-based Certified Wellness Coach and Advanced Integrative Therapist Krista Kline. Visit her website at www.kristaekline.com.)

A few weeks ago, I wrote about the importance of creating a vision plan in order to begin getting what you want out of life. Just ONE thing you’d like to be different. Many people when faced with this task don’t know where to start because they get overwhelmed with thinking about ALL the things they want to change. Suddenly their eyes glaze over, their thoughts race in a thousand different directions, and frustration or helplessness sets in. Making changes just feels too difficult or even impossible to tackle.

Sochi, Russia is next on the list for orthopedic surgeon, Terrence Orr's medical volunteerism. As a physician with Tahoe Orthopedic & Sports Medicine, he will be previewing the future site of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games as part of his role as Head Team Physician for the United States Men's Alpine Ski Team — a position he has held since 1999.

Lake Tahoe Community College's Writers' Series continues as two local authors, Jeremy Evans and Scott Lankford, read and sign their work at the LTCC library. Stop by for the reading, buy a book to get signed, and chat with the writers.

By Kristi Boosman
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and a delegation from the Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Program presented to a consortium of public agencies, non-profits and interest group at Lake George, New York last month.

TRPA’s Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator Ted Thayer, Sudeep Chandra, Professor of Limnology from University Nevada Reno, and Marion Wittmann, Postdoctoral Research Associate from the University of Notre Dame and UC Davis, traveled to Lake George to speak about the Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Program and ongoing research.

By Lisa Herron
U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews are scheduled to resume prescribed fire operations on the south side of the intersection of Pioneer Trail and U.S. Highway 50 in the community of Meyers near South Lake Tahoe on Wednesday, Nov. 30, weather permitting.

By Peter Brumis
The Tahoe Resource Conservation District has released a series of educational posters which identify some of the biggest threats to Lake Tahoe Basin, as well as what visitors, residents and even kids can do to help. Titled “Tahoe’s Most un-Wanted,” the first three posters feature aquatic invasive species, fine sediments from runoff and invasive weeds, and are free to pick up or request for local schools, businesses and other organizations who would like to display them publicly.

By Tia Rancourt
The winter holidays are a time for celebration with family and friends, and that means more cooking, entertaining, home decorating and an increased risk of home fires due to increased usage of cooking and heating equipment. Most home fires and injuries occur in the kitchen as reported by the U.S. Fire Administration. Here are some simple and easy life-saving tips from the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District to remember during the holiday season:

By Lisa Herron
The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is asking for public input on the proposed Fallen Leaf Lake Trail Access and Travel Management project. The project would improve the recreation experience for residents and visitors to the Fallen Leaf Lake area, while protecting the natural, cultural, and historic resources of the area.

By John Heil
California’s landscapes are under siege from a host of threats. Catastrophic wildfire, climate change, invasive species and increasing human population put these delicate ecosystems at risk. The U.S. Forest Service has recognized and battled these threats for decades, but recently the agency recognized the need for a more focused approach on Ecological Restoration as the primary goal for all land management actions.

By John Heil
California is expected to see a boost in its local mountain economies as a result of a new legislation that now permits year-long recreation opportunities on U.S. Forest Service ski areas. The Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act of 2011, which was signed by President Barack Obama on Nov. 7, is estimated to create and annually sustain up to 600 extra jobs nationwide.

I've changed the name of this letter writer. Here's what he wrote:Hi, Dayle,My name is Robert and I am born and raised in South Lake Tahoe. I love your column in the Tribune and it gives me hope mo...