Snowmobilers asked to avoid areas with minimal snow coverage
A lack of the snow in the Sierra Nevada isn’t just hurting water supplies, it’s also hurting vegetation around popular snowmobiling routes.
This preventable problem is being seen around the lake where snowmobiles on too little snow creates ruts in the soil and crushes vegetation.
The U.S. Forest Service is asking snowmobilers to shift their activities to locations with adequate snow coverage, within permitted snowmobile areas. Snowmobile operators should avoid bare dirt and patchy snow and should not ride across streams or over small trees or brush.
“We are asking snowmobilers for voluntary cooperation in moving their activities to suitable locations,” said Acting Forest Supervisor Jeff Marsolais. “Riding snowmobiles on too little snow not only causes resource damage, but can damage the machine as well.”
Tahoe Sierra Snowmobiling Club president, Greg McKay urges snowmobilers to comply with the Forest Service’s request. “Our club endorses responsible snowmobiling by trying to minimize resource damage in low snow depth conditions,” said McKay. “Please do your best to minimize your effect on vegetation, soil and waterways during these conditions.”
Here is a list of closed areas:
Desolation Wilderness: Closed to all motorized use.
Mt. Rose Wilderness: Closed to all motorized use
East Shore Beaches Management Area: Maintain closure to over-snow vehicles.
Echo Lakes Management Area: Maintain closure to over-snow vehicles (winter).
Emerald Bay Management Area: Closed to over-snow vehicle use.
Freel Management Area: The area north of Fountain Place Road is closed to all over-snow vehicles. The area south of Fountain Place Road is open to over-snow vehicles.
Fallen Leaf Management Area: Closed to over-snow vehicles east of Fallen Leaf Road to South Lake Tahoe and north of Tahoe Mountain, north of Highway 89 and at Angora Lakes
Heavenly Valley Management Area: Maintain closure to OHV/OSV use
Marlette Management Area: Closed to over-snow vehicles except the Slaughterhouse Canyon Area.
Meeks Management Area: Maintain closure to OHV /OSV use.
Meiss Management Area: Closed to all motor vehicles
Mt. Rose Management Area: Open to over-snow vehicles except within designated wilderness.
Roundhill Management Area: Open to over-snow vehicles except in Rabe Meadow and the vicinity of Round Hill Pines Resort.
Tahoe Valley Management Area: Open to over-snow vehicles except for areas around Grass Lake, Waterhouse Peak, Christmas Valley, and in the vicinity of Pioneer Trail and Black Bart.
Urban Lots Management Area: Closed to over-snow vehicle activity.
Causing resource damage can result in a citation punishable by a fine of $5,000 or more and/or six months in jail. The Forest Service will continue to monitor areas throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin for compliance to protect natural resources.
Information on areas where snowmobiles are allowed is available in the online Snowmobile Guide at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/Snowmobiling or at the Forest Supervisor’s office at 35 College Drive in South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, 530-543-2694.