USFS receives $850K in Great American Outdoors Act funds for improvements at Lake Tahoe

The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) has received $850,000 from the first round of funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) to work on five local projects. All of the planned projects will improve the visitor experience by reducing deferred maintenance and enhancing recreational infrastructure.

“The Great American Outdoors Act is a major investment in our public lands that will help us tackle deferred maintenance and infrastructure projects on National Forest lands at Lake Tahoe,” said Forest Supervisor, Bill Jackson. “Maintaining and improving our public facilities is a key factor in the Forest Service’s ability to deliver sustainable recreational benefits to the American public.”

Projects include:

Reconstruct the Tyrolian Downhill Trail – This project will be implemented through a working partnership with Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA). TAMBA has hired trail crews to perform this work.

Campsite Spur Replacement at Fallen Leaf Campground and William Kent Campground - Reconstruct campground spurs at existing campgrounds and reduce deferred maintenance.

Access Improvements for Maintenance Level 3-5 Roads - Improve access and road maintenance, best management practices (BMPs) including drainage maintenance, ditch clearing, infiltration basin clearing and installation, brushing, striping, and resurfacing for forest roads and parking areas suitable for passenger vehicles.

Access Improvements Maintenance Level 2 Roads - Improve access and road maintenance, best management practices (BMPs) including resurfacing for Level 2 forest roads. These roads serve recreational opportunities for off-highway vehicles (OHVs) and funds will be used as a match towards currently available grant funds for this purpose.

Recreation Site Amenities Replacement - Replace campground and developed recreation site amenities, such as fire rings, picnic tables, and signs at concession and Forest Service-managed sites.

Jackson added that projects will be advertised to contractors soon with anticipated award dates by July 2021. Construction schedules will be proposed and will likely take place in late summer, fall of 2021 or summer of 2022. During project implementation, portions of recreation sites or facilities may be closed or restricted.

Each fiscal year, forests will submit projects for consideration using the following criteria:

· Reduce deferred maintenance

· Promote sustainability

· Improve visitor experiences

· Contribute to rural development

“The Great American Outdoors Act responds to the growing backlog of deferred maintenance on National Forest roads, bridges, visitor centers, campgrounds, and other facilities,” said Forest Engineer, Mike Gabor. “We are excited about this opportunity and look forward to improving the visitor experience at these iconic and popular destinations.”

To learn more about the GAOA, visit www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/gaoa.