BMP Retrofit Project Approved for Tallac Historic Site

The U.S. Forest Service has released details of the final BMP project for the Tallac Historic Site. The project will reconfigure the three entrances to the site in order to reduce confusion of travelers and create a more efficient use of paved surfaces. There will also be an internal road created to serve as a connector between Tallac, Kiva and the Visitor Center so vehicles will not have to exit to Hwy 89 to move about.

This project was first proposed in January of 2011. Work may begin in Spring of 2015 and is expected to take 10 years to complete.

Four alternatives were analyzed that included three action alternatives and one no-action alternative. An environmental assessment was released March 7, 2014, which gave the public 30 days to provide comment. After reviewing those comments, Forest Supervisor Nancy Gibson developed the fourth alternative in response to public comment and was chosen as the preferred alternative.

The desired condition at Tallac Historic Site is to provide a high quality recreation setting and facilities that meet water quality protection best management practices (BMPs) to protect the water quality of Lake Tahoe and to protect the integrity of the historic facilities.

The project will include:

45 more parking spaces near the Valhalla entrance and 90 more spaces at the Tallac Site.

Volunteer campground at Baldwin Trailer Park will be upgraded and reconfigured to include 15 additional campsites that meet accessibility guidelines.

Infiltration basins, planted swales, and slope stabilization along the shoreline. Other work would include the installation of barriers to prevent off-pavement parking, configuring better pedestrian routes, planting of native plants, and repairing existing fences.

At Kiva Point: informational signs would be installed, the pathway from the parking area to the beach would be upgraded to meet accessibility standards, and some user-created trails would be removed. A restroom would be built at the Kiva Point parking area, 20 additional parking spaces would be constructed, and a fence would be installed between the beach area and Taylor Creek Marsh.

During the 30 day comment period after the environmental report was released, there were several comments received by the Forest Service. The Jam

The project now enters a 45-day objection period.Read the whole document with comments.