Land swap proposed between Forest Service and Conservancy

The United States Forest Service (USFS) and California Tahoe Conservancy (CTC) will be trading 1,961 acres under a proposed land swap on the north, south and west shores of Lake Tahoe. Urban lots would go to CTC and the larger parcels would go to the USFS.

The agencies will hold two meetings where the public will have the opportunity to review the plan and offer feedback.

“The proposed land exchange would increase the effectiveness of our urban lot program in meeting various environmental and public access goals in the Basin,” said California Tahoe Conservancy Executive Director Patrick Wright.

“Our urban lots program is the only one in the Forest Service, and presents unique challenges in protecting thousands of small parcels right in the middle of Tahoe neighborhoods,” said Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit Forest Supervisor Jeff Marsolais. “We’re interested in hearing any concerns about a proposal, the goal of which is to allow the Forest Service to focus on our strengths in managing larger forested parcels while the CTC maximizes the efficiency of its urban lots program.”

The South Shore open house will take place Wednesday, September 9 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Forest Supervisor’s office, 35 College Drive in South Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe City open house will take place Thursday, September 10 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Tahoe City Public Utility District’s Lakeview Room, 221 Fairview Drive. There will be no formal presentation. Staff members from both agencies will be available to explain the proposal and answer questions.

Under the authority of the Santini-Burton Act, the Forest Service acquired roughly 3500 urban lots, including about 2200 lots in California. The CTC launched a similar program in 1984 and has since acquired more than 4850 parcels, totaling more than 6500 acres.

Under the proposal, the Forest Service and CTC would exchange 1,961 acres. Maps showing areas proposed for exchange are available at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/ProposedLandExchange. Language that would authorize this exchange has been included in both the Senate (S. 1724) and House (H.R. 3382) versions of the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act re-authorization.

For requests for reasonable accommodation access to the facility or proceedings, contact Adrian Escobedo at (530) 543-2758 or email aescobedo02@fs.fed.us.