Open Houses on proposed snowmobile/winter recreation access around Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – There was a lot of public reaction when the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) released their "Proposed Action for the Winter Recreation and Over Snow Vehicle (OSV) Travel Management Project" in September. That document outlined changes to snowmobile access in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The public comment period was originally slated to end on November 19 but, with the holiday season upon us and the importance of public comment and understanding of the project, LTBMU has extended the comment period through December 9 and added two informational open houses.

They have proposed to open OSV use (snowmobiles) to areas around the lake that have been restricted in the past and close up other areas. The plan still leaves about 50 percent of the lands managed by LTBMU open to OSV use.

The first open house will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at The Parasol Building, 948 Incline Way, Incline Village, Nevada. The second open house will be held on Thursday, Nov. 14, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Forest Supervisor’s Office, 35 College Drive in South Lake Tahoe.
To review the project, visit the Forest Projects webpage at https://go.usa.gov/xmgxT. Scroll down and select the “Winter Recreation and Over Snow Vehicle Travel Management” link. The Proposed Action and other supporting documents are on this project webpage under the “Scoping” tab. To comment, follow the “Comment/Object on Project” link under the right-hand column heading “Get connected” and follow the instructions. Electronic comments must be submitted through this comment form on the project website.

The Proposed Action was developed based on Forest Service criteria and feedback received from stakeholders during the Forest Plan Revision process, open house meetings and winter recreation collaborative meetings that occurred between 2011 and 2016.

The new areas proposed for OSV use: Open urban lots that are greater than two acres (or greater than two acres when combined with contiguous lots) and adjacent to general forest areas currently open to OSV use will become accessible. All other urban lots would not be open.

Areas now proposed to allow OSV:

Hartoonian Trails (also known as Golden Bear)
Junction of SR 28 and US 50
East of Fallen Leaf Lake
Area between Third Creek and SR 431 in Incline Village
Hell Hole Area - Generally, prohibited but there would be an open area on the northeast edge to facilitate through-traffic that follows the 1201 road until the road intersects the trail that crosses Trout Creek. After the Trout Creek crossing,
there is a ¼ mile open corridor following Trout Creek until the LTBMU border.
Area east of SR431 and north of Diamond Peak Ski Area in Incline Village - Open to OSV use on odd-numbered days of the month only
Pacific Coast Trail - Crossing of the PCT is only allowed at the designated
crossing at Barker Pass.

- The changes to areas that were previously closed and are now proposed to be open to OSV use - 2,603 acres
- Areas that were previously open and are now proposed to be not open to OSV use - 5,330 acres
- Areas that were previously open and are now proposed to be open to OSV use on odd-numbered days of the month only - 2,498 acres

“If ever there was a time for the collaboration to restart, it’s now,” said LTBMU Forest Supervisor, Jeff Marsolais. “I’m optimistic that we can work together to advance a plan that works for everyone.”

The plan also includes a list of areas that can be groomed for both motorized and non-motorized use under the terms of a special use permit, including Rabe Meadow, Meeks Meadow and forest between Fallen Leaf Lake and Lake Tahoe.

With a change to access in the forest and a need for more parking, expanded parking proposals have been developed for Spring Creek Road near SR89 and Fountain Place.

A new play area at Sawmill Pond is also part of the proposed plan.

In the fall of 2016, the LTBMU began the process of analyzing areas and trails open to OSV use in the Tahoe Basin under Forest Service Travel Management guidelines (Travel Management, Subpart C [36 CFR Part 212] regulations). Under this proposal, the LTBMU would direct project-specific management activities that include designating routes and areas open to OSV use; designating areas suitable for groomed OSV trails; allowing areas for grooming for non-motorized use only; designating locations suitable for snow play; identifying areas suitable for snow plowing; constructing additional winter parking; and identifying changes to opening/closing dates and seasonal designation of motorized roads. The project also proposes to amend the LTBMU Forest Plan to reflect the designation of OSV areas and trails.