Christmas tree permits still available in Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Long lines at the US Forest Service office in South Lake Tahoe on Monday put a dent in the supply of Christmas tree permits, but there are still many left.

Last year the supply was depleted in two weeks but the change in policy to only one permit per family instead of two may have had an effect on the numbers still available.

The USFS-Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit in South Lake Tahoe is open Friday until 4:30 p.m.

Lake Tahoe permits are being sold at the following locations:

- Forest Supervisor’s Office, 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, Calif. This office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays. (If purchasing a permit at the South Lake Tahoe office, please be sure to arrive no later than 4 p.m. This will help ensure there is adequate time to process your purchase before the office closes at 4:30 p.m.)

- North Lake Tahoe Visitor Center, 100 N. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, Calif. This office is open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., excluding Christmas Day.

Permit holders may choose from a variety of pine, fir or cedar trees up to six inches in diameter (at the base) in designated cutting areas.