department of agriculture

LTUSD school breakfast and lunch program free through December

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) will be able to offer free meals to all students through December due to the U.S. Department of Agriculture extended all Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) waivers. Earlier this week they had issued instructions on how to pay for meals and submit income verification applications for free or reduced price meals, but these are no longer required.

These programs are extended in response to the nationwide COVID-19 pandemic

Warning on unordered packets of seeds being sent to homes in El Dorado County and around the country

People around the country are receiving mysterious seed packets in the mail from China. While the shipping package may be mislabeled as jewelry or other merchandise, the contents are instead unlabeled seeds.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has become aware of a number of reports regarding these seeds.

Some have been mailed to homes in El Dorado County.

El Dorado County Department of Agriculture officials are instructing residents not to open, plant, or dispose of any unsolicited seed packets received, but to contact their office.

Drought conditions for Northern California and Northern Nevada

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - This week's Drought Monitor shows much of the West in some level of drought. Lake Tahoe, the Sierra, and Western Nevada are all in a "moderate drought" stage with no end in the immediate future.

The 90-day outlook shows higher than average temperatures and lower than average precipitation, neither of which is good to break out of a drought.

Following below-average precipitation most of the winter, May storms delivered 181 percent of average in the Northern Sierra for this time of year, but the results aren't showing enough to remove the area from drought.

USFS beaches and sites around Lake Tahoe to remain closed through May 15

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A temporary closure order for USFS beaches and recreation sites around Lake Tahoe has been extended through at least May 15, 2020. The original order was set to expire May 1. To keep in alignment with current federal, state, and local guidance for social distancing, and to ensure the health and safety of its employees, visitors, and volunteers, it was extended.

Trailheads and trails outside of the orange areas of the attached maps, or the ones on the closure website, are not affected by this order but parking lots are closed.

USFS closes South Shore Recreation areas: Up to $10,000 fine for violation of order

(Since publishing, LTBMU has corrected the date their order expires.)

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - All national forest recreation areas and sites in the South Shore Recreation Corridors are now closed. In an announcement Wednesday, the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) said the closures are to keep in alignment with current federal, state and local guidance for social distancing and to ensure health and safety of its employees, visitors and volunteers.

Official groundbreaking for new $68M sheriff's building in El Dorado County

Ground was broken recently on the new 11-acre El Dorado County Sheriff's Public Safety Facility, a project that will cost $68 million, a low interest $57 million loan from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and $11 million from the County.

Final step on $68 million public safety center approved for El Dorado County

In the works since 2014, the last hurdle for the new El Dorado County Public Safety Project was approved on Tuesday at the Board of Supervisor's meeting when they unanimously approved a $49 million contract to design and build a new public safety facility. Clark/Sullivan Construction and Broward Builders were awarded the contract to design and build the facility.

Annual Canadian Goose roundup completed in Lake Tahoe and Reno

Not only humans enjoy hanging out in Lake Tahoe, the Canadian Goose does as well, and according to many, perhaps too well. The annual goose roundup is now complete with 118 of the geese from Lake Tahoe now living at the Wild Horse Reservoir in Elko County.

Lake Tahoe Basin Federal Advisory Committee meeting in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - The Lake Tahoe Basin Federal Advisory Committee (LTBFAC) is scheduled to meet Tuesday, February 28, 2017, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Forest Supervisor’s office, 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150. LTBFAC will address issues related to federal activities at Lake Tahoe.

Items on the agenda include an update on the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) secondary list and priority setting, a review of LTBFAC goals and objectives, a schedule of 2017 meetings, and membership and vacancy information.

Special BOS meeting to vote on $57.1 million loan for new public safety building

Should El Dorado County receive a $57.1 million loan from United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) to replace their aging public safety facility/Sheriff's office in Placerville? The Board of Supervisors (BOS) will make a decision on this at a special meeting on Tuesday, December 28 at 10:00 a.m.

Satin moths found in Spooner Lake area

Seven acres of poplar and willow trees defoliated by satin moths were recently discovered in the Spooner Lake area.The Nevada Department of Agriculture and the Nevada Division of Forestry found ...

Clean Energy Summit Sparks Political Events, Debate Over Government Role In Renewables

CARSON CITY — With U.S. Sen. Harry Reid’s 5th annual National Clean Energy Summit set to kick off today in Las Vegas, the debate over alternative energy development and the government’s role in its future rages on.

Drought disaster declared in Douglas

Even as Carson Valley farmers are baling hay, Douglas County has been declared a drought disaster area by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Extreme drought conditions extend through much of Washoe, and parts of Pershing, Churchill and Lyon counties. Most of Douglas County is under moderate or severe drought conditions, according to the U.S. drought monitor.

Off-road organizations file lawsuit over closure of national forest trails

Several Northern California off-road organizations took legal action Tuesday against the U.S. Department of Agriculture, due to the closure of more than 800 miles of trails in the Tahoe National Fo...

Off-road organizations file lawsuit over closure of national forest trails

Several Northern California off-road organizations took legal action Tuesday against the U.S. Department of Agriculture, due to the closure of more than 800 miles of trails in the Tahoe National Fo...

Group sues USDA concerning '30s-era predator killing program

RENO (AP) - The Great Depression-era program the Department of Agriculture uses to kill coyotes, mountain lions and other predators that threaten livestock is outdated, illegal and a waste of feder...

Food distribution to take place in Zephyr Cove

The Department of Agriculture will distribute food to low-income Nevada residents on Thursday.Frozen meat, canned fruit, pasta and juice are some of the items that will be handed out. Preference wi...

Education Roundup: Lake Tahoe Unified ahead of the game with healthy

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With new school meal rules handed down from Michelle Obama and the United State Department of Agriculture, schools across the country are eyeing their menus to see if ...

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