lake tahoe basin

Placer County has purchased the 11-acre Nahas property near Tahoe City for $3.42 million. They are working with housing developer partner Related-Pacific Companies to develop conceptual options for a potential mixed-use commercial and achievable housing project on the site.

While the purchase represents a step forward in bringing more achievable housing to North Lake Tahoe, development concepts for the site are still in early stages and no project proposal has yet been brought forward for formal consideration or approval.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A three-year effort to survey the Upper Truckee River for aquatic invasive plants has wrapped up. Community members, supported by staff from the League to Save Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Resource Conservation District, and California State Parks joined together to map the plants in order to prevent their spread during major upcoming restoration projects along the river, Lake Tahoe’s largest tributary.

The Caples Creek prescribed burn that has been sending smoke into the Lake Tahoe Basin and Carson Valley all week has turned into a wildland fire.

On October 10 at approximately 1:30 p.m., fire managers made the decision due to unfavorable weather conditions and the inability to meet previously established objectives. This change allows for additional resources to assist in suppression from partners such as CalFire.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Smoke from the prescribed burn near Caples Creek should affect the Lake Tahoe Basin through Wednesday afternoon, then shift direction as the winds come from the Northeast.

The USFS Eldorado National Forest has completed ignitions on the Caples Prescribed Fire. Crews will patrol and monitor the area over the next few days during the wind event Wednesday through Thursday. Smoke sensitive individuals are encouraged to reduce their exposure by avoiding smoky areas, closing windows, or staying indoors.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Smoke coming into the Lake Tahoe Basin and Carson Valley has been a concern to residents but it appears it is now all coming from prescribed burns above Caples Creek, north of SR88.

A band of smoke to the southwest of Lake Tahoe is being caused by a prescribed 33-acre fire at Sly Park and another prescribed burn near Caples Lake, drawing concern from residents.

The Amador-Eldorado Unit of Calfire is conducting a fuels-reduction burn at the Sly Park Recreation Area in Pollock Pines. The project started October 3 and is expected to last until October 7, 2019.

Another prescribed burn is near Caples Lake near SR88. This is a project that has been burning several thousand acres over multiple years.

Smoke will be visible in the area.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Just as the throngs of visitors head to Taylor Creek to watch the annual salmon run up Taylor Creek, the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) has issued a forest closure to last through the spawning season, October 27.

The public, including photographers, cannot enter Taylor Creek or be within 400 feet of the creek from the Fallen Leaf Dam and continuing north to the high-water mark on the shore of Lake Tahoe.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Construction crews hit two different gas lines this week near the Y in South Lake Tahoe, causing a break in the line and evacuations.

On Monday, a contractor's crew hit a gas line on Julie Lane, followed by another crew in the area of D and Dedi Streets breaking a line on Tuesday.

The Lake Tahoe Basin Fall Prescribed Fire Program may begin as early as September 24, 2019, under the management of the Tahoe Fire & Fuels Team (TFFT), which includes local, state and federal fire and land management agencies.

Weather and conditions permitting, California State Park crews may begin prescribed fire operations in Burton Creek State Park near Tahoe City and in a couple of weeks move to D.L. Bliss State Park near Tahoma.

Smoke will likely be present.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking to several hundred Tahoe City residents on a warm summer evening in August. I was there for a celebration that has been a long time coming.

Residents gathered in the parking lot of the blighted Henrikson Building to take a ceremonial swing of the hammer — to say goodbye to an eyesore of a building whose useful life came to an end years ago. They were also there to celebrate what will soon take shape as Tahoe City’s first new hotel in more than 60 years.

In an effort to personally minimize the damage that single-use plastics are creating in our environment, Lake Tahoe Chapter DAR Daughters have accepted the National Society’s “No-Straw September” Challenge.

DAR Daughters everywhere - including members in the greater Lake Tahoe Basin - are eliminating plastic straws from daily routines and rethinking their purchases of single-use plastic items. All members are encouraged to skip using plastic shopping bags, and to participate in consistent plastic recycling.

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - Safety for visitors entering and exiting the Round Hill Pines Resort from U50 is the focus of a second public meeting on a project currently in the Environmental Assessment stage. The purpose of the project is to increase safety and improve accessibility for motorists, pedestrians, and bicycles entering and exiting the popular resort. HIghway planner say the major issues in the area are limited sight distance, unprotected turning movements across US50 and vehicle queuing in the eastbound inside lane of US50 during peak visitation periods

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There are about so left of scheduled roadwork around the Lake Tahoe Basin before winter hiatus. Most traffic-interfering work will be limited from 6 a.m. Friday, August 30 through 8 p.m. Tuesday, September 3 for Labor Day weekend. Exceptions may be granted depending on the work and route.

The following are the Caltrans projects in the Lake Tahoe Basin and El Dorado County:

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Yellowjackets - they seem to appear whenever you sit down for your picnic lunch or other outside dining enjoyment in Lake Tahoe, especially in the months of July and August.

While the uninvited guests have some redeeming qualities they are predatory, sting pets and humans and are capable of stinging multiple times. Their aggressive behavior ruins many the outside activity. Yellowjackets are actually wasps but shouldn't be confused with other wasps, such as hornets and paper wasps. They are often mistakenly called "bees" (as in "meat bees").

The National Weather Service in Reno has issued a Red Flag Warning for Wednesday, August 28 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. for Carson City and the portion of Douglas County in the valley. Also under the warning are other portions of Western Nevada, the Eastern Sierra and the west slope of the Sierra.

The Lake Tahoe Basin does not fall into this warning.

The Red Flag Warning is for thunderstorms and strong outflow winds. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect.

Expect:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There are still almost two months left of scheduled roadwork around the Lake Tahoe Basin before winter hiatus. Most traffic-interfering work will be limited from 6:00 a.m. August 30 through 8:00 p.m. September 3 for Labor Day weekend. Exceptions may be granted depending on the work and route.

State Route 89 (Placer County): Motorists can expect intermittent short delays on State Route 89 at Sugar Pine Point State Park in Tahoma from 6:30-9:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 24 and from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, August 25 due to the Lake Tahoe Triathlon.

STATELINE, Nev. - The 30th annual American Century Championship has gone into the record books as one of the biggest and best golf events in Lake Tahoe history. There was an attendance record of 60,550, an economic impact estimated at $30 million for the Lake Tahoe Basin, and now an additional $100,000 will be given away to South Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Township non-profits.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There are still about two months left of scheduled roadwork around the Lake Tahoe Basin before winter hiatus. The following are the Caltrans projects in the Lake Tahoe Basin and El Dorado County:

LONG-TERM PROJECTS

U.S. Highway 50 (El Dorado County): Work continues on a $5.2 million project to upgrade metal beam guardrail and construct concrete barriers at 89 locations from the Red Hawk Undercrossing to 1.9 miles west of the junction with State Route 89 in Meyers. Completion is expected in spring 2020.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There are two new groups of buses heading to South Lake Tahoe, one bringing 35-foot overhead electrically-charged buses and the other bringing 16-passenger battery-charged buses.

The Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) has received a grant for $2.1 million grant to help bring new electric buses to South Lake Tahoe. During their meeting Friday in Incline Village, the Board approved the purchase of three battery-electric buses, two pedestal chargers and two overhead chargers, all to be done through grant funds.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. This weekend marks the 35th annual Gatsby Festival and Tea at the Tallac Historic Site from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. August 10-11.

Celebrate life at Lake Tahoe in the 1920s. This free event includes exhibits, Vintage Market, food vendors, live jazz, antique vehicles, children's and family games, activities and more. 1920’s attire is encouraged but not required.

Enjoy a celebration of the Rip-Roaring ’20s with a variety of events including guided tours, vintage automobiles, historical talks, silent auction, family games and activities, food and drink.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The beloved icon of the United States Forest Service, Smokey Bear, will be turning 75 on August 9, 2019. To celebrate, USFS's Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will host two events in coordination with their partners at Great Basin Institute and Heavenly Mountain Resort.

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – As we move into the warmest and driest days of summer and early fall, the threat of catastrophic wildfire increases throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin. High winds, low relative humidity, and dry vegetation are a dangerous combination. When dangerous fire weather is forecasted, the National Weather Service may issue a Red Flag Warning.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - If you thought you were seeing many more butterflies around Lake Tahoe than normal, you would be correct. The entire Lake Tahoe Basin is in the midst of a massive outbreak of the winged beauties, especially in the Angora Fire burn area and along the east shore.

What most people are seeing is the California Tortoiseshell Butterfly, orange and black on the top of the wings, shades of black underneath. They thrive on the Mountain Whitethorn, part of the Ceanothus family, something that itself is thriving where the Angora fire burned in 2007.

MEYERS, Calif. - During the next meeting of the Meyers Advisory Council some important issues for residents of El Dorado County will be covered, including presentations on a parcel tax hike for both Lake Valley Fire Protection District (LVFPD) and the County.

On Monday, July 29 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., the Council will hold their meeting in the 2nd-floor conference room in the California Conservation Corps (CCC) Building in Meyers. It is open to the public.