tahoe basin

On Thursday, the California Tahoe Conservancy Board awarded more than $7 million for seven watershed restoration and forest health projects around the lake. Thirteen different applicants submitted 32 grant requests totaling $30 million, but with just $13,950,000 to give out, it was a very competitive process.

The money comes from Proposition 1, the $7.545 billion water bond approved overwhelmingly by California voters in November 2014. It was divided around the state to agencies like the Conservancy for water supply infrastructure projects.

Rarely do I use this space to comment upon political issues within our community. That said, with the “politicization” of the US Hwy 50 South Shore Community Revitalization Project I felt the need to share some background and perspectives for consideration.

Prescribed fire operations are set to continue this week in the Lake Tahoe Basin, as long as the weather allows burning. California State Parks and the U.S. Forest Service have projects planned near Burton Creek, Sugar Pine Point and D.L. Bliss state parks. On the East Shore, operations are scheduled to take place on Spooner Summit and near Camp Galilee. On the South Shore, operations may take place near Lake Tahoe Boulevard and Sawmill Road, Panther Lane near South Tahoe High School and off Highway 89 near Spring Creek.

Volunteers will be canvassing the community from Meyers to Round Hill this week to assess the employment needs of local businesses including their current employment situation, determine future needs, and ensure Tahoe can attract and retain talented workers for a variety of occupations.

Between 2003 and 2013, Lake Tahoe experienced a steady decline in jobs, with 5,500 jobs lost. Since then, there are several factors affecting the prosperity and sustainability of both the current and future workforce and economy.

South Lake Tahoe residents may remember Courtney Walker when she worked for the Tahoe Resource Conservation District and Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, but now she has a new job as the newly hired Douglas County Stormwater Program Manager.

She is bringing with her over 10 years of experience with stormwater and watershed management. With much of her experience in the Tahoe and Carson River Watershed area, Courtney is well versed in local stormwater and watershed coordination.

The State of California is offering financial assistance through grants for well managed off-highway vehicle recreation areas, and the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is applying for one. LTBMU would like to hear what local OHV needs are in the basin, so they are accepting public comment from March 8 to April 4, 2016. .

Funds for the grants come from the State of California Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division.

The public is invited to attend the next meeting of the Lake Tahoe Federal Advisory Committee (LTFAC) on Thursday, March 10, 2016 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the USFS offices in South Lake Tahoe.

On the agenda are issues related to federal activities in the Lake Tahoe Basin including an update to the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act, review of the environmental improvement plan and discussion on the comittee's future implementation strategy.

South Lake Tahoe citizens who graduated from the most recent South Tahoe Action Team (STAT) training sessions were honored during Tuesday's city council meeting.

The STAT program is designed to incorporate trained citizens in the field with the South Lake Tahoe Fire Department and other first responders during times of crisis. This is the first program of its kind in the Tahoe Basin.

"Our disaster preparedness capability is much better because of this class," said Fire Chief Jeff Meston.

Mountain Resort Television reporter Mikaila Bird checks in with Heidi Hill-Drum, Executive Director for the Tahoe Prosperity Center, to find out more about their comprehensive report about the economic and social well-being of the Lake Tahoe Basin.

Lake Tahoe, Stateline, NV – The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency will conduct travel surveys with visitors and residents at several recreational and commercial locations throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin starting Friday, Feb. 19, 2016.

At Lake Tahoe, we know our natural resources are one of our most valuable assets, and that’s why we have worked for decades to conserve and restore them. The natural wonders of the Jewel of the Sierra and the opportunities they afford are why we live here, and why millions of visitors travel here to enjoy the Tahoe Basin each year.

Through a new educational program spearheaded by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and other basin partners, Lake Tahoe Unified School District students are taking full advantage of winter to learn about avalanche safety, winter animal survival and the science of snowmaking.

Students in Class 10 of the Lake Tahoe Basin Fire Academy are shaving their heads to raise money to find cures for childhood cancers during the annual St. Baldrick's Foundation fundraiser on March 5 at Heavenly Mountain Resort, and they are seeking the community's support.

St. Baldrick's is a volunteer-powered charity that shows solidarity with young cancer patients through annual head-shaving events around the world that raise awareness and money for cancer research.

There are seven scheduled prescribed fire operations in the Lake Tahoe Basin this week in the areas of Logan Shoals Vista Point, Camp Galilee, Angora Creek burn area, Round Hill, Shakespeare Rock and the Spring Creek area.

At the Logan Creek Overlook there are 15 acres of hand piles being burned, with an ignition date of February 16 and will continue as conditions allow. Smoke should travel in a north to northeast direction.

Spring-like forecast for the Lake Tahoe basin this week with a chance of precipitation over the weekend. It's going to be a warm week ahead!

Temperatures will be close to record highs and well above seasonal averages. Periods of warmth in the middle of winter are not uncommon for the Sierra and Western Nevada.

In the long-range forecast, temperatures will trend back to colder and protect the snowpack.

Forecast from the National Weather Service:

Today - Sunny, with a high near 47. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight - Clear, with a low around 18. East wind around 5 mph.

NV Energy is proposing to replace the electrical transmission line that runs from Foothill Rad in the Carson Valley to Tramway Drive near Heavenly Mountain Resort, and a public comment period has been initiated.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is seeking public input on 634 Line Rebuild project. The draft Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzes the proposed replacement of the transmission line that serves the Kingsbury substation, which provides electricity to Heavenly Mountain Resort and the surrounding Kingsbury Grade area.

4:15 P.M. UPDATE: Road controls are back in place, along with closure of I-80 at the Nevada/California state line due to a 25-car pile-up.

Traffic on Highway 50 over Echo Summit is still slow moving with the back up for westbound travel backed up near the intersection of Hwy 50 and 89 at the Y.

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1:15 P.M. UPDATE: Many chain controls have been lifted throughout the Tahoe basin and passes. Check ahead at Caltrans Road Info.

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Lake Valley and Tahoe Douglas fire protection districts, California State Parks and the U.S Forest Service have plans to continue widespread prescribed fire operations beginning February 1.

Lake Valley operations: 50 acres northeast of Lake Tahoe Airport off of Barbara Avenue. Planned ignition February 3. 10 days of burn down time. Smoke expected to travel southwest.

Lake Tahoe will be the scene of both Amgen Tour of California's men's and women's races in May of 2016, and the routes announced Thursday show cyclists will ride into the Tahoe Basin from Kirkwood and Hope Valley, circle the lake, ride up the mountains leading to the Heavenly Mountain Resort and through South Lake Tahoe.

Amgen officials said more than 350 of the world’s top cyclists will challenge themselves in Lake Tahoe by putting their strength and muscle power to the test as they climb, descend and break away along steep and winding stretches of the Sierra on Thursday, May 19.

The ski race season is in full swing for area high schools, with five races already completed. After Monday's slalom race at Heavenly Mountain Resort, South Tahoe High leads the Tahoe Basin Ski League with four girls and four boys in the top ten in their respective divisions.

Whittell High School's Payton Norton leads all boys in the league with his teammate Gunnar Barnwell currently in 10th place.

The latest round of funding through the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) includes more than $3 million for projects to help reduce wildfire risk in Lake Tahoe communities.

The funding award for Lake Tahoe is part of nearly $40 million going to projects around Nevada to reduce wildfire risk, conserve landscapes, restore wildlife habitat, and improve public recreation. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced the funding awards this January.

Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District, California State Parks and the California Tahoe Conservancy are planning to continue prescribed fire operations next week beginning Tuesday, January 19, 2016 in the following areas:

Tranquility - Between Round Hill and Zephyr Cove, 3 acres of hand piles will be burned. The ignition date is planned for 1/20/16. Fire and smoke will be present during five days of burn down time with smoke expected to travel to the north/northeast. Smoke may be visible from Zephyr Cove to Round Hill.

With an estimated three million visitors to the Lake Tahoe Basin annually, there is a lot of vacation planning occurring, and the Lake Tahoe Visitor's Authority has made it easier for those traveling to the South Shore.

Six months ago they launched "Explore Your Trip," a itinerary planning tool on their website that helps travelers plan their trip based on what they like to do, what their budget, what they like to each and many other categories.

Improving transportation options for bicyclists and pedestrians is one of the most effective strategies to conserve and restore Lake Tahoe’s environment, revitalize the economy, enhance recreation opportunities, and improve public health, according to Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) officials.