tahoe basin

With many people headed to the backcountry around Lake Tahoe there are areas the U.S. Forest Service has designated both on and off-limits areas for snowmobilers. Below is a news release and maps outlining rules, regulations and where to recreate around the basin.

Earlier this month, a federal judge ruled that an expansion plan for Homewood Mountain Resort on the shores of Lake Tahoe would not be allowed to move forward without further considering a scaled-back alternative with less environmental impact. The Sierra Club, which joined with a local environmental group and Earthjustice to bring the suit against the resort, is calling the decision a victory. But so is Tahoe's regional planning agency, because, it says, at least the judge did not say the environmental review was flawed.

Christina Proctor, public relations professional, and Bev Ducey, a resource development expert with an extensive history in grant procurement, will be advancing the mission of the Tahoe Prosperity Center (TPC) in 2013. The TPC Executive Committee contracted with Proctor and Ducey after Mone´ Haen, former chief executive officer, announced her resignation in December. Proctor will be developing TPC materials, presentations and handling the daily administrative tasks of the organization. Ducey will focus on strengthening the TPC’s financial resources through grant development.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit invites the public to Ski with a Ranger as part of interpretative tours at Heavenly Mountain Resort beginning Jan. 18 through April 12, weather permitting.

On the tour, participants will learn about the mission and role of the Forest Service in ski area management, improve their understanding of natural resource issues, and learn about environmental stewardship.

A few more layers may be required this week as the weather around Lake Tahoe is expected to turn cold and windy. Low pressure and a cold front will be moving into the Sierra and Lake Tahoe Basin by late Wednesday night, according to the National Weather Service in Reno.

Ahead of the cold front, windy conditions are expected Wednesday with gusts 40-50 mph expected in eastern California and western Nevada mainly north of Highway 50. Ridge gusts of 80 to 90 mph are possible along the ridges.

A tree thinning and fuels reduction project on about 100 acres in the Upper Echo Lakes area and portions of a roadless area could begin this year, according to a decision by the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.

The project would take up to six years to complete and includes the removal of trees up to 16 inches in diameter, which would be collected, put into piles and either burned or made available for firewood. There is a possibility of brief closures of areas adjacent to the Pacific Crest Trail, according to the Forest Service.

What a difference a year makes. This National Weather Service graphic compares the precipitation in December 2011 with the precipitation for December 2012.
The image on the left represents the total liquid precipitation that fell during December 2011.

The image on the right is the total liquid precipitation that fell over the last 30 days of 2012 ending on December 28th. The images show the stark contrast between the exceptionally dry December of 2011 and the very wet December of 2012.

Snow on Christmas afternoon is in the forecast prompting the National Weather Service in Reno to issue a Winter Weather Advisory for Lake Tahoe and the Sierra.

An area of low pressure will drop into the Sierra and Western Nevada Tuesday bringing 10 to 15 inches above 7,000 feet with 5 to 10 inches in the Lake Tahoe Basin, according to the weather service. The highest amounts will be along and west of Highway 89.

A series of strong winter storms will arrive in three waves and when it is over, anywhere from 2 to 5 feet of snow will have dropped above Lake Tahoe, at ski resorts, on highways and throughout much of the Sierra in time for Christmas.

A Winter Storm Warning issued by the National Weather Service is in effect through Monday morning for Lake Tahoe and the Sierra as a strong series of systems moves into the region.

Periods of light to moderate snow will begin Friday and intensive early Saturday morning with moderate to heavy snow Saturday through Sunday night.

A meteorite that exploded as a fireball over California’s Sierra Nevada foothills April 22 and heard throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin was among the fastest, rarest meteorites known to have hit the Earth, and it traveled a highly eccentric orbital route to get here.

An international team of scientists presents these and other findings in a study published Friday, Dec. 21, in the journal Science. The 70-member team included nine researchers from UC Davis, along with scientists from the SETI Institute, NASA and other institutions.

The environmental non-profit Tahoe Fund announced Thursday the launch of the Lake Tahoe License Plate ‘Plate Spotter’ program to reward owners of Lake Tahoe license plates with free lift tickets during the 2013 Winter season. Tahoe plates spotted by official “spotters” and the general public will be entered to win free lift tickets every week until March 20, 2013. The program is designed to raise awareness of Lake Tahoe license plates, and to reward and encourage renewals and new Tahoe license plate purchases.

A weather system is moving into northern California and will continue to push into the Lake Tahoe Basin, Sierra and western Nevada by Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service in Reno. Larger systems are on tap through at least Tuesday.

Accumulations Saturday will be fairly light with 1 to 3 inches in the Sierra, 1 to 2 inches in northeast California and western Nevada above 5,000 feet and up to an inch on valley floors.

With the support of multiple Lake Tahoe and Sierra early-season snowfalls, including 24 inches in the past two days, and plenty of cold weather days and nights, Sierra Resort will open top to bottom, including West Bowl, on Saturday, Dec. 15.

West Bowl offers long cruisers and intermediate to advanced runs, along with unbeatable views of Pyramid Peak and Desolation Wilderness. Beginners to experts now have the opportunity to enjoy over 2,212 feet of vertical terrain, three terrain parks, and lessons for all ages and ability levels.

For the first time since 1987, Lake Tahoe has a new regional plan for development and land use.
Twelve of the 14 voting members of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency's governing board voted in favor of the new plan, with one member voting against it and another abstaining, according to TRPA spokesman Jeff Cowan.

Business interests say the plan is an overdue overhaul of regulations that will jump-start Tahoe's tourism economy while also protecting its environment.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit holiday tree permits are sold out, according to a Monday statement from the agency. No additional permits will be authorized for this season...

The leading alternatives for the US 50/South Shore Community Revitalization Project (Loop Road) as determined by attendees of two previous public workshops as well as next steps will be presented by the Tahoe Transportation District, www.TahoeTransportation.org, at an open house, Thursday, December 13, 4-6 p.m., at Harveys Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay B Room.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will begin accepting reservations for the 2013 Winter Trek Express program on Monday, December 17, 2012.

Teachers may reserve a spot by calling the Forest Service front desk at (530) 543-2694, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Winter Trek Express is a 5th-grade environmental education program that takes place at Heavenly Mountain Resort via the gondola. Forest Service rangers lead the class through the wilderness to learn snowshoe skills and discover winter adapting animals.

Prescribed fire operations on Lake Tahoe's west shore near Tahoma and in Ward Canyon will resume Monday, Dec, 10. U.S. Forest Service crews expect to burn 50 acres in both locations, weather permitting. Operations are expected to continue through the week.

Fuels management crews with the U.S. Forest Service will conduct prescribed fire operations Wednesday near Grand Avenue on Lake Tahoe's west shore near Tahoe Pines. Crews expect to burn one acre, weather permitting. Operations will continue as weather and conditions allow.

As rain turns to snow in the Sierra a Winter Storm Warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Snow levels are rapidly dropping as cold air associated with this latest storm drops into the basin.
Snow is expected below 7,000 feet this morning with periods of heavy snow in the afternoon. Snow accumulations of 10 to 16 inches are expected above 7,000 feet with 4 to 8 inches at lake level. At least two feet is expected above 8,000 feet.
Below is the latest video briefing from the National Weather Service.

Up to 6 inches of rain could fall in areas along Highway 89 this weekend, causing the National Weather Service in Reno to issue a flood watch for the greater Lake Tahoe Basin.Two to 4 inches of rai...

The Tahoe Sierra Snowmobile Club will have its first meeting of the season at 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 6 at Tep's Villa Roma in South Lake Tahoe.