tree mortality
Fork Fire now 24% contained; still at 1752 acres in size
Submitted by paula on Tue, 09/15/2020 - 8:51pm
The Fork Fire west of Lake Tahoe and about 15 miles from Pollock Pines has not gained in size for that last few days and it still measures at 1,752 acres. Firefighters were able to gain more containment Tuesday and there is now a line around 24 percent of the fire. There are 316 personnel assigned to the Fork Fire.
Dense smoke from fires burning to the south of El Dorado County covered the Fork Fire, as well as Lake Tahoe, on Tuesday with more of the same expected on Wednesday.
Fork Fire re-mapped at 1,647 acres and continues to be 7% contained
Submitted by paula on Fri, 09/11/2020 - 8:18pm
The Fork Fire continues to burn west of Lake Tahoe in the Rubicon drainage area near Loon Lake. The size has been remapped and 1,647 acres have burned and it is seven percent contained.
The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office has downgraded the mandatory evacuation order to an evacuation warning for the areas of Quintette, Stumpy Meadows and Volcanoville. This does not supersede the temporary closure order that prohibits entering or using National Forest System lands, roads and trails on the Eldorado National Forest.
Survey finds 18 Million trees died in California in 2018
Submitted by paula on Mon, 02/11/2019 - 2:15pm
While the rate at which trees died in California has slowed, an additional 18 million trees (mostly conifers) have died in the state, bringing a commitment from both the USDA Forest Service and CALFIRE to make forest health their top priority.
The USDA Forest Service announced today over 147 million trees have died across 9.7 million acres of federal, state, local and private lands in California since the drought began in 2010. Since 2016, federal, state, and local partners have felled 1.5 million dead trees, primarily those posing the highest hazards to life and property.
Current status of fires burning in Northern California and Nevada
Submitted by paula on Sun, 08/05/2018 - 8:30am
Smoke from fires west of Lake Tahoe is expected to come into the basin again today, but Sunday morning is clear. Here is an update on most fires in Northern California and Western Nevada.
Liberty Utilities upping their response to tree mortality on North Shore
Submitted by paula on Sat, 06/02/2018 - 9:18pm
LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With an increase in the number of dead and dying trees in the Lake Tahoe region, Liberty Utilities has tripled the number of inspectors they use to identify trees that pose a risk to the utility’s infrastructure. The inspection program and subsequent removal of hazardous trees are designed to reduce the risk of power outages, potential wildfires, and to comply with State regulations.
Guest Columnist: Be Prepared for Wildfire at Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Thu, 05/17/2018 - 6:02pm
Both California and Nevada suffered destructive wildfires last year. Nevada saw 768 fires burn more than 1.3 million acres. California experienced the deadliest, largest, and most destructive wildfires in its history. Just a few hours-drive from Tahoe, more than 40 people died and thousands of homes were destroyed in the wine country and North Bay last October. In Southern California, the Thomas Fire ravaged communities and forest lands last December with damaging flooding and landslides piled on after the fire subsided.
2017 Tahoe in Depth issue covers multiple Lake Tahoe challenges and actions
Submitted by paula on Sun, 12/10/2017 - 9:46pm
For five years, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) has been publishing "Tahoe In Depth," a newspaper highlighting Lake Tahoe and how to protect, enjoy and explore the Lake Tahoe Basin. It also highlights environmental accomplishment and projects around the lake.
'Tahoe In Depth' is mailed to all homeowners in the basin and at distribution points around the lake, and is online at http://www.trpa.org/about-trpa/press-room/tahoe-in-depth/.
South Lake Tahoe councilwoman to chair conservancy board
Submitted by paula on Fri, 12/08/2017 - 7:30pm
During their meeting Thursday, the California Tahoe Conservancy Board elected South Lake Tahoe City Councilwoman Brooke Laine as their chair. She is the City’s appointee to the Board and will be replacing longtime Chair Larry Sevison.
The Board also elected Lynn Suter as Vice Chair, filling a post vacated by former Conservancy Board Member John Hooper earlier this year.
Column: Tahoe taking action on forest health
Submitted by paula on Thu, 10/19/2017 - 4:14pm
The heartbreaking fires in Northern California’s wine country this month have upended hundreds of thousands of people’s lives. In just over one week, the fires across Northern California burned more than 220,000 acres, destroyed 6,000 buildings, and killed more than 40 people. Our hearts go out to our neighbors in Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino counties.
Choices limited on what to do with California's 102M dead trees
Submitted by paula on Tue, 08/29/2017 - 2:02pm
There are now an estimated 102 million dead trees in California, creating unhealthy forests that are prone to major and catastrophic wildfires. Even though funds are being allocated to remove many of them, where will that timber go?
For now, there aren’t many options because of what has transpired from the government since 1968.
In that year the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior issued orders restricting the volume of timber that could be harvested from Federal lands in the West. It was updated in 1969 to limit the total harvested to 350-million-board-feet.
Approval granted for removal of dead and dying trees in Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Thu, 08/24/2017 - 5:51pm
The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) Governing Board on Wednesday approved an emergency permit for Caltrans to remove hazardous dying trees along its highways and rights of way in the Tahoe Basin.
California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a tree mortality emergency in October 2015 because of widespread tree die-offs after several years of severe drought. There are now an estimated 102 million dead trees in California, with the greatest tree mortality in the Southern Sierra Nevada.
New partnership established to protect Lake Tahoe and Central Sierra
Submitted by paula on Tue, 08/22/2017 - 5:26pm
Today at the 21st annual Lake Tahoe Summit, the creation of a new partnership of state, federal, environmental, industry, and research representatives working together to protect Lake Tahoe and the surrounding central Sierra Nevada was announced. The effort, the Tahoe-Central Sierra Initiative, is focused on restoring the health and resilience of the area’s forests and watersheds. It builds on the legacy of work that has been done to “Keep Tahoe Blue,” and a variety of activities already underway in the Central Sierra landscape.
Opinion: Confronting climate change at Lake Tahoe
Submitted by paula on Tue, 08/15/2017 - 10:01am
For 20 years, every August we’ve paused to reflect on our collective commitment to Lake Tahoe’s restoration at the Lake Tahoe Summit. This year, with U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein hosting the event, the issue of climate change will be front and center. Climate change poses incredible challenges for Tahoe, affecting not only the health of its famously cold, clear waters, but the health of its expansive forests and what is to become of our $5 billion outdoor recreation-based economy.
Fire at south end of Yosemite now at 900 acres
Submitted by paula on Sun, 08/13/2017 - 10:52pm
8/14/17 update noon: The South Fork Fire at the southern end of Yosemite has now burned 900 acres. The wildfire, which was spotted at 2:00 a.m. Sunday is burning in steep terrain and air resources are being used on the fire. No evacuations are in place at this time.
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The "South Fork Fire" which started early Sunday morning has now burned 400 acres. It is burning in the South Fork of the Merced River, one mile upstream from Swinging Bridge.
Free tree removal for low-income El Dorado County seniors
Submitted by paula on Thu, 07/20/2017 - 9:24pm
With tree mortality issues so prevalent in the Sierra, the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors today launched a Tree Removal Grant Program for low-income seniors.
“The tree mortality issues in our county remain very serious. We’re just happy to have this program available to assist private homeowners, especially our seniors with limited income, who have no other means to remove dead or dying trees from threatening damage to their homes,” said District IV Supervisor, Michael Ranalli.
Detwiler Fire burns 70,596 acres; Haze expected Friday in Lake Tahoe-Reno-Carson City area
Submitted by paula on Thu, 07/20/2017 - 9:48am
7:45 p.m. update: There is less smoke in the Lake Tahoe basin this evening but air quality is still measuring in the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" range. The Detwiler Fire is burning in drought stricken chaparral and in an area of severe tree mortality and has consumed 70,596 acres and is now 10 percent contained.
As of tonight, 50 residences and 49 other structures have been destroyed and widespread evacuation orders are still in place.
Widespread haze over Lake Tahoe, Reno and Carson City areas is forecast again for Friday.
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USFS announces West Shore fuels reduction project
Submitted by paula on Wed, 05/03/2017 - 7:30am
The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) released the final decision to reduce hazardous fuels on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe. The West Shore Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Fuels Reduction and Forest Health Project will treat approximately 4,875 acres extending from Emerald Bay to Burton Creek State Park.
El Dorado County gets disaster funds to remove dying trees
Submitted by paula on Wed, 10/12/2016 - 6:54pm
$825,000 is headed to El Dorado County for help in removing trees dying from the extreme drought and related bark beetle infestations.
With an estimated 66 million dead trees in the state of California, Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency almost one year ago.
County Supervisors approve balanced budget of almost $549 million
Submitted by paula on Fri, 09/30/2016 - 7:26pm
Supervisors have approved a balanced budget for El Dorado County for the fiscal year 2016-17, one totaling $548.92 million.
Investments will be made in infrastructure and public safety, two focuses identified in the County's strategic plan as well as providing for funds to be set aside in reserves for emergencies and deferred maintenance for aging county buildings.
The following are examples of strategic plan investments made in the fiscal year 2016-17 budget:
$3.075 million for initial costs towards the Sheriff’s Department new Public Safety Facility
$562 million need to cut down California's dead trees, Senator Feinstein seeks funding
Submitted by paula on Thu, 09/08/2016 - 4:00pm
There are an estimated 66 million dead trees in California, and 5.5 million of them need to be cut down immediately to prevent catastrophic fires according to the U.S. Forest Service and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Opinion: Another historic turning point for Tahoe this Summit
Submitted by paula on Thu, 08/18/2016 - 10:45am
Lake Tahoe was at a crossroads in 1997. The lake’s famous water clarity, once measuring 100 feet, was declining year after year because of stormwater pollution from roads and developed areas and erosion from streams damaged by logging and cattle grazing.
Forest thinning project at Incline to close public access to some areas
Submitted by paula on Wed, 07/27/2016 - 11:34am
A 4,000 acres project in the North Lake Tahoe area is underway to thin trees in the forests to be both fire safe by reducing fuels, and to keep the forest healthy.
The latest project in the Incline Village area started last week on approximately 355 acres of National Forest System lands above Incline Village. Mechanical cut-to-length (CTL) tree removal will take place on USFS urban lots and in areas adjacent to communities over the next several months and some areas will be closed for public safety.
USFS: 66 million dead trees in Sierra; 26 million since October
Submitted by paula on Thu, 06/23/2016 - 8:49am
The number of dead trees in the Sierra Nevada are now at historic levels and have fueled the risk of catastrohpic wildfires according to the U.S. Forest Service.
They announced Wednesday that they have identified an additional 26 million dead trees in California since October 2015, bringing the total to at least 66 million dead trees in the state. The most recent additions are located in six counties across 760,000 acres in the Southern Nevada region.
Think First - Keep Tahoe Fire Safe
Submitted by paula on Wed, 06/15/2016 - 5:25pm
June is wildfire awareness month at Lake Tahoe. And nine years later, the 2007 Angora Fire remains a vivid remember that wildfire is one of the greatest threats facing our environment, our homes, and our businesses. We must prepare accordingly.
Our region continues to take important steps to manage that wildfire threat, improve the health of our forests, and create fire adapted communities that are prepared for the next wildfire at Tahoe. But there is more work to do.
El Dorado County to address dead trees
Submitted by paula on Wed, 05/18/2016 - 4:32pm
Drought conditions and resulting bark beetle infestations have caused pervasive tree mortality across the Central and Southern Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is estimated that there are over 29 million dead trees and this number continues to grow on a daily basis. El Dorado County is not immune to this epidemic as there are thousands of dead and dying trees threatening public safety and infrastructure.
Consequences of Lake Tahoe Basin tree mortality
Submitted by paula on Tue, 05/03/2016 - 7:47am
Event Date:
May 10, 2016 - 5:30pm
Prolonged drought periods often result in forest tree mortality, but this death varies across the Lake Tahoe Basin. The causes of tree mortality range from native bark beetles, forest pathogens (both native and invasive), stressors such as drought and salt stress, as well as historical land-use.
Column: Working together for Tahoe at the landscape level
Submitted by paula on Thu, 03/17/2016 - 1:02pm
Restoring and conserving our environment at Lake Tahoe means setting our aspirations at the right scale. That’s what TRPA and many partners are working to do through strategic initiatives to ensure the health of our basin’s forests, streams, and lake, and to improve our communities and transportation infrastructure.
Bark beetles in Lake Tahoe Basin is subject of LTCC lecture
Submitted by Editor on Mon, 06/25/2012 - 2:44pmJoel Egan, Forest Entomologist with the U.S. Forest Service in Missoula, Montana recounts an outbreak of bark beetles causing tree mortality in the Tahoe Basin and discusses the impact of climate change on recent unprecedented outbreaks of bark beetles throughout the forests of Western North America. Sponsored by the Science Club of Lake Tahoe Community College, 6:00 - 8:00PM, Aspen Room, Lake Tahoe Community College.
