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Three skiers in the Hourglass Bowl area on Tamarack Peak near Mt. Rose triggered a 600 foot long avalanche around 10:45 a.m. Thursday. Nobody was seriously injured though two of the party were slammed into trees and rocks according to the Sierra Avalanche Center.

Heavy new snow was falling rapidly at the time. The avalanche was about three feet deep and 200 feet wide.

A group of 4 or 5 were skiing in the area, with three of them involved in the slide. Two of the skiers lost their skis and another had a possible broken ankle.

11:30 AM Update - The forecast snow totals have changed slightly and are reflected below.

Two storm systems heading for Lake Tahoe this week will impact the region with gusty winds, rain, snow and cooler temperatures.

The community is invited to celebrate another great year of mountain biking and trail building with the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA) at their Fall Party on Saturday, November 4 at the Heavenly California Main Lodge.

As we transition to winter they will have the premier showing of MSP Film's Drop Everything during the evening which also features a pasta dinner, drinks, raffle prizes and swag. They will also be holding a membership drive.

The party starts at 6:00 p.m. with the film showing around 7:00 p.m.

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Before that question can be answered, we need to understand what a mega fire is. To be a mega fire it needs to meet these five points:

1. Starts near or in a high fire danger area during approaching or actual red flag conditions,
2. Escapes the initial attack,
3. Develops into a campaign fire covering a large area,
4. Requires thousand of firefighters and extensive additional resources to bring final containment,
5. Often cause huge property and other cultural losses in addition to vegetation destroyed.

On Tuesday, a majority of city council agreed on a revised VHR (Vacation Home Rental) ordinance. In two weeks we will vote on the first reading of the ordinance and if a majority supports it, on November 7th would be the final vote to adopt the revised regulations and rules. The ordinance would then go into effect 30 days later.

Not many can boast of skiing the mountains around Lake Tahoe for six decades, but Martin Hollay of South Lake Tahoe can do just that and he's not done yet.

At a very young 96-years-old (he turns 97 this fall), Hollay's contributions to Heavenly Mountain Resort were recognized Monday as the ski resort dedicated Martin's Hiking Trail, Martin's Trees and a granite peak near Maggie's Run in the name of their former employee and ski patrolman.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Revelers will have double the number of drinks to choose from at the eighth annual Cocktails for a Cause fundraiser on Wednesday, October 4. This is because each mixologist will be crafting both a mocktail and a cocktail.

“Cocktails for a Cause is a lively event that helps support health and wellness programs in our community,” said Jenny Taylor, the event coordinator. “This year, we are offering non-alcoholic options to encourage our community members who choose not to drink to join in on the fun and support an important cause.”

The Final Draft of the Meyers Area Plan was released today along with the associated joint environmental document. This draft updates 20-year old policies to streamline permitting for small projects, improves consistency between El Dorado County and Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) policies and standards, promotes recreation and bicycle/pedestrian improvements, establishes zoning to better reflect current conditions, conserves land around the Upper Truckee River, formalizes a local citizens advisory council, and integrates design standards and guidelines.

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.

Volunteers of all ages and skill levels are invited to a fun, hands-on restoration day on September 23 at 8:00 a.m. Participants in the Tahoe Forest Stewardship Day will help restore the Angora Burn area by improving trails and thinning brush to protect young trees. Together, the watershed habitats that surround Lake Tahoe can be protected.

At 12:30, all volunteers are invited to South Tahoe Brewing Co. for a celebration of 20 years of volunteer restoration with the League to Save Lake Tahoe. They will provide lunch, refreshments and a prize.

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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.

Trees will be thinned along the Pope Baldwin Bike Path off of State Route 89 north of South Lake Tahoe starting Monday, August 21. Recreationists can expect path closures for up to 30 minutes at a time as flaggers intermittently close the bike path for public safety as trees are falling.

This phase of the project will take place Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. and is expected to last several weeks. Bicyclists may use the bike lane on Highway 89 to detour around the traffic control areas.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - "We've been waiting to be in South Lake Tahoe for a long time," said R. Adam Smith, Executive Director of Store Development for Whole Foods in Northern California. "Couldn't be more thrilled than to be here today."

Smith took part in Monday's groundbreaking at the new Bijou Marketplace along with the Jim Halferty and Chris Peto of Halferty Development Ground, the owners of the property along Highway 50 and the corner of Ski Run Boulevard, and local officials.

Climate change has brought major changes to Lake Tahoe including warmer water, an increase in dying trees and a reducing summertime lake clarity.

These and other findings were released today in the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) annual Tahoe: State of the Lake Report for 2016. The year was marked by the hottest temperatures on record followed by a winter of unprecedented levels of rain and snow in the Sierra Nevada.

TERC Director Geoffrey Schladow presented the report at a free public talk July 27 in Incline Village.

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.

Motorists traveling on Kingsbury Grade between Daggett Pass and Highway 50 can expect delays on Tuesday, July 18 as crews from NV Energy removes two large trees.

Single lane closures with a traffic flagger alternating traffic will be in place on between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. near Buchanan Road.

The trees are encroaching near power lines and need to be removed.

Jack Johnson is not only an entertainer, but he is also an environmentalist doing what he can to reduce his impact on the earth. When Johnson comes to Lake Tahoe this summer on July 28 and 29, one can not only expect great music, but also a zero waste tour.

His All at One initiative is a social action network where everyone can make a positive change in their local and world community. As he tours, Johnson will connect with non-profit groups, take environmental action, and receive rewards. All At Once promotes Sustainable Local Food Systems and Plastic Free Initiatives.

A 5-year-old boy was found safe and in good spirits Sunday morning after spending the night alone in El Dorado County.

On Saturday, two boys, ages 4 and 5 were camping and riding quads with their father when the dad's motorcycle broke down. The kids did not notice dad was no longer with them.

The 4-year-old was located immediately but the search for the older boy went into the night. Over 100 volunteers from 16 counties joined in the search on off-road highway vehicles, air support, K9 Teams and ground searchers and worked all night to locate the child.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit wilderness ranger scouting expeditions last week have brought back some updated trail conditions for those planning to venture into Desolation Wilderness.

Many hikers are turning around because of difficulty they have in finding the trail because of the large amount of snow at upper elevations, limited dry ground, frozen lakes, and high stream crossings.

They broke ground on the new Edgewood Lodge at the south shore of Lake Tahoe in October of 2015, but plans and environmental improvements began years before that in preparation for the new 169,000 square-foot hotel and spa with dining, shopping and adventures options along with 154 rooms.

Whole tree removal will take place near Fallen Leaf Campground for the next month as part of the U.S. Forest Service's healthy forest program in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The public is being asked to avoid that area during operations due to hazardous conditions associated with heavy equipment, falling trees, limb removal and trees being cut into sections.

Work in this area will stop around July 1, 2017, and any unfinished work will resume after Labor Day.

The work area along Fallen Leaf Lake Road off of SR-89 could be hazardous even when work crews are not present so use caution.

This June is wildfire awareness month at Lake Tahoe. It also marks the 10th anniversary of the Angora Fire, the most destructive wildland fire in memory at Tahoe.

An illegal and abandoned campfire started the Angora Fire on June 24, 2007. The fire quickly spread toward Meyers, stoked by strong winds and forests overgrown with hazardous fuels. In a few days, the fire burned 3,100 acres and destroyed 254 homes.

Volunteers of all ages and skill levels are invited to participate with the League to Save Lake Tahoe on Tahoe Forest Stewardship Day on June 10, 2017 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Angora burn area.

This is a fun, hands-on restoration day where participants help improve the watershed habitats that surround Lake Tahoe since healthy forests act as natural pollution filters to 'Keep Tahoe Blue.'

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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.