visitor

Headed to Lake Tahoe for the Independence Day holiday? The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit asks residents and visitors to help protect public safety and the environment, and keep wildfire prevention in mind while celebrating.

Possession of fireworks of any kind, including sparklers, is illegal in the Lake Tahoe Basin and campfires are not permitted on National Forest beaches or in the general forest. For those planning to barbecue on the beach, the Forest Service requires the use of portable gas stoves.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science will host the fourth annual Lake Tahoe Bird Festival on Saturday, June 8, followed by the third annual Native Species Festival on Sunday, June 9.

Residents and visitors are invited to attend these free family events from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center, located three miles north of South Lake Tahoe on Highway 89.

June 8 event:

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science will host the fourth annual Lake Tahoe Bird Festival on Saturday, June 8.

Residents and visitors are invited to attend this free family event from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center, located three miles north of South Lake Tahoe on Highway 89.

Tourism is a constantly evolving industry. Each year, the TahoeChamber and the Lake Tahoe Visitor’s Authority strive to keep our business community up to date on developing trends by hosting an Annual Tourism Forum.

This year’s forum is scheduled for April 18, 3:30-6pm in the Cabaret Theater at Harveys. Building off of last year’s presentations on local demographics, the 2013 Trends in Tourism Forum will cover the international guest along with service philosophies and what these culturally sophisticated visitors expect and demand.

Joe Tillson, President of the Tahoe Heritage Foundation, receives a donation of $2,300 from Rene Gorevin of the Tahoe Mountain Milers running club.

The club raised the money during the 2012 Kokanee Salmon Run. These funds will be used for projects at Taylor Creek Visitor Center (TCVC) and educational materials for next year's Kokanee Salmon Festival. From left: Lindsay Gusses, TCVC Lead Ranger, Jackie Dumin, Director TCVC/Tallac Historic Site, Joe Tillson, President Tahoe Heritage Foundation, Rene Gorevin, Co-Director Kokanee Trail Run, Jean Norman, Past Director TCVC.

The Rahlves’ Banzai Tour hosted this winter at several Lake Tahoe resorts has a new sponsor. Bank of the West has signed on as the presenting sponsor of the downhill ski and snowboard event created by Daron Rahlves, considered among the most decorated American downhill and Super G skier in U.S. history. The tour spans four weekends from Feb. 2 – March 10 at four of Lake Tahoe resorts.

Crews have completed the first mile of a bike path on the Nevada-side of Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe Transportation district ultimately plans to create a bike trail that circles the lake.

The first mile of bike trail on the Nevada-side of the lake stretches from Stateline on the south shore north toward Nevada beach. Carl Hasty with the Tahoe Transportation District says a recent $12,000 check from the non-profit Tahoe Fund will go toward completing another mile next summer.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is asking for public input on proposed summer projects at Heavenly Mountain Resort. These projects are consistent with the improvements identified in Heavenly's Master Plan Amendment and are intended to improve the overall quality of the visitor experience. In addition, these projects would provide for high-quality summer recreational uses of National Forest System land as directed by the Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act of 2011.

U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews will conduct prescribed fire operations in the Kiva Beach area near the Taylor Creek Visitor Center on Nov. 7.Crews anticipate burning two acres, conditio...

The El Dorado County Department of Environmental Health was notified this week by the California Department of Public Health that two additional chipmunks in the South Lake Tahoe area have tested positive for plague. One of the chipmunks was found in the Tallac Historic Site area and one was near the U.S. Forest Service Taylor Creek Visitor Center.

"Run Salmon Run," a community art project and fundraiser for the Tahoe Tallac Association, will be held at MontBleu Resort Casino and Spa on Oct. 20 from 5-8 pm. Thirty-five fiberglass fish designed by local artists will be featured at the live auction emceed by veteran radio personality George Alm of KTHO.

The U.S. Forest Service is advising visitors to take precautions against plague after a chipmunk found at Taylor Creek Visitor Center tested positive for the disease.Chances of human infection of p...

Celebrating the world of Hollywood, the Presidio Brass presents "Sounds of the Cinema" a performance that con­nects the audience to both exciting jazz and classical music used in movies as well as great selections from film soundtracks. A Presidio Brass performance always includes a big dose of humor with blazing virtuosity, sensitive moments and first-class entertainment. Special appearance by the S. Tahoe High Brass Ensemble. Presented by Tahoe Arts Project, celebrating its 26th season.

Saturday is the Great Sierra River Cleanup with more than 11,200 volunteers joining together to scour watersheds throughout the Sierra Nevada. Hundreds of community groups will spread across 22 counties and 1,052 river miles to pull appliances, cigarette butts, beverage cans, baby diapers, tires, furniture, and more from the rivers and streams that supply the State of California with 65 percent of its water. This effort, in partnership with the California Coastal Cleanup Day, serves to promote good stewardship on all of our waterways, from the source to the sea.

The summer Keynote Speaker Series at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center continues every Thursday evening through August at the Lake of the Sky Amphitheater, according to a statement from the U.S. Fore...

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit invites the public to join us for Smokey Bear's 68th birthday party at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center on Thursday, August 9, 2012, at 2 p.m.
“Sign Smokey’s birthday card, sing to Smokey and learn more about Smokey’s message and origin,” said Ranger Jean Norman. “Cake will be provided until it’s all gone!” The party will be held on the patio at the Visitor Center.
The Taylor Creek Visitor Center is located three miles north of South Lake Tahoe on Highway 89. For more information, call the Visitor Center at (530) 543-2674.

The Summer Keynote Speaker Series at the Taylor Creek Visitor Center continues every Thursday evening through August at the Lake of the Sky Amphitheater. The programs are sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service and the Tahoe Heritage Foundation, a non-profit organization that works with the Forest Service to conduct interpretive and environmental education programs in the Tahoe. Donations to the Tahoe Heritage Foundation are welcomed.

The Wanderlust Festival, a one-of-a-kind yoga and music festival, returns for a fourth year to the picturesque setting of Squaw Valley Thursday, July 26 through Sunday, July 29.

The annual event, sponsored by the North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association, will host a number of acitivites specifically for kids in addition to its yoga classes, talks, healing services and live concerts.

Residents and visitors are urged to help protect public safety and the environment during the Fourth of July holiday by keeping wildfire prevention in mind.
The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management unit reminds folks that having fireworks of any kind — and sparklers are considered fireworks — is illegal in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Campfires are not permitted on Forest Service beaches or in the general forest. For Wednesday, July 4, 2012, only, personal barbecues are allowed at Nevada, Pope and Baldwin beaches but are not permitted on any other Forest Service beaches or in the general forest.

Unofficially, (need to confirm paperwork/video verifying our count) we surpassed the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest single line of bicycles; 1,188 bikers pedaled, May 17, from the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority visitor center near El Dorado Beach to the Stateline casinos. Go here for more information about the Slow Rollers Bicycle Club Lake Tahoe.

This year's crop of organic produce will find its way to South Lake Tahoe beginning June 5 and extend throughout summer at the American Legion Hall parking lot and Fridays starting June 22 on Ski Run Boulevard.
The Certified Farmers' Market will run from 8 a.m to 1 p.m. each Tuesday through Oct. 9 at the American Legion Hall parking lot. Produce is picked within hours of market days and visitor can talk directly to the farmer and learn about new varieties of fruits and vegetables and farming practices.


The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit has released the draft Decision Memo for 2012 Capital Improvement Projects at Heavenly Mountain Resort. Improvements would include trail upgrades, a new surface tow lift, a new Kids Adventure Zone, an outdoor event facility, summer four-wheel drive tours and a new summer hiking trail. These projects are consistent with the improvements identified in Heavenly's Master Plan Amendment and are intended to improve the overall quality of the visitor experience.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is looking for volunteers who love working outdoors, educating and helping people, and would like to help preserve one of our nation’s most popular wilderness areas, Desolation Wilderness. The public is invited to attend one of two informational meetings in South Lake Tahoe in May to learn about different volunteer opportunities, training, minimum requirements and how volunteer help is important to the preservation of Desolation Wilderness.

Hobart Reservoir, a small, high-mountain reservoir, located at an elevation of 7,600 feet in the mountains between Carson City and Lake Tahoe, will open for the 2012 fishing season on May 1.
Because of its high elevation and location, this reservoir is normally covered with ice, and surrounded by deep snow drifts, when it opens on May 01.
However, this year is entirely different, ice and snow-wise. It will remain open to fishing through September 30.