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The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency on Thursday voiced its strong support for legislation to reauthorize the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act that has been introduced in Congress by Tahoe’s Senate delegation.

Sponsored by U.S. Senator Dean Heller, R-Nevada, along with Harry Reid, D-Nevada, Dianne Feinstein D-California, and Barbara Boxer, D-California, the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act would authorize up to $415 million in federal funding over 10 years to help continue critical environmental restoration work at Lake Tahoe.

Hello fellow anglers, I would like to say to all the firefighters on the Washington fire, Thank you for saving Markleeville and the outlying community of Alpine County.

On Sunday I took a drive up to the Wolf Creek area. The fire hit and missed all along the east fork of the Carson River. Most of the river area was untouched by the fire, although there were a few areas that had burned down to the river's edge.

The Washington Fire in Alpine County, which began June 19 as a lightning strike and briefly threatened the town of Markleeville, is 94 percent contained with full containment expected soon, fire officials said.

Happy birthday, America! Today we celebrate our independence, and what better way than with a carnival. You might as well stay at Mills Park all day, the fireworks display starts when it gets dark. Tune into Magic 95.5FM and you’ll hear the choreographed music to go along with the oohs and aaahs. Where ever you choose to watch fireworks, please be safe. There are thousands of visitors in the Northern Nevada area this weekend, and law enforcement will be out in full force.

SATURDAY: Independence Day

• Free Swim for Active and Retired Military at the Carson Hot Springs (7am-10pm; outdoor pools only)
• Freedom 5K Fun Run/Walk and Concert in the Park with the Carson Valley Pops Orchestra at Heritage Park, Gardnerville (5K, $20 per person and family rates, free for active/retired military; register 7am-7:45am; Run/Walk begins 8am, Patriotic costumes encouraged; 8am Carson Valley Lions Club Pancake Breakfast $7; Free Kids Obstacle Course 8am; Free Concert begins 11:30am)

The lightning-caused Washington Fire that started June 19 in Alpine County south of Markleeville is 90 percent contained as of Friday morning, fire officials said.

Mop-up and repairing areas damaged by various suppression activities will continue through the weekend within the fire’s perimeter, according to Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center.

Personal use fireworks are illegal to use or possess in Carson City, Lake Tahoe Basin and surrounding counties, including sparklers and so-called “safe and sane” fireworks. As you enjoy your holiday, leave fireworks to the professionals by attending one of the many public displays around Carson City and Lake Tahoe.

This time last year, Lake Tahoe made headlines around the world for an embarrassing amount of trash left on the beaches after the Fourth of July festivities. To prevent that from happening again, the community is rolling out a secret weapon: a humorous new campaign that aims to remind folks to take care of the region.

Crews continue to make significant progress on the Washington Fire that began June 19 south of Markleeville. By Wednesday morning, the lightning-caused fire was 66 percent contained and had burned 17,790 acres, according to Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center.

Are drought-ravaged trees the new wildfire fuel?RENO — Drought-ravaged trees could pose a serious threat to homeowners and forest communities as Nevada’s wildfire season gets underway....

Fourth of July celebrations abound in the Carson City area. Fireworks can be found in Carson City, Reno, Sparks, and at both north and south shore of Lake Tahoe. There are several daytime events going on as well, so grab the kids, friends, and family and have a great Independence Day weekend!

Friday, July 3:
July Third Fireworks and Beach Party at the North Tahoe Events Center on Kings Beach, North Lake Tahoe (4pm-10pm, free; vendors, contests, games, music and more; Fireworks 9:30pm; FRIDAY)

Saturday, July 4:

Carson City:

Fire restrictions on National Forest System lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin begin Wednesday, July 1, 2015, and will remain in effect until the official end of fire season, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Campfires will be restricted to certain exempted recreation sites and other fire-related activities will be prohibited.

Containment grew to 56 percent along the Washington Fire line south of Markleeville overnight, allowing for a reduction in firefighters Tuesday from 1,111 to 860, according to Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center. The fire has burned 17,787 acres.

The Fourth of July is one of America’s favorite holidays. And why not? Families and friends gather to celebrate our country with food, parades, parties, picnics and fireworks.

Two instances in the past week where people flew drones that disrupted firefighting operations in Southern California has prompted federal, state and local wildfire managers to again urge the public not to fly the unmanned aircraft systems within or near wildfires.

The Washington Fire south of Markleeville is 45 percent contained and has burned 17,786 acres as of Monday morning, according to Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center.

Firefighters continued to make excellent progress with direct fireline construction over the fire area on Sunday with the help of higher humidity, lower temperatures and the light rains which occurred intermittently throughout the burned area.

Most of the fires are single-tree fires with some ground fire, and the largest is only a half-acre in size. Winds are calm, and the Lake Tahoe Basin received substantial rainfall in the area of the fire starts, so the rate of spread is low. The Forest Service is staffing all nine fires with the assistance of Tahoe-Douglas and North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection Districts.

East Fork Fire Protection District reports that all six fires that were reported Saturday are at 1-acre or less in size and, have been extinguished or have crews on scene mopping up the fires as of Sunday morning. The crews have orders for full extinguishment, said Sgt. Pat Brooks of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

Concerns are the potential for new fires starts due to the multiple lighting strikes that occurred during Saturday's storm that pushed through the valley.

State Highway 4 through Markleeville, south over Ebbetts Pass, is now open for through traffic only. This comes after a day of progress for firefighters battling the Washington Fire in Alpine County. The Bureau of Land Management said that as of 9 a.m. Sunday firefighters had reached 37 percent containment, with the fire burning 17,697 acres.

UPDATE 10PM: As of 9:35 pm, crews are responding to the fires. Two fires have been reported above Jacks Valley, one above Autumn Hills, one above Job’s Peak Ranch and one near Fay Luther Canyon. The fires are going to be monitored through the night and will be addressed during the daylight hours.
No structures are in danger at this time, said Sgt. Pat Brooks of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.
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GARDNERVILLE, Nev. — The Washington Fire, located 3 miles south of Markleeville, California has burned 17,622 acres and is 29 percent contained as of Saturday morning. The primary objective of suppression efforts remains the protection of the community of Markleeville.

Thunderstorms are forecasted that could bring stronger winds and lightning, which could hamper firefighter’s efforts.

Carson City Parks and Recreation and Public Works have contracted with a Sparks consulting firm to provide a city wide inventory of all public tree located along street right-of-ways, city parks, city owned landscaped areas, Eagle Valley Golf Course and Lone Mountain Cemetery.

Tinder-dry vegetation, exceptional drought conditions, increasing daytime temperatures and several human-caused fires have prompted multiple agencies to implement fire restrictions beginning Friday on public land throughout western Nevada.

Tinder-dry vegetation, exceptional drought conditions, increasing daytime temperatures and several human-caused fires have prompted multiple agencies to implement fire restrictions beginning Friday on public land throughout western Nevada.

The 4th of July is quickly approaching, Sheriff Ron Pierini and members of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office wish to take a moment to remind and educate our residents and guests that the possession and or discharge of fireworks in Douglas County is unlawful and will not be tolerated.

Persons found in violation of the fireworks ordinance face criminal penalties, including a fine of up to $1,000 and/or confinement in the county jail for a period of up to six months.

UPDATE 10AM TUESDAY: Washington Fire swells to 16,544 acres. Crews are working to construct a containment line south of Highway 89 and north of Highway 4 to prevent the fire from spreading toward Markleeville. Smoke continues to waft into Carson Valley and Carson City.
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GARDNERVILLE, Nev. — UPDATE 5 a.m., Tuesday, June 23: Smoke from the Washington Fire in Alpine County drifted over Carson Valley early Tuesday morning, plunging air quality into the “very unhealthy” range, according to the Nevada Division of Environmental protection.

UPDATE: Washington Fire near Markleeville in Alpine County, Calif., grows to nearly 15,000 acres, zero percent containment. Go here for updated story.
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The official opening of the new Kings Canyon/Waterfall Trailhead will be celebrated Wednesday, June 24, at 8:30 a.m. Located at the western end of Kings Street, the new facility on Carson City Open Space and U.S. Forest Service land provides multi-use road and trail access for off highway vehicles, bikes, hikers and equestrians.

Thinning of trees for fuels reduction and forest health has resumed on approximately 340 acres of National Forest System lands on the east side of Highway 267 north of Speckled Avenue above Kings Beach, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of June 17 and beyond.

A famous bear visited Heavenly Mountain Resort Tuesday to raise awareness about fire danger in Lake Tahoe. Thanks to Heavenly Mountain Resort for helping out Smokey Bear by banning all smoking on the mountain.
Here, Smokey uses the telescope at the Gondola mid-station to check out the work the Forest Service and its partners have done to reduce hazardous forest fuels and protect Lake Tahoe communities from severe wildfire.