fuels reduction

The U.S. Forest Service announced that it will begin pile burning today, Monday, in the Little Valley Fuels Reduction project area north of Carson City near Washoe City as part of Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest’s hazardous fuels reduction efforts.

Late Friday night, the U.S. House of Representatives joined the U.S. Senate in passing the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act of 2016, which will bring $415 million in future funding to Lake Tahoe over the next seven years. The decision brought cheers from many local agencies, including the League to Save lake Tahoe and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

The Carson Ranger District has delayed pile burning in the Little Valley Fuels Reduction Project area near Washoe City until more favorable weather conditions, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The pile burning was to begin today.

UPDATE TUESDAY: The Forest Service has called off plans to do pile burning Tuesday in the Little Valley Fuels Reduction Project Area. Go here for the updated story.
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As part of Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest’s hazardous fuels reduction efforts, Carson Ranger District fire crews will conduct pile burning Tuesday in the Little Valley Fuels Reduction Project area near Washoe City, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Holiday decorating is a tradition in homes all over the world, but do you know how to safely decorate your home? The following are tips from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to help keep your home safe from fire this holiday season:

Weather and conditions permitting, the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District and the U.S. Forest Service may continue prescribed fire operations next week in areas on the South and East shores of Lake Tahoe. If conditions are favorable, operations may begin on Sunday, Nov. 6 and may continue through the week.

President Barack Obama was cheered enthusiastically Wednesday at the 20th Lake Tahoe Summit, an annual gathering of federal and state leaders from California and Nevada who are dedicated to protecting the Sierra's crown jewel.

"I've never been here," President Obama told the crowd Wednesday at Harvey's Outdoor Arena in Stateline. "Its not that I didn't want to come, but nobody invited me."

The President quipped he's sure to return, "though my transportation won't be as nice."

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board on Wednesday recognized the extraordinary, lifelong contributions of Coe Swobe. Considered the “father of TRPA” for his bipartisan work to create the agency and its mission to conserve and restore Lake Tahoe’s environment, Swobe died on May 26, 2016 at age 87.

The Nevada state capital has seen its share of natural disasters and citywide emergencies.

From wildfires to flooding and all-too-common high wind events, Carson City Manager Nick Marano says local government is ready to respond at a moment's notice.

"The city has an emergency operations plan," Marano said. "We've gone through several rounds of modifications to it."

There is an emergency operations center, he said, that enhances communication between public safety and public works departments during local emergencies.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Weather permitting, the U.S. Forest Service, the Nevada Division of State Lands and the Nevada Division of Forestry may conduct prescribed fire operations next week beginning Monday, May 2, 2016. 

On the East Shore, operations may take place in the Rocky Point area near Tunnel Creek Road, Montreal Canyon near Spooner Summit and south of Glenbrook near Camp Galilee.

As part of a Carson City hazardous fuels reduction and invasive weed project, sheep will be placed along the west side of Carson City to reduce the fuel load by removing fine fuels, including cheatgrass and other non-native vegetation, from the wildland urban interface.

The latest round of funding through the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act includes more than $3 million for projects to help reduce wildfire risk in Lake Tahoe communities.

A light smoke that began moving into Carson City early Saturday evening may be a result of controlled burn operations on the west shore of Lake Tahoe or open permit burning within the city limits, according to dispatch and the U.S. Forest Service.

The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team, which includes numerous fire and land management agencies in the Lake Tahoe Basin, will begin fall prescribed fire operations as soon as weather conditions are favorable, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Lawmakers from Nevada and California met Monday on the shores of Lake Tahoe to discuss how to protect a national treasure as it faces continued threats to water clarity, invasive species, wildfire and drought.

Ever since President Bill Clinton held the first meeting in South Lake Tahoe in 1997, the annual focus of the Lake Tahoe Summit is to protect what Mark Twain called "the fairest picture the whole world affords."

An updated Lake Tahoe Basin Community Wildfire Protection Plan will be presented to the public during the Lake Tahoe Environmental Summit on Monday, August 24.

This new Community Wildfire Protection Plan was collaboratively developed by the 18 member organizations of the Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team and is the culmination of a three-year planning effort.

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.

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.

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit will resume work on the Carnelian, Incline and South Shore Hazardous Fuels Reduction and Healthy Forest Restoration projects in early May. These projects authorize thinning of trees and brush on National Forest System lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin to reduce the risk of severe wildfire and create healthier forests.

The 2015 operating season begins this weekend at Nevada State Railroad Museum. Come on down and take a ride on the Edwards Motorcar Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rides are $4 for Adults; $2 for Children ages 4-11 and museum members; and FREE for Children ages 3 and under. The first Sunday of the month always sees a pancake breakfast at the Elk’s Club; let them take care of the cooking and clean-up!

SUNDAY:

• First Sunday Breakfast at the Elks Club: 515 N Nevada (bar opens 7am; 8:30-11am, $7)

Have you picked your pony yet? The Kentucky Derby is today, but that is far from the only thing running today. Chili on the Comstock is hosting their inaugural Fun with the Runs 5K Saturday at 10 a.m. The 1926 Edwards Motor Car is running, too, and ready for rides at the Nevada Railroad Museum. The wine walk is always a good time, and with Mother’s Day next weekend, it can’t hurt to peruse the shops before you run out of time to pick the perfect gift.

SATURDAY: Kentucky Derby Day:

22 is 22 Too Many: WNC Veterans Suicide Awareness March: park south of Bully’s Restaurant, walk continues up College Parkway to Western Nevada College (10am)

Genoa Cowboy Festival: Cowboy Breakfast hosted by Douglas Lodge #12 F&A Masons -Served in the historic lodge building ($5; 8am to 12pm; Pancakes with syrup, scrambled eggs, sausage and coffee; Proceeds benefit the Masons’ local scholarship programs)

Depending on the weather, prescribed fires around the Lake Tahoe basin may resume beginning Monday, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

With a fourth year of drought and spring temperatures climbing, Carson City residents are urged to be fire safe. May is Nevada Wildfire Awareness Month and as conditions continue to dry, and the number of windy days begin to increase, the potential threat of wildfire grows.

Protecting your home starts with you. The wildfire season is here. This Saturday and Sunday, the Carson City Fire Department will hold two events designed for homeowners to prepare for the season.

There will be a Community Open House, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The fourth consecutive year of drought in California and Nevada emphasizes the need for communities to become fire adapted. The Tahoe Fire and Fuels Team implements forest thinning, prescribed fire and defensible space programs to reduce wildfire risk, but they need the public’s help to create Fire Adapted Communities at Lake Tahoe.

Are you preparing for this year’s wildfire fire season? Protecting your home starts with you. The wildfire season is here. The month of May is Nevada Wildfire Awareness Month and as conditions continue to dry, temperatures start to rise and the number of windy days begin to increase across our area, the potential threat of wildfire increases.

The Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District and the U.S. Forest Service will continue prescribed fire operations this week on Kingsbury Grade near Buchanan Road, Ski Run Boulevard near Heavenly, Luther Pass and Spooner Summit. Operations will last through the next several weeks as conditions allow.

September brought the reality of wildfires to the forefront in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The King Fire came within 8 air miles of the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit boundary, and as we all anxiously awaited its containment, the Cascade Fire broke out in the Desolation Wilderness.

Irene Davison, a 23-year veteran of the U.S. Forest Service, has been named Carson District Ranger of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.

"Davison will be a tremendous addition to the Carson Ranger District,” said Bill Dunkelberger, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Supervisor. “She has an extensive resources management background, and is no stranger to tackling tough resource challenges in both rural and urban recreational areas.”

She began her duties June 2. The 368,3600-acre district straddles western Nevada and Eastern California.

Tree thinning and brush removal efforts as part of the Healthy Forest Restoration Project will resume in around South Lake Tahoe beginning Monday, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The project will thin trees and brush on National Forest System land to improve forest health and reduce the risk of severe wildfire on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe.

Smoke may be visible west of Carson City around Spooner Summit beginning Monday when U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews continue prescribed fire operations in several locations around Lake Tahoe.

The prescribed fires could continue through the week and the weekend if weather, staffing, and conditions allow. Besides Spooner fuels management crews will likely be assigned to the Luther Pass Campground off of Highway 89 S near South Lake Tahoe.