Published: Sep 15, 2016
South Lake Tahoe, Calif.—The California Tahoe Conservancy Board today approved several projects to reduce fire risk in urban areas and improve water quality in two impaired watersheds.
“The projects approved today will provide benefits in some of the most urbanized and populated areas of the Lake Tahoe Basin,” said Larry Sevison, the Conservancy’s Chairman of the Board. “These projects will lower fire risk within communities on the north and west shores and improve water quality and watershed health on two waterbodies that flow through developed areas of South Lake Tahoe.”
The Board awarded $1.1 million in Proposition 1 funds to El Dorado County to construct a stream environment zone (SEZ) and erosion control project in Meyers. The project will reconnect Meyers Creek to its natural floodplain and stabilize eroding channels to improve wildlife habitat, increase groundwater recharge, and improve water quality.
“This project is a terrific partnership to restore the highest priority urban watershed in the Lake Tahoe Basin portion of El Dorado County,” said El Dorado County Supervisor and Conservancy Board Member Sue Novasel. “This project, located on Conservancy, County, and U.S. Forest Service lands, is yet another example of public agencies working together to implement the Environmental Improvement Program here at Lake Tahoe.”
The Board also authorized over $1 million, including over $750,000 in federal funds, to reduce fire risk and improve forest health on 881 Conservancy-owned parcels on the north and west shores of the Basin. The project is led by the North Tahoe Fire Protection District and will be implemented over the next three to five years.
At the same meeting, the Board awarded $397,900 to the City of South Lake Tahoe to investigate potential opportunities to restore and enhance the lower Bijou Park Creek watershed. The planning effort will explore potential water quality, storm water, and restoration projects on the Creek near Highway 50 and Ski Run Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe.
In addition, the Board updated and renamed its Land Transfer Guidelines (formerly “Asset Land Guidelines”) and authorized pre-sale activities on four Asset Lands located near the “Y” in South Lake Tahoe. Finally, the Board accepted and agreed to spend $69,575 to develop another project alternative for the Kings Beach General Plan Revision
and Public Pier Rebuild Project.
Sep 15, 2016