DECEMBER 2012

Lake clarity shows improvement Greatest success occurs in wintertime measurements; summer numbers continue to decline By Jim Sloan Forest thinning project

Lake Tahoe’s famed clarity improved will reduce wildfire threat by more than 4 feet in 2011 to 68.9 feet, By Cheva Heck according to the University of California, U.S. Forest Service Davis. The university’s “Tahoe: State of the The South Shore project represents Lake Report 2012” found that most of the Forest Service’s largest effort to the gains occurred during the winter date to reduce hazardous forest fuels months. Summer clarity continued to in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Over eight decline at the same rate it has since the years, the Forest Service will treat late 1960s, when scientists first began more than 10,000 acres stretching lowering a 10-inch white disc into the from the California-Nevada state water to see how deep it remained line to Cascade Lake. The Southern visible. Nevada Public Land Management Scientists were quick to note that Act funded the planning and some improvements in Tahoe clarity – a key of the on-the-ground work for goal of the environmental restoration and Lake Tahoe’s clarity improved by more than 4 feet in 2011, and most of the gains in clarity this Environmental Improvement redevelopment efforts at the Lake – were occurred during the winter months. Program project. best studied and understood over a long- “The factors that contribute to Overall, the Lake’s clarity has For many South Shore residents, term period. Many factors determine the Lake clarity are complex, and are not remained nearly stable since 2000. the project should come as a relief Lake’s clarity from year to year, but long- necessarily linked to factors occurring in Average annual clarity in the past decade – a major step in helping to protect term strategies are critical to achieving the current year,” said Schladow. “For has been better than in recent decades. In the Lake’s largest community from the clarity restoration target of 97.4 feet example, the 2011 clarity improvement 1997-1998, annual clarity reached an all- wildfire. Thinning of trees and set by federal and state regulators. followed a winter that was one of the time average low of 65.1 feet. From 2001- brush will reduce the fuels that Geoffrey Schladow, director of wettest in recent years, something that is 2011 the average clarity was 70.6 feet. could increase the severity and rate the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental usually associated with clarity declines. Researchers provided measurements of spread of a wildland fire. These Research Center, said short-term Understanding what controls the long- for both winter (December–March) and treatments have proven effective in measurements sometimes defy term trends is at the heart of what we are Continued on page 8 conventional wisdom. attempting to do.” Continued on page 10

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: n RECREATION: Van Sickle Park opens ...... 3 n OUTDOORS: Tahoe City Lakeside Trail opens ...... 5 n LANDSCAPING: Spruce up the yard, protect a national treasure...... 6

765 n HELPING HANDS: Paddlers aid with effort to stop invaders...... 11 RENO, NV RENO, n REBUILDING: Blackwood project puts volatile stream on its natural course ...... 12

n ...... 14 Stateline, NV 89449 NV Stateline, RESTORING A RIVER: The Upper Truckee gets a makeover

PO Box 5310 Box PO n NATURAL HISTORY: Will harvesting crayfish help Tahoe’s clarity?...... 21 Tahoe In Depth In Tahoe n AWARDS: Best in Basin projects highlighted...... 24 PAGE 2 n TAHOE IN DEPTH IN THIS ISSUE

Welcome to Tahoe In Depth New publication highlights ways to protect, enjoy, explore Happy Holidays! We hope you will enjoy this inaugural issue of Tahoe In Depth. This free publication is designed to keep Lake Tahoe homeowners, New parks residents and visitors abreast of the wide variety of activities taking place to 3 Van Sickle Park, the first bi-state park in the nation (page 3), the Tahoe City protect and restore this national treasure. Lakeside Trail (page 5, above) and Lakeview Commons (page 19) are open The tagline we’ve chosen for Tahoe In Depth is “Enjoying, Protecting and and ready for business. Exploring the Tahoe Basin.” Our goal is not only to help you better understand the environmental initiatives taking place at our Lake, but also to give you ideas for how you can better experience the wonders and beauty of the Tahoe Basin. Conservation landscaping We also want to empower you to be good stewards of the Lake. By giving you 6 There are many ways property owners and residents at Lake Tahoe can help ideas for landscaping and other environmentally-friendly activities, you can share improve and protect Lake Tahoe’s clarity, and one of the best ways is with in the pride many of us feel knowing that we’re doing our part to maintain and conservation landscaping, using erosion-control techniques, native plants and improve Lake Tahoe’s legendary clarity. Toward that end, check out our stories other methods of having a beautiful landscape that doesn’t affect the Lake’s in this issue about how you can improve your Lake Tahoe home’s chances of legendary transparency. surviving a wildfire. We’re also providing you with ideas for landscaping with native plants, and for how to create an ecologically-sensitive landscape design. Rebuilding ecosystems We’ve also included articles about the newest park facilities to open at Lake 12 From Blackwood Canyon to the Upper Truckee River (page 14), public agencies at Tahoe – the Van Sickle Bi-state Park, a beautiful, 700-acre woodland located just Tahoe are reconstructing long-damaged tributaries – and helping reduce pollution footsteps from the Stateline casino core. Van Sickle, the first bi-state park in the to the Lake. nation, connects the Lake’s largest bed base to a sprawling and spectacular stretch of land with trails leading to the very top of the Tahoe Basin rim and the famed Improving Tahoe Tahoe Rim Trail. We’ll also tell you what’s in store at the new Lakeview Commons, 16 Since the mid-1990s, the Lake Tahoe a project that showcases an effort to reduce sediment pollution at the South Shore Environmental Improvement Program has taken on while building a wonderful new area to enjoy the Lake. hundreds of projects designed to protect the natural Again, we hope you enjoy this first issue of Tahoe In Depth. If you have any and recreational resources of Lake Tahoe. requests for future articles or if you have questions you’d like us to address in upcoming issues, please drop us a line at [email protected]. Regional Plan Update – Julie Regan, executive editor The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) 17 reached out to more than 5,000 local residents and Tahoe In Depth visitors over several years to forge a vision for a healthier Lake Tahoe environment and community. Publisher and contributors: The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency publishes Tahoe In Depth in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nevada Division of State Lands. Other contributing agencies include U.S. EPA, Bureau of Reclamation, Tahoe Resource Conservation District, the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, the California Tahoe Conservancy and the University of Best in Basin California Cooperative Extension. 24 Heavenly’s new Tamarack Lodge was one of Executive Editor: Julie Regan several projects named the “Best in the Basin” for Managing Editor: Jim Sloan Project Manager and Copy Editor: Sarah Underhill their environmentally-friendly design and building Contributors: Cheva Heck, Jeannie Stafford, Lisa Heki, Kristi Boosman, Jeff Cowen, practices. Shelly Barnes, Pete Brumis, Karin Edwards, Robert Gregg, Patrick Stone, Sue Norman, Jeanne McNamara Photographers: U.S. Forest Service, Christine Ngai Ryan, Roxanne Quezada Chartouni, Tahoe Resource Conservation District, Karin Edwards, Corey Rich, David Safanda, Peter Spain, Mike Vollmer, UC Davis, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Best In Dedication Basin project photographers Tahoe In Depth is dedicated to the late Dennis Oliver, the former Public Information Officer for TRPA. Dennis was the public face for Copyright 2012 – All rights reserved. TRPA for many years and worked closely with Tahoe Basin agencies. The following agencies funded this publication: He was a gifted writer who had a special passion for Lake Tahoe and worked tirelessly to tell its story. TRPA would like to thank all who contributed to Dennis’s Memorial Fund. Those contributions helped make Tahoe In Depth a reality. TAHOE IN DEPTH n PAGE 3 Backcountry at the back door

Van Sickle Bi-state Park

Van Sickle Bi-state Park, the first bi-state park in the country, opened in 2011. It includes 542 acres Where: in Nevada and 156 acres in California and includes Van Sickle Bi-state Park is located within historic buildings from as far back as the 1860s. Trails a few minutes’ walk from the Stateline through the park connect visitors from the Stateline casino core and Heavenly Village at casinos to the Tahoe Rim Trail. the junction of Park Avenue and Lake Parkway. The gates are open to vehicles between May 1 and Nov. 1. The park is open year round to pedestrians. Van Sickle Park provides outdoor recreation next to bustling casino district What to do: By Rob Gregg

The newly constructed park includes It’s not unusual for Lake Tahoe to restrooms, picnic sites, and access to surprise people. They can’t believe how hiking, mountain biking and equestrian clear the water is. They can’t believe the trails. From Van Sickle Bi-state Park, you mountains still have snow in July. They can access the popular Tahoe Rim Trail can’t believe you can be hiking in the via the Van Sickle Trail. wilderness in the morning and checking into a hotel-casino in the afternoon. The park is adjacent to the largest bed Well, add a new natural wonder to the base in the Lake Tahoe Basin, and will list – the Van Sickle Bi-state Park. This connect with the Tahoe Conservancy’s 700-acre expanse sits right outside those proposed South Tahoe Greenway and Stateline casinos and makes it possible the nearby, Conservancy-funded Explore for you to step back in history, hike to Views from the higher reaches of the park are stunning. Tahoe Urban Trailhead. a little-known waterfall and hook up with the world-famous Tahoe Rim Trail facility. The Van Sickle family operated park operators work in cooperation with A little more history: without even getting into your car. the Stateline Stables until 1993, keeping many partners such as the Tahoe Rim Van Sickle Bi-state Park represents up to 60 horses on hand to take riders Trail, the Tahoe Fund and most recently The California side of the park contains a long-held vision and partnership on the trails throughout this area. the local Kiwanis chapter, which has historic buildings in the Van Sickle between California and Nevada. It’s the When the Van Sickle family donated sponsored the construction of a bulletin Equestrian Complex. The barn, a nearly only bi-state park in the nation with a 542 acres to Nevada State Parks in 1989 board for posting park information. 100-year-old log cabin, and housekeeping common entrance. to create a new park, both the Nevada The park features a new access drive, cabins from the former Three Pines Motel, The California side of the park is and California State Parks envisioned utilities, restrooms, picnic sites and were brought to their current location in home to the historic buildings built by acquisition of the adjacent 156 acres on trails and trailheads that give hikers, 1960. the Van Sickle family. The impressive the California side. In 2001, the Tahoe mountain bikers and equestrians room barn, built in the 1860s, was used to hold Conservancy purchased the California to roam. hay and grain for a nearby way station property to bring this concept to The Van Sickle Trail connects the park and for horse teams pulling freight fruition. The bi-state park opened last to the Tahoe Rim Trail, giving visitors through the Region. By the 1890s, the year and won a ‘Best in Basin’ award the opportunity to explore beyond the Tahoe In Depth is printed on 30 percent operation had become an equestrian for best recreation project in 2012. The park’s boundaries. post-consumer recycled paper. PAGE 4 n TAHOE IN DEPTH Two-wheel revolution Agencies teaming up to improve Tahoe’s bicycle network

By Jim Sloan Although some of the proposed network On just about any will be built as part of summer day at Lake future development Tahoe, you can find and future roadway thousands of cyclists projects, a substantial tooling along the portion will rely on highways and bike public funding. paths at various According to Karen points around the Fink, the primary Basin. author of TRPA’s An example of shared-use bike path. Cyclists on cruiser bike and pedestrian Recent bike and pedestrian bikes roll along plan, there are a accomplishments at Tahoe the flat bike paths wide variety of through Camp potential funding n Completion of the first phases of the Richardson. Athletes sources, including Sawmill Bike Path in Meyers, which will on lightweight state bond funding, eventually connect the existing Pat Lowe carbon-fiber frames federal planning Memorial Trail to the South Tahoe “Y” power up the road to grants and smaller n Over 3 miles of new sidewalk in the Spooner Summit or grants, such as the Incline Village Commercial Area Luther Pass. Casino California Bicycle n New bicycle lanes in the Incline Village workers atop their Transportation and Kings Beach areas urban commuter Account and the n Shared-use paths on both sides of Ski bikes head to work National Scenic Run Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe down Pioneer Trail. Cyclists (top) head out on America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride while other riders cruise Byways Program. through Camp Richardson, below right. Bike lanes, bottom left, are a good way to n The investment Lakeside Bike Trail in Tahoe City Whatever kind of encourage riding. n City of South Lake Tahoe allocation of cyclist you are, Lake in bike-friendly $25,000 toward community bicycle racks Tahoe is a great place infrastructure n Completion of the last phase of the to ride. According to a survey of bike Even on some of the Basin’s makes sense not only from a public 1-mile-long 15th Street Bike Trail in the path users, about 30 percent of peddlers notoriously narrow, steep and environmental health standpoint, it City of South Lake Tahoe using the paths came to Lake Tahoe topographically constrained roads (think also makes sense from an economic n Refurbished the Al Tahoe Trail specifically to ride a bike. This translates Highway 89 around Emerald Bay), the standpoint. Tahoe’s annual America’s n Sixty thousand copies of the Lake to about 188,800 people a year coming plan calls for signage that gives cyclists Most Beautiful Bike Ride (AMBBR) Tahoe Bicycle Trail Map distributed to Tahoe to ride. These riders contribute not only a place to ride but a sense that brings 3,500 registered riders to the n Bicycle and pedestrian checklists in from $6 million to $23 million a year to they have as much right to be there as a Region each year. You can recognize TRPA project applications, plus online, the local economy. passenger car. them by their knotty calves and sleek interactive map of proposed bicycle and Bikes not only get you out of your car Another part of TRPA’s Bicycle outfits. pedestrian network and give you some exercise, but they and Pedestrian Plan calls for the Those riders stay in hotels and eat in n Recognition of the City of South Lake also contribute to efforts to increase the implementation of the Lake Tahoe restaurants. More than half make more Tahoe as a bronze-level League of clarity of Lake Tahoe by cutting down on Scenic Bike Loop, which would provide than $100,000, so they may have a little American Bicyclists (LAB) Bicycle-Friendly air pollution from automobiles. the “widest possible shoulder” on the extra disposable income. Community 2006, 2008 With that in mind, Lake Tahoe Lake side of the highway encircling The importance of having an overall n Recognition of North Lake Tahoe- agencies and local governments are Tahoe where bike lanes are not feasible bike plan for the entire Tahoe Basin is Truckee Resort Triangle with “Honorable working together to execute a plan or haven’t already been constructed. that it helps local jurisdictions better Mention” by LAB Bicycle Friendly to improve the cycling opportunities, Another piece of the plan calls for coordinate their bikeway-building efforts Community Program. awareness and facilities around signed and numbered bicycle routes that and puts the importance of cycling at the Lake Tahoe. Some day, they hope to provide an easily understood network to top of everyone’s mind. see a complete bicycle network that visitors and local residents alike. Having bike projects on the planning connects communities and destinations Although the Basin already has books is also required for many projects throughout the Basin. nearly 100 miles of designated bike and to qualify for funding. A plan also helps The plan involves utilizing a variety pedestrian routes, experts estimate that facilitate cost savings when bike projects of bike travel ways, from multiple use another 95 miles of high priority facilities can be coordinated with the work trails like those which run through will be needed to complete a network for being done by utilities, departments of Camp Richardson to bike lanes that are Lake Tahoe. The cost for that is estimated transportation, water companies and identified along roadways. (in 2009 dollars) to be about $200 million. communications providers. TAHOE IN DEPTH n PAGE 5 Tahoe City Lakeside Trail 25 years in the making

A cyclist heads west on the new Tahoe City Lakeside Trail near the playground at Commons Beach recently. The 1-mile trail has been a popular addition to the 19-mile trail network. New promenade provides better shoreline access and makes it easier to link with other trails

By Jim Sloan at the nearby Truckee River rafting companies, couples strolling with their When the Tahoe City Public Utility morning coffee, and kids from the Tahoe District hosted a public ceremony State Park campground heading over to earlier this year to officially open the the beach for the day. Several joggers, new Tahoe City Lakeside Trail, TCPUD happy to avoid the traffic and bustle of Board President Judy Friedman called it downtown Tahoe City, used the new “a $12 million miracle mile.” trail on their way to the Truckee River She wasn’t exaggerating. to the west or east to Dollar Hill and The 1-mile paved trail traces the beyond. shoreline from Commons Beach A large group of hikers had gathered to Tahoe State Park. Because of the at a small plaza of picnic tables challenges of building a trail along overlooking the Lake to eat breakfast the Tahoe shoreline and through and and plan their day on the trail. Stand-up around various geologic formations paddlers made their way on the water and private property lines, it took about out beyond the piers. 25 years to be completed. The utility Dan Shea, who was vacationing from district needed financial help from 12 Rhode Island with his two sons, said he The Tahoe City Lakeside Trail connects the sources to bring the $12 million project North Shore Trail, West Shore Trail and the was surprised to hear that the trail was to fruition. Truckee River Trail. Cyclists going through new. It’s significant because although Tahoe City previously had to negotiate “It just fits into this location so downtown traffic when trying to make the it’s only a mile in length, it provides a connection from one bike path to the next. perfectly,” said Shea. “It’s like it was critical connection for the North Shore The planning, design and construction of meant to be here.” Trail, the West Shore Trail and the the trail took 25 years and cost $12 million. Lakeside Trail Although the trail runs along the The trail connects Commons Beach to the Truckee River Trail. What’s more, it Tahoe State Park and includes picnic areas, shoreline and through wooded and provides easy and comfortable access plazas, bridges and easy access to lakefront rocky areas, the project – which got to the shoreline from downtown restaurants and businesses. a big boost from the more than $5 Area Tahoe City, which previously required detail million contribution provided by the its visitors to scramble down steep California Tahoe Conservancy – actually makeshift paths or to wander down the sandy and grassy Commons Beach sections of wooded solitude mixed with includes a number of environmental different side streets to reach the water. area to various granite benches or brief excursions past commercial areas, improvements that will benefit the Lake. Now those visitors are delivered wooden picnic tables. shops, restaurants, bike and kayak Urban and stormwater runoff will be to the lakefront through a number of The trail is much more than your rental shops, the marina and more piers better filtered, and the landscape will different stairways down from the typical paved bike path. The lighted and small rocky beaches. benefit as the makeshift trails down the street. When they reach the water, they route includes interpretive signs and On one Sunday this summer, the trail steep slope from North Lake Boulevard find all manner of places to relax – from wide, stout wooden bridges. There are was active with people cycling to work become revegetated. PAGE 6 n TAHOE IN DEPTH Conservation in your yard Sustainable gardening and landscaping makes sense at Tahoe

Let’s face it: Living at Lake Tahoe comes with certain responsibilities. We can’t just cut down a tree to improve our view of the Lake. We have to avoid blowing snow from our driveways into the street. And we have to be careful about how we landscape our yards. If you’re new to Lake Tahoe or just new to landscaping, you may not be familiar with the term “conservation landscaping.” But it describes a method of preserving and protecting Lake Tahoe’s natural resources with sustainable gardening and landscaping A Tahoe RCD Landscape Tour. techniques that promote wildlife habitat, erosion control, water conservation, Tahoe RCD offers clean air and water, composting and 1 2 Conservation Landscape Tour other resource-friendly practices. Conservation landscaping will enhance The Tahoe Resource Conservation the look and functionality of your District hosts an Annual Conservation property and are typically more cost- Landscape Tour that allows gardeners to efficient and require less maintenance. enjoy and explore eight beautiful gardens Tahoe Resource Conservation in the Tahoma and Homewood areas District (Tahoe RCD) staff can that highlight Tahoe Basin conservation work with California Tahoe Basin techniques. This FREE tour highlights homeowners to provide site-specific native and adapted plant selection, water advice. Homeowners can learn about conservation techniques, defensible project planning and site analysis, soil space methods, Best Management preparation, irrigation considerations Practice (BMP) demonstrations and and plant selection and care. wildlife enhancement features. Tahoe RCD staff can provide assistance with: Last year’s event brought together more n how to restore and re-vegetate than 150 Tahoe residents to learn about retired dirt parking areas and areas water-efficient irrigation and defensible damaged during construction; space through proper plant selection, n how to replace thirsty lawns with a 3 arrangement and management. As you low-maintenance landscape; explore the gardens, garden stewards n how to implement defensible space and homeowners are available to answer landscaping practices; your questions related to the conservation n how to start a wildlife garden and landscapes and plant identification. integrate vegetation into BMP plans. Great plants for a Lake-friendly Tahoe Basin garden When funding is available, Conservation landscaping preserves and protects the Tahoe Basin’s natural resources with For more information, visit homeowners can receive a “native gardening and landscaping techniques that promote wildlife habitat, erosion control, water www.tahoercd.org garden start-up kit” that includes conservation, clean air and water, composting and other natural resource-friendly practices. free native plants and compost. Some Some plants that lend themselves to a beautiful, sustainable landscape include: participants have received a credit 1. Columbine: Plant western columbine to attract wildlife to your garden. It is a perfect for compost and up to 25 plants addition to a butterfly garden, and will entice hummingbirds and bees with its tubular red indigenous to the Lake Tahoe Basin. flowers. Allow the flowers to set seeds because they are a favorite food of small birds. To request a free landscape water 2. Lupine: Lupines, such as these found at the South Tahoe Public Utility District, are hardy efficiency evaluation or obtain advice plants that self seed and will remain colorful for a long time. on conservation landscaping practices, 3. Sulfur buckwheat, mountain pride and penstemon: There are a variety of penstemons contact the Tahoe RCD, TahoeRCD.org, native to the Tahoe Basin. They provide habitat for pollinators and are also low-maintenance. 530.543.1501 ext 113. TAHOE IN DEPTH n PAGE 7 5 ways to show you love Lake Tahoe

A guide for locals, homeowners and visitors alike By Pete Brumis

Tear out your lawn – and get paid for it! Lawns are not very sustainable or practical here. Lake Tahoe gets its clarity from the abundance of clean granite rock in the Tahoe Basin. Fertilizers, fill soil and excess water put additional strain on the Lake by contributing sediment 1 and nutrients, decreasing Tahoe’s clarity. The Summer Turf Buy-Back Program 2012 was a partnership between South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD) and the Tahoe Resource Conservation District (Tahoe RCD) that allowed homeowners the opportunity to be eligible for a rebate by removing their lawn and replacing it with Tahoe Sierra native and adapted plants. Email: [email protected] for more details and information on next summer’s program. Tahoe RCD’s Green Thumb Speaker Series usually begins each June with “Turf Removal Techniques for the High Sierra.” Visit TahoeRCD.org for this and other great conservation events. Doo your duty – pick up your dog’s poo 2 No one wants to step in your dog’s, uh, “surprise,” while out walking on the beach or the local trails. Fido’s feces contains bacteria and nutrients, which can lead to algae blooms and decreased Lake clarity. Plus, it’s just plain nasty. Make sure to grab a doggy bag before you take your pooch on a walk, and “Doo your Duty.” It’s good for Tahoe, and your neighbors will appreciate it too!

Keep aquatic invaders out There has been a lot of talk about the dangers of aquatic invasive species (AIS), and boat inspections are now 3 a fixture at off-highway locations around the Lake to help avoid introduction and spread of aquatic invasive critters and plants. Most boaters know to arrive Clean, Drained and Dry at inspection locations. But what about paddlers? With unrestricted access to most of the Lake shores around the Tahoe Basin, local paddlers have a big responsibility to ensure they’re not introducing unwanted pests and plants to local lakes – and also to educate visitors. Dirt, debris and standing water in boats or gear can easily introduce unwanted species into our lakes. Visit TahoeBoatInspections.com and click on the Tahoe Keepers link to learn more about cleaning and self inspecting your canoe, kayak or paddleboard. Share your favorite play spot Locals love to get outside, whether to glide through open powder in the winter, cruise a beautiful single track, or 4 paddle the glassy water. But even seasoned veterans were new to Tahoe once, so take the time to be a good steward for Tahoe! Informed visitors can better help to protect the “Jewel of the Sierra” from pollution, invasive species and more. Taking the time to educate and share with the millions of people that visit the Basin every year helps us all in the long run.

Attract the birds, bees and butterflies to your yard! If you’re looking to bring the wildlife back into your yard, Tahoe Sierra native and adapted plants are the way to go. 5 Birds and insects pollinate native plants and contribute to the long-term survival and proliferation of our beautiful plants and wildflowers. Tahoe RCD has some great (and free) conservation landscaping resources available that may include free native plants, removal of invasive species, and even assistance in designing your erosion control best management practices (BMPs). Visit TahoeRCD.org for more details on conservation landscaping tips and how to take advantage of these and other free resources. PAGE 8 n TAHOE IN DEPTH Angora Fire highlighted importance of treating woods along streams

A worker operates a cut-to-length harvester during a forest-thinning project.

Continued from page 1 Angora Fire remembered recent wildland fires such as the 2007 Angora and Washoe fires. Lake Tahoe residents were reminded Work will be done using mechanical of the importance of fuel reduction and equipment, such as a cut-to-length defensible space (see page 17) in the harvester, when possible, and by Tahoe Basin earlier this year on June 24, chainsaw crews in areas in which the fifth anniversary of the devastating mechanical equipment is not permitted Angora Fire. The blaze, which burned for or not feasible. Contractors will remove several days, destroyed 254 structures the material for sawlogs or biomass, or and burned 3,100 acres in South Lake crews will process it on site through Tahoe. In late 2011 and early 2012, two chipping and mastication, or piling and large fires tore through parts of Reno, burning. signaling that wildfires are no longer just As the work progresses, residents can a summertime danger. The Washoe and expect to see changes in the way the Caughlin fires destroyed scores of homes forest looks. in the Sierra foothills in and around Reno. Comstock logging and fire exclusion have created an unhealthy and fire- prone forest, Forest Service officials said. Still, they noted that it can be upsetting Saxon Creek will allow us to reduce the when a thinning project changes the risk that their dense fuel loads will carry appearance of our favorite places. The a wildfire and increase its intensity,” drive along Highway 50 past Zephyr said Kathy Murphy, LTBMU staff officer Shoals, Roundhill Pines and Nevada for vegetation, urban lots, fire and fuels. Beach provides an excellent example of “We understand the need to protect how the forest will look a few years after these sensitive environments, and we’ll thinning is complete. be monitoring and adapting our work as The South Shore project also marks needed to achieve that.” the first time the Forest Service can Work began in summer 2012 at a effectively treat areas along streams on number of locations, including Sierra the California side of the Lake. A look Tract, Trout Creek, Camp Richardson, back to the Angora Fire underscores Fallen Leaf Lake and Christmas Valley. the importance of treating stream To protect public safety, the Forest environment zones. Aerial pictures Service will temporarily close units show how the heavy fuel load of dead where work is occurring. This may Years of fire suppression have created thick forests (left) that make wildfires even more and downed trees around Angora Creek affect access to official and unofficial dangerous. Thinning operations restore forests to a more natural state (right). carried the fire from its origin at Seneca trails. The Forest Service restores official Pond to the neighborhoods. roads and trails, but unofficial trails are “Treating along streams such as not restored. TAHOE IN DEPTH n PAGE 9 Keeping the Lake safe from invaders Unwanted aquatic species can cause long-term damage to Tahoe’s clarity, beauty

By Kristi Boosman Tahoe Regional Planning Agency

Every year millions of people come to Lake Tahoe to enjoy its natural beauty and marvel at its famed clarity, which, after decades of decline, is finally showing signs of stabilizing. The latest Lake clarity data released by the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency reported the average annual clarity level for 2011 at 68.9 feet, a 4.5- foot improvement over 2010. Urban stormwater runoff accounts for 72 percent of the sediment and pollution running into Lake Tahoe. However, aquatic invasive species have emerged Eurasian watermilfoil being removed from the Tahoe Keys. in recent years, and they not only threaten Lake Tahoe’s famed clarity, but Watercraft inspections are available at various locations around the Lake. They ensure boats its entire ecosystem. don’t inadvertently bring aquatic invasive species into Lake Tahoe. Aquatic Invasive Species Aquatic invasive species are non- harm Lake Tahoe by: native species that have the potential to cause long-term damage to Lake Tahoe’s Summer inspection locations: n Severely impacting recreational uses delicate ecosystem and economy. Lake 3. 1. Meyers, junction of U.S. 50 and Highway such as swimming, boating, water-skiing, Tahoe’s original ecosystem was simple, 4. 89 and fishing and consisted of only one predominant 2. Spooner Summit, at the junction of U.S. n Degrading boats by clogging propellers predator, Lahontan cutthroat trout. 50 and Highway 28 in Nevada and cooling intakes Over time, non-native species have 3. Highway 267 at Northstar Drive near n Facilitating invasions of other non- been introduced by agencies to increase Truckee native species 5. 2. sport fishing or enhance ecosystem 4. Highway 89, at Alpine Meadows Road n Altering nutrient cycles and increasing resources. Others were unintentionally near Tahoe City algal growth in the Lake by adding or intentionally introduced from the 5. Highway 89, at Homewood Resort on phosphorus to the water column thus public by releasing live bait, introducing Lake Tahoe’s West Shore contributing to overall clarity decline game fish, dumping aquariums or For winter hours and locations, visit unknowingly bringing them in on boats TahoeBoatInspections.com or (888) 824- Species of concern from other lakes or waterways. 1. 6267. Follow @TahoeBoating on Twitter The Watercraft Inspection Program, for real-time updates. presently in Lake Tahoe: which is led by the Tahoe Resource n Eurasian watermilfoil Conservation District, the U.S. Fish and other funding sources in anticipation of ruin boat engines and cloud the water. n Curlyleaf pondweed Wildlife Service and Tahoe Regional future reductions of federal funding. Boats and other watercraft are the largest n Warm-water fish such as small and Planning Agency, was formed in 2008 “The Watercraft Inspection Program is transporters of aquatic invasive species large mouth bass and bluegill sunfish to protect Lake Tahoe from aquatic critical to the health of Tahoe and our local and the inspection program is critical n Asian clam invasive species such as quagga and economy,” said Ted Thayer, the TRPA’s to preventing the spread into Lake n Bull frogs zebra mussels. Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator. Tahoe and surrounding water bodies. In 2012, boat inspectors processed 100 Quagga or zebra mussels in Lake Tahoe Knowingly transporting aquatic invasive Aquatic invasive species NOT percent of all boats entering Lake Tahoe could have a particularly devastating species into Lake Tahoe is against the law. presently in Lake Tahoe that we need at roadside inspection sites. impact. These invasive mollusks multiply Boaters are encouraged to Clean, to keep out: The annual watercraft inspection quickly and colonize underwater surfaces, Drain, and Dry their boats prior to n Zebra mussel fee currently only covers half of the including docks and piers, water supply arriving at inspection stations in order n Quagga mussel inspection program costs, while federal and filtration systems, buoys, moored to save everyone time and money, n New Zealand mudsnail funding covers the remainder. TRPA boats and even the beautiful rocky according to Kim Boyd, Assistant n Spiny water flea is looking into greater efficiencies and shoreline. They destroy fish habitat, District Manager for Tahoe RCD. n Hydrilla n Giant salvinia PAGE 10 n TAHOE IN DEPTH

How Lake Tahoe clarity is measured Lake clarity shows improvement Clarity is measured by the depth at which Wintertime gains help offset continued summertime clarity losses a 10-inch white disk, called a Secchi disk, remains visible when lowered beneath the Continued from page 1 water’s surface. The measurements have been taken since 1968, when the Secchi summer (June–September) months. The disk could be seen down to 102.4 feet. winter average of 84.9 feet in 2011 was an improvement from the worst point seen Clarity Readings Since 2000 in 1997 and a 12-foot jump over 2010. n 2011: 68.9 feet (21 meters) Urban stormwater runoff has long n 2010: 64.4 feet (19.6 meters) been one contributor to reduced clarity n 2009: 68.1 feet (20.8 meters) at the Lake. Most of that runoff occurs n 2008: 69.6 feet (21.2 meters) during the winter and spring, when rain n 2007: 70.1 feet (21.4 meters) and snowmelt carry small, inorganic n 2006: 67.7 feet (20.6 meters) particles from the land into the Lake. n 2005: 72.4 feet (22.1 meters) Researchers say the improvements n 2004: 73.6 feet (22.4 meters) for 2011, despite the wet winter, could n 2003: 71 feet (21.6 meters) indicate that efforts led by TRPA, n 2002: 78 feet (23.8 meters) other management agencies, local n 2001: 73.6 feet (22.4 meters) jurisdictions and private property n 2000: 67.3 feet (20.5 meters) owners to reduce urban stormwater runoff are helping. They emphasized The chart shows the average annual Secchi For a complete list of Annual Secchi Depth that they need more data on stormwater disk depth reading recorded by researchers Data since 1968, visit http://terc.ucdavis. to make definitive conclusions. at the University of California, Davis. UC edu/research/SecchiData.pdf. Summer clarity levels continued to Davis maintains a boat, left, that is used to take the measurements. Graphs showing the various clarity show a decline. The 2011 value of 51.5 measurements for summer months, feet was the second worst on record, winter months, and the yearly averages, which UC Davis data suggest may be improvement efforts in the Lake Tahoe are available at the UC Davis Tahoe due to the large, late-spring snowmelt, Basin related to water quality, forest Environmental Research Center website which carried enormous amounts of health and watershed condition have at http://terc.ucdavis.edu. fine sediment and nutrients from the been significant. watersheds surrounding the Lake. However, Reuter noted that The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency “ecosystem restoration is seen over a Ecosystem restoration is seen leads the collaborative Environmental time scale of decades and is difficult Improvement Program that sets under the best of conditions. Sustaining over a time scale of decades and is “ thresholds for various environmental the pollutant reduction to any lake difficult under the best of conditions. indicators at the Lake, with clarity being that has an urban population and among the most important. infrastructure like Lake Tahoe is Sustaining the pollutant reduction “We’re encouraged that Lake challenging, especially in a faltering to any lake that has an urban clarity is improving and seems to be economy. In my opinion, the federal, responding to the substantial restoration Marchetta, executive director of TRPA. state and public partners at Lake Tahoe population and infrastructure like investments we’ve collectively John Reuter, associate director of are facing this restoration challenge with Lake Tahoe is challenging, especially made through the Environmental the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental considerable insight, coordination and Improvement Program,” said Joanne S. Research Center, said environmental determination.” in a faltering economy. In my opinion, the federal, state and public partners at Lake Tahoe are facing Lake Tahoe Fast Facts: How does the Lake stack up?

this restoration challenge with How does Lake Tahoe compare watershed adds 65 percent of the How cold is the Lake? water. Another 35 percent falls as Below an average depth of 900 considerable insight, coordination to other world lakes? Tahoe is the second largest lake in precipitation. feet, water temperature is a and determination. the world at or above this elevation. Where does all the water go? near constant 40 degrees. Daily It is the 31st largest lake overall and About a third flows into the Truckee maximum surface temperature can John Reuter ” the 11th deepest lake. River through the dam at Tahoe City reach 75 degrees. Over the past 38 UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Where does the water come and travels 140 miles to Pyramid years, water temperature warmed Research Center from? Lake in Nevada. The rest evaporates an average of 1 degree from top to Rain and snow melt runoff from 63 from the surface at an annual bottom and monthly water surface tributaries in the 312 square-mile average rate of 0.1 inch per day. temperature increased 1.6 degrees. TAHOE IN DEPTH n PAGE 11

A kayaker glides over Lake Tahoe with Heavenly ski resort as a backdrop. Paddlers join fight to keep Tahoe clear Learn how you can help protect the Lake from invasive species at TahoeKeepers.org

By Patrick Stone already here? That’s why it’s important Tahoe Regional Planning Agency for paddlers to Clean, Drain, and Dry their boat and gear and properly For thousands of years, canoes and dispose of debris every time, even when kayaks have provided paddlers at Lake staying within the Tahoe Basin. Tahoe with an opportunity to enjoy the Species like Eurasian watermilfoil, peace and solitude of skimming over an aquatic invasive plant, and Asian crystal clear blue waters. Today, the clam are found in Lake Tahoe but have watercraft we see on the Lake are almost not invaded other waters in the Basin, as diverse as the people floating in like Fallen Leaf Lake or Echo Lake. The Cleaning tips for paddlers them. With the recent arrival of standup Tahoe Keepers are equally committed to n Remove all dirt, plant and other material paddle boarding, currently the fastest- reducing this risk of in-Basin transfer of from your rudder, hull, cockpit and gear. growing sport in the world, paddling invasive species. n Drain the water from your hatches, in the Tahoe Basin is more popular than Facility staff and invasive species cockpits, boards and gear on land before ever. inspectors are often at popular launch you leave the immediate area. Open all But this popularity does not come sites to provide education to boaters. hatches or plugs, turn the boat upside without a risk. Aquatic invasive species www.TahoeKeepers.org. The staff and inspectors may ask you down and rest on an open hatch to incline are spreading rapidly throughout The Tahoe Keepers are a community a few questions that help to assess the the watercraft and drain it. the western United States, damaging of water stewards who have committed potential risk of your watercraft. All n Dry your watercraft and gear, and infrastructure, ecosystems and tourist to a quick and easy ritual of Clean, watercraft are subject to inspection and store them in a dry place where aquatic industries in their wake. These invaders Drain, and Dry every time they use decontamination. invaders cannot survive. Inspect your are spread through the transport of their canoe, kayak, board, or boat. A free It’s a good idea to know where and watercraft and gear for moisture before watercraft, including paddle-driven online training program is available to when your watercraft was last used launching. kayaks and boards. Invasive species like help paddlers understand the threats so that you can answer an inspector’s n If you’re coming from a Region with snails or mussels hitch a ride in water and laws associated with aquatic questions and move through the infested water bodies or find invasive or debris that can collect in cockpits and invasive species, as well as familiarize inspection quickly. plants during your inspection, free hatches, cling to outer hulls, rudders, them with the self-inspection and Free kayak, canoe, paddle board, and decontaminations are available to and paddles, and even hide out in decontamination methods necessary to non-motorized watercraft inspections non-motorized watercraft at each of the the nooks and crannies of gear. The guard against the inadvertent transport and decontaminations are also available roadside inspection stations. transport of aquatic invasive species of these invaders. at each roadside watercraft inspection More details: tahoekeepers.org in the Lake Tahoe Basin threatens the Widespread participation in the Tahoe station located at Meyers, Spooner pristine condition of our waters and is Keepers voluntary training program and Summit, Homewood Mountain, illegal. stewardship community will also help Northstar-at-Tahoe and Alpine To protect your favorite place and to to protect our recreational opportunities Meadows. Directions to these roadside protect your favorite pastime from the and privileges in the Lake Tahoe Basin. stations and answers to other frequently threats of aquatic invasive species, you Did you know that many of the asked questions are available at www. can become a Tahoe Keeper at aquatic invaders that threaten Tahoe are TahoeBoatInspections.com. PAGE 12 n TAHOE IN DEPTH

The problem: Blackwood Creek generates approximately 30 percent of all stream Rebuilding Blackwood bank erosion in the Lake Tahoe Basin, second behind the Upper Truckee Efforts to restore creek will reduce sediment entering Lake Tahoe watershed, which produces 40 to 50 percent. By Sue Norman Stanford Rock

U.S. Forest Service W. Lake Blvd. The cause: Blackwood Canyon represents n Aggressive logging and sheep grazing the best and worst of a Lake Tahoe up to the 1960s watershed. A wide valley filled with project area n Gravel mining mature cottonwood trees, pine forests n Flooding in the 1960s triggered massive interspersed with aspen stands, and Barker Pass Road bank failures along a 2,400-foot stretch of steep canyon walls framed by rugged Tahoe the creek. The resulting erosion converted volcanic rock outcrops characterize this Blackwood Creek Pines an ecologically diverse meadow and remarkably scenic canyon. Blackwood floodplain into a sparsely vegetated series offers some of the best fall color vistas at of gravel bars with little ecological value. Tahoe. Additional flooding and erosion suggested However, amidst this natural beauty, McKinney excessive bank erosion would continue Blackwood Creek is still recovering Bay for decades. from a long history of damaging land use practices. Though not urbanized, What the Forest Service did: aggressive logging and sheep grazing Forest Service restoration project leader Craig Oehrli, below, occurred there into the 1960s. A massive says the latest project has exceeded early expectations, reducing stream channel erosion and increasing sediment n Manmade impediments to desired gravel mining operation that provided Area of detail deposition on the newly reconstructed floodplains. riparian form and function were treated cheap building materials to construct first. A fish ladder and culvert that outlived facilities for the 1960 Squaw Valley Winter their need were upgraded and are now Olympics delivered the coup de grace of functioning sections of stream and man’s impact. expected to evolve naturally over time. Healthy watersheds exist in “dynamic n Reshaped channel bars to deflect equilibrium.” This term describes any streamflow away from exposed banks system that can absorb constant change and terraces, reducing wide-scale erosion while maintaining balance. The naturally during floods and promoting sediment steep and rocky geology of Blackwood storage and retention on floodplains. Canyon creates a truly impressive n Installed river boulders and logs at hydrologic response in Blackwood Creek. bar heads to deflect flow, even at forces This watershed naturally experiences generated during historic floods and constant change, in a big way. beyond. During large rain-on-snow events, n Planted and irrigated native water in Blackwood Creek accumulates cottonwoods, willow stakes and poles faster than most watersheds in the Lake in key areas to re-establish riparian Tahoe Basin. Flows can increase from a vegetation and restore floodplain stability few cubic feet per second to a thousand and durability. or more cubic feet per second within 24 n Increased channel sinuousity to hours, creating a virtual stampede of encourage channel sediment storage and water raging down Blackwood Creek and pool-riffle development. its tributaries. Research shows that much of the creek inventory of Blackwood. For over a n Enhanced the health of aspen stands The combination of Blackwood’s provides poor habitat for fish and other month, I hiked, waded, and sometimes by harvesting conifers and using the naturally “flashy” hydrology, along aquatic species. crawled up every road, trail and stream logs for additional flood and channel with the destabilizing impacts of man’s The Blackwood watershed has been channel, looking for indicators of roughness. Vegetation specialists and activities, pushed Blackwood Creek the training grounds for every new unnatural rates of erosion, and I found wildlife biologists were on hand to over the edge, causing its bed and banks hydrologist to the U.S. Forest Service plenty. ensure crews maintained desirable forest to erode at an alarming rate. The creek Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit With funding from the Southern structure. banks increased 6 to 10 feet in depth and (LTBMU), a place to witness firsthand Nevada Public Land Management Act, n Constructed 2,400 feet of new channel 100 or more feet in width. the concepts learned in the classroom. the Forest Service has implemented a to connect to 1,200 feet of the historic Water quality data indicates that When I was first hired by the LTBMU wide variety of restoration projects in channel of Blackwood Creek. Blackwood Canyon is one of the largest in 1989 as a seasonal hydrologist, one the Blackwood Watershed as part of the sediment producers to Lake Tahoe, of my first assignments was to perform contributing to reduced Lake clarity. a watershed improvement needs Continued on page 13 TAHOE IN DEPTH n PAGE 13 Heavy rainfall between 2009 and 2011 put the rebuilt creek to the test

Continued from page 12 Forest Service reviewing

Environmental Improvement input on management plan Program. These include removing The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) released roads, upgrading water quality best in June a draft environmental document management practices on roads, and that outlines alternatives for managing the implementing several stream channel national forest system lands in the Lake and floodplain restoration projects. Tahoe Basin. The four alternatives capture The first major phases of stream input received from public collaboration channel restoration consisted of during the multi-agency Pathway process removing man-made structures that and Forest Service workshops held in were inhibiting natural channel and 2008 and 2010. floodplain processes. This included removing an outdated concrete and The Draft Environmental Impact steel fish ladder, as well as a large Statement (DEIS) was out for public culvert under Barker Pass road. The comment for 90 days. Public meetings culvert was replaced with a bridge, and were held in July. To assist citizens in in both locations the stream channel and developing their comments, the meetings floodplain were restored. offered an overview of the DEIS and the In 2008 and 2009, the LTBMU alternatives and provided the opportunity began constructing its most complex to ask questions or get clarification restoration ever, restoring three quarters about the plan contents. For up-to-date of a mile of the most severely degraded information on the plan, call (530) 543- section of stream channel. According 2694 or visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ to restoration project leader Craig ltbmu/ForestPlanRevision. Oehrli, “The results of this latest project have exceeded our early expectations, -- Cheva Heck resulting in a measured reduction in stream channel erosion, and dramatic amounts of sediment deposition on the newly reconstructed floodplains.” Several extreme rainfall events occurring between spring 2009 and spring 2011 put the project to the test. The channel response demonstrated that the project was meeting performance objectives. For instance, in an analysis contained in a recently completed Master’s thesis, Utah State University student and LTBMU hydrologist Dave Immeker documented that approximately 132 tons of fine sediment from the upper watershed was deposited on the newly reconstructed floodplain in just the first Rebuilding flood-damaged portions of Blackwood Creek involved making careful year after construction. Previous studies measurements and using natural materials to deflect stream flows. indicate that the reconstructed section Tahoe Conservancy. alone released an average of 61 tons of The next time you are in Blackwood The results ... have exceeded fine sediment per year to Lake Tahoe Canyon, take a walk along Blackwood prior to restoration. Creek and witness for yourself the our“ early expectations, resulting in a The Blackwood Watershed still has dynamic process of recovery in this hurdles to overcome to achieve a full magnificent watershed. For a more measured reduction in stream channel recovery to “dynamic equilibrium,” detailed description of the results of but it is definitely on its way. The last restoration impacts and effectiveness erosion, and dramatic amounts of two planned stream channel restoration monitoring, visit the publications page projects in Blackwood Creek will be of the LTBMU public website, http:// sediment deposition. constructed in the summer of 2012 by www.fs.usda.gov/main/ltbmu/maps- the Forest Service and the California pubs. Craig Oehrli, project” leader PAGE 14 n TAHOE IN DEPTH Tahoe’s biggest tributary gets a makeover Several projects on the Upper Truckee designed to improve river conditions, help Tahoe

By Jim Sloan Project areas

High up in the National Forest in the Various Lake Tahoe agencies are working Meiss Meadow area, a stream drains on several projects designed to restore out of the volcanic bluffs near Red Lake the Upper Truckee River’s health while Peak and plunges down the mountains. working around the development that has In the wilderness at 9,000 feet, the occurred near it. water runs clear and pure as it gathers strength from the melting snowpack. Lower West Side Upper Truckee These are the headwaters of the Marsh Upper Truckee River, and from its origins 10 miles south of Lake Tahoe, it’s hard to believe that this clear mountain stream will quickly become a major source of sediment pollution to the Lake. Johnson Meadow As soon as the Upper Truckee splashes into Christmas Valley, its life changes dramatically. It races through a channel straightened by humans for logging and grazing, picking up dirt and nutrients Upper Truckee River from heavily eroding stream banks Airport Reach that were once lush with vegetation. It bypasses the meadows where it once naturally flowed over its banks to deposit silt and filter its waters. It squeezes through narrow bridges that accelerate its speed and cause it to chew away damaged the river, and feeder streams more stream banks. When it reaches the Upper Truckee River were modified to improve irrigation. once-marshy delta where it once spread Then in the 1950s and 1960s, out and was filtered one final time Valley Reach development took its toll. before reaching Lake Tahoe, the river is The Tahoe Keys were built on the channeled around the homes and canals delta and lower marshes, and the river that now form the Tahoe Keys. was rechanneled for the Lake Tahoe Today, as a result of more than 150 Upper Truckee River Airport. A golf course was built on a years of man-caused disturbances – Sunset Reach former floodplain. from logging to grazing to rechanneling to urban development – the Upper Making amends to a river Truckee is a significant source of the The challenge now is to restore the sediment and algae-feeding nutrients river’s health while working around flowing into Lake Tahoe. all the development that has occurred Tahoe Basin land managers are taking around it. steps to change that, however. The A little bit of history Lake, dredging and rechanneling the Because of property ownership, this Upper Truckee River is the focus of a The Upper Truckee was once one river and building timber or earthen is a collaborative approach involving number of major projects designed to of the most important fishing waters splash dams to make the process easier. numerous Lake Tahoe agencies and restore the river to its former ecological for the Washoe tribe. The Lahontan You can imagine the kind of damage private property owners. Several health. cutthroat trout and mountain whitefish that caused; not only were trees and projects designed to accomplish These projects involve restoring once spawned on the gravelly bottom of stream-bank vegetation removed – restoration include: natural meanders, reconnecting the river the river near Meyers. eliminating the shade and woody n Valley Reach: A 520-acre study area to the wet meadows and marshes, and That all began to change with advent debris that help make a river healthy for near Meyers that includes the southern stabilizing the crumbling stream banks of the Comstock Lode, which initiated spawning trout – but stream banks were portion of Washoe Meadows State Park, that are helping cause a decline in the a period of heavy logging in the Tahoe torn up and allowed to melt into the Lake Valley State Recreation Area (SRA), clarity of Lake Tahoe. Basin. Loggers used the Upper Truckee rushing river water. to transport logs downstream to the In later years, heavy grazing further Continued on page 15 TAHOE IN DEPTH n PAGE 15 Where to Learn More Upper Truckee restoration work will improve area’s largest wetlands Find out more about Lake Tahoe science, issues and agencies at the following state Continued from page 14 parks, museums, centers and gardens: Donner Memorial State Park/Emigrant and small portions of U.S. Forest Service Trail Museum, Truckee and California Tahoe Conservancy 530-582-7892 lands. Here, along a 1.5-mile reach of parks.ca.gov/?page_id=503 the Upper Truckee River, the California Hellman-Ehrman Mansion, West Shore Department of Parks and Recreation 530-525-7982 is proposing to restore natural parks.ca.gov/?page_id=991 geomorphic and ecological processes Explore Tahoe – An Urban Trailhead, along this reach of river to reduce the South Lake Tahoe river’s suspended sediment discharge (530) 542-4637 to Lake Tahoe. This will involve moving cityofslt.us/index.aspx?nid=288 some of the golf course away from the Galena Creek Visitors Center, Reno river onto less sensitive land. (775) 849-4948 n Sunset Reach: Just downstream, galenacreekvisitorcenter.org/ the Sunset Stables Reach Restoration Gatekeepers Museum, Tahoe City Project, located from the Highway 530-583-1762 50 crossing near Elks Club Boulevard northtahoemuseums.org/museums_and_ to the middle of the airport runway, exhibits.html covers 297 acres and 2.5 miles of the Incline Village & Crystal Bay Historical river. This project, being developed by Society, Incline Village the California Tahoe Conservancy and 775-832-1606 the U.S. Forest Service, would replace tahoehistory.org the existing incised and widened Kidzone Museum, Truckee channel with a new stable channel 530-587-Kids(5437) that connects the river to the adjacent KidZoneMuseum.org floodplain, improving water quality and Lake Tahoe Community College wildlife habitat. Demonstration Garden, South Tahoe n Airport Reach: This project, For reservations: (530) 577-6027 completed last year by the City of South ltcc.edu/about.asp?scatID=60 Lake Tahoe, restored a 1-mile stretch North Lake Tahoe Demonstration near the airport. This project improved Garden, Sierra Nevada College, Incline the river channel and is expected to Village allow more frequent flooding of the (775) 560-5615 meadow, increasing the amount of demogarden.org/ sediment deposited on land rather than Tahoe Maritime Museum, Homewood in Lake Tahoe. Higher groundwater 530-525-9253 will improve riparian and meadow tahoemaritimemuseum.org vegetation and improve the fish habitat, Thunderbird Lodge, Incline Village too. 1-800-GO-TAHOE (1-800-468-2463) n Johnson Meadow: Below the Main telephone number: (775) 832-8750 Airport Reach, the river captured an old thunderbirdlodge.org irrigation channel in a section of private UC Davis Thomas J. Long Foundation property between the airport and the Education Center, Incline Village Highway 50 bridge 15 years ago and 775-881-7566 created a gully channel that is eroding a terc.ucdavis.edu large amount of sediment. By partially The Upper Truckee River drains a large watershed (map) that starts near Red Lake Peak along UC Davis Historic Fish Hatchery and Highway 88. Restoration work has included remeandering the river and stabilizing banks with filling and stabilizing the gully channel, rock and native plants. Eriksson Education Center, Tahoe City the project would increase overbanking 530-583-3279 onto the floodplains; protect eroding terc.ucdavis.edu/education_outreach/ steep riverbanks; and use logs, boulders this portion of the river. natural geomorphic processes and tcfieldlab/tcfieldlab.html and vegetation to improve aquatic n Upper Truckee Marsh: The final ecological functions in this lowest reach Vikingsholm, Emerald Bay habitat. Upper Truckee River restoration project of the Upper Truckee River and the 530-525-9530 This project is located on private land study area is the Upper Truckee River surrounding marsh to reduce the river’s vikingsholm.org and the California Tahoe Conservancy Marsh, one of the largest remaining discharge of nutrients and sediment into Watson Cabin Museum, Tahoe City and the Tahoe Resource Conservation wetlands in the Basin. This project the Lake while providing safe access to 530-583-8717 District are working with the property is being led by the California Tahoe vistas and environmental education to northtahoemuseums.org/museums_and_ owner to develop a restoration plan for Conservancy and would restore the public. exhibits.html PAGE 16 n TAHOE IN DEPTH EIP has wide-ranging impact on Tahoe Program coordinates 50 partners, $1.6 billion investment in Lake improvements

By Karin Edwards

Launched in the mid-1990s, the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program (EIP) is implemented through When you see this logo … a partnership of federal, state, regional and local governments, private interests, You know another Lake-saving and the Washoe Tribe. The program’s project is under way. Visit goal is to protect the extraordinary conservationclearly.org for natural and recreational resources of information. Lake Tahoe. TRPA spearheaded the Environmental Lake Tahoe Fast Facts Improvement Program in an effort to better implement the Regional Plan How did Lake Tahoe form? and highlighted it at the Presidential A shallow lake began forming 3 to 5 Forum at Lake Tahoe in 1997 when million years then-President Bill Clinton and Vice Former President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore helped kickstart the EIP process. ago when President Al Gore signed an Executive the Tahoe Order creating the Lake Tahoe Basin dropped Federal Interagency Partnership. This watercraft inspections for all invasive Another key priority of the EIP is to between partnership provided the funding species and 30,000 check-ins for implement a new strategy to advance parallel mechanism for the federal share previously inspected watercraft in 2011 Lake Tahoe’s clarity goals. In 2002, the fractures and of the Lake Tahoe Environmental n Performed 4,800 watercraft states of California and Nevada began mountains Improvement Program. Recognizing decontaminations in 2011 to develop a water quality restoration rose up that capital investments, research and n Treated 51,288 acres to improve plan for Lake Tahoe, known as the around it. A monitoring were essential components forest health and reduce wildfire risk Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), as couple of million years later, a volcano of the Regional Plan, the EIP called for n Inspected approximately 4,000 required by the Clean Water Act. As part erupted and blocked the lake’s northern an investment of $908 million in capital private properties for defensible space of these efforts, the states have issued a outlet, deepening the lake considerably. projects and $58 million in research and in 2011 “Clarity Challenge,” which calls for an Glaciers also dammed the lake more than monitoring. Partner organizations have n Acquired high-efficiency street improvement in clarity from 70 feet to 20,000 years ago, and other cataclysmic invested $1.6 billion on EIP programs in sweepers to significantly reduce 78 feet in 15 to 20 years. The TMDL was events – including a massive mudslide the Tahoe Basin to date. particulate matter by local jurisdictions put into effect in 2011 and the partner all the way down to what is now Reno The Environmental Improvement and state transportation departments agencies are now working together to and a shoreline collapse that produced Program has identified hundreds of n Continued to operate a seasonal implement the TMDL. a tsunami – also contributed to what has specific projects and programs to be transit service on the West Shore to Other EIP priorities include: become Lake Tahoe. undertaken by more than 50 funding connect existing transit services n Achieving the fuels reduction How pure is the Lake? and implementing partners. The projects n Completed or improved 134 miles targets in the 10-Year Multi- The water is 99.994 percent pure, making are focused on improving air, water and of bike and pedestrian trails Jurisdictional Fuels Reduction and it one of the purest large lakes in the scenic quality; forest health; fish and n Acquired 2,579 linear feet of Wildfire Prevention Strategy world. For comparison, commercially wildlife; and public access to the Lake shoreline for public access n Restoring and protecting the Basin’s distilled water is 99.998 percent pure. and other recreation opportunities. n Constructed or rehabilitated 93 watersheds and stream environment How deep is the Lake? The prime directive of the EIP facilities. zones; Tahoe’s deepest point is 1,645 feet at remains to move the Tahoe Basin closer Priorities of the EIP n Implementing a comprehensive a spot in Crystal Bay. That makes it the to environmental threshold attainment. The next 10 years of the EIP will aquatic invasive species management second deepest lake in the United States, A snapshot of accomplishments include: build upon its accomplishments to plan; third deepest in North America and 11th n Treated stormwater runoff on 577 date, with an increased emphasis on n Expanding the Basin’s transit deepest in the world. It holds about 39 miles of roadways monitoring and focused research, facilities and bike and pedestrian trail trillion gallons of water – enough to cover n Managed the installation of BMPs adaptive management, and performance network; California in 14½ inches. Tahoe is the for 14,774 private properties to reduce benchmarks. These new areas of n Achieving the milestones in the sixth largest lake by volume in the U.S. stormwater runoff emphasis are essential to ensure that Lahontan Cutthroat Trout and Tahoe n Completed and planned 25 projects the most cost-effective projects are Yellow Cress Recovery Plans; and to help restore Upper Truckee River implemented, and to better document n Improving access to Lake Tahoe watershed and evaluate progress toward meeting and providing quality recreational n Conducted more than 7,600 environmental thresholds. opportunities. TAHOE IN DEPTH n PAGE 17 Tahoe planners look for innovation, incentives Regional Plan Update promotes continued environmental restoration, redevelopment

By Jeff Cowen Tahoe Regional Planning Agency

Local planners, policymakers, residents and other interested stakeholders have been working hard in recent months to hammer out changes to the Lake Tahoe Regional Plan, which governs development and promotes environmental restoration efforts at the Lake. The new plan would update one that was approved in 1987. The updated plan addresses the new challenges that face Lake Tahoe today, and includes innovative measures to spur new investments that produce environmental improvements. These incentives are designed to inspire homeowners to control erosion on their own properties while encouraging town center redevelopment projects that will help both the lake and the local economy. “The Regional Plan Update is the blueprint for Tahoe’s sustainable future,” Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Executive Director Joanne Marchetta said. “It will guide how communities A public boardwalk helps beachgoers in Carnelian Bay enjoy Lake Tahoe without impacting a sensitive marsh area. evolve, how ecosystems function, whether the transportation network like garden sheds if they have their The Regional Plan Update is the blueprint for Tahoe’s sustainable is effective, and whether the Basin is stormwater infiltration measures restored and economically sustainable.” certified, called BMP certification. future. It will guide how communities evolve, how ecosystems While the 1987 plan was effective Creating a one-stop-shop at the local “ function, whether the transportation network is effective, and at stopping runaway growth, the building department for residential updated plan focuses on correcting permits is another process improvement whether the Basin is restored and economically sustainable. environmental problems associated the TRPA is proposing in order to with past development at the Lake. encourage more homeowners to Joanne Marchetta, TRPA Executive Director ” Recent scientific findings indicate that upgrade their properties. roadways and previously developed Reinvestment in Lake Tahoe’s town intact. Nearly all of the housing units sustainability and help achieve the areas contribute 72 percent of the fine centers requires a more sophisticated and development rights that would be Lake’s clarity goals,” Marchetta said. sediment that affect Tahoe’s legendary incentive program because Tahoe’s used in the more compact, mixed-use A draft of the policy updates were clarity. With that in mind, the updated communities sprung up during the centers would come from the restoration the topic of extensive public discussions plan focuses on redevelopment and mid-century building boom that favored of homes and businesses that were and public input prompted by TRPA upgrades to the Tahoe Basin’s aging car travel over walking and biking. improperly built in sensitive areas like throughout this summer and fall. infrastructure – projects that will do a For redevelopment to bring significant wetlands and stream environment Additionally, a bi-state consultation better job of collecting and removing environmental improvements, more zones (SEZs) before protections were process led by Nevada and California pollution before it reaches the Lake. compact buildings that embrace a mix established. environmental agencies brought To do this, the updated plan creates of uses, state-of-the-art stormwater With a modest package of what stakeholders together to come up with incentives for environmentally treatment, walkable street frontage and are considered bonus unit incentives, recommended adjustments to the plan responsible reinvestment while connections to transit are needed. privately funded restoration of Lake update. maintaining growth management Town center redevelopment under the Tahoe’s natural filters would help reverse Since the process began, more than programs that are working. plan won’t rely on increased population the decline of its once-famed clarity. 5,000 people have helped shape it. To Under the updated plan, homeowners or substantially more housing units “This kind of innovative, green learn more about the draft plan and could get credit to allow for decks, because the development caps put reinvestment will put Lake Tahoe when the updated policies might come pervious pavement and small structures in place by TRPA in 1987 are staying back in the forefront of environmental online, visit trpa.org. PAGE 18 n TAHOE IN DEPTH

Send us your feedback, get a sticker in the mail Summit points to need for private funds Thanks for reading the inaugural issue of Tahoe in Depth. Annual gathering stresses public-private partnerships to protect Lake

There is so By Jim Sloan much going on at Lake California and Nevada dignitaries, Tahoe that policymakers and lawmakers gathered affects us together in August at the Edgewood that we feel there is a strong need for a Tahoe for the annual Lake Tahoe publication you can rely on to deliver Summit, which started in 1997 with the important news on a regular basis. President Bill Clinton and has been held annually since. But we’ll need your help. Although This year’s event, hosted by Sen. Dean we’re looking for a regular funding Heller, R-Nev., focused on public- source that will allow us to continue private partnership, and drove home the covering the environmental news need for government agencies to work and events you care about, we are with private businesses in the effort also wondering if our readers would be to restore and protect Lake Tahoe’s willing to subscribe to Tahoe in Depth legendary clarity. for a nominal fee that would allow us to Heller noted that federal funding for continue mailing you each issue. research and environmental restoration work at Tahoe was declining and that We’re hoping readers will be willing to other methods for funding erosion pay enough to cover our mailing costs, control work and other water-quality which means a subscription would cost projects needed to be used. you about $10 a year. The publication is “Public-private partnerships will be also available online. critical to the long-term environmental health of the Tahoe Basin,” Heller said. You can let us know what you think by Heller was joined by Nevada Gov. sending us an email at tahoeindepth@ Brian Sandoval, California Gov. Jerry gmail.com or clipping this coupon and Brown, Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif. mailing it to us at Tahoe In Depth, and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. PO Box 5310, Stateline, NV 89449. Sandoval and Brown both made it a Student conservation award winners line up with Nevada and California dignitaries during Everyone who responds will get a point to spotlight the “partnership” the 2012 Tahoe Summit (top). Gov. Brian Sandoval (left) enjoys a laugh while addressing the audience. Gov. Jerry Brown (right) called Tahoe’s prospects “bright.” FREE bumper sticker in the mail between Nevada and California -- provided you give us your mailing in working toward environmental forward to continuing our efforts.” Fire so difficult to fight. Likewise, an address. improvements at Lake Tahoe. Brown agreed. extensive boat inspection program has Their comments come on the heels “After years of debate, California helped prevent the introduction of such of a Nevada bill passed last year – and and Nevada are finally getting their act invasive species as the quagga mussel, signed by Sandoval – that could pull together,” he said. “The prospects for which have invaded other California Nevada from the bi-state Tahoe Regional Lake Tahoe are bright.” and Nevada lakes with disastrous Planning Agency in 2015. Feinstein, meanwhile, focused in on results. That did not sound likely during what she considers to be the three major While many political leaders the summit, judging from Sandoval’s threats to Lake Tahoe: wildfire, invasive acknowledged the need for more Tahoe In Depth reader feedback comments. species and pollution. She pointed to economic investment in the o Yes, I’d be willing to subscribe; keep “Today’s Lake Tahoe Summit the Tahoe Restoration Act, which Heller environmental future of Lake Tahoe, the paper coming! continues the strong partnership joined as a co-sponsor in August, as an McClintock urged TRPA and other Name:______between Nevada and California to important piece of pending legislation regulatory agencies in the Basin to Address:______preserve the Lake,” Sandoval said. “I am to continue the federal commitment to more frequently consider the economic ______pleased that as a result of work begun Lake Tahoe. consequences of their decisions. City:______at last year’s Summit, real progress has This summer marked the fifth Heller, meanwhile, noted that despite State:______Zip:______been made toward an updated Regional anniversary of the Angora Fire that the funding challenges, work must Phone:______Plan, which will provide the roadmap destroyed 254 homes and scorched 3,100 continue at the Lake. Email:______for success in reaching environmental acres in the Basin, but forest thinning “Bottom line is we’re far from Mail to: Tahoe In Depth, PO Box 5310, and economic goals. I am optimistic that projects have gone a long way since then done and it’s going to take renewed Stateline, NV 89449 the recommendations from this effort toward removing the type of dense, commitment and that’s why we have the will be seriously considered and I look overgrown forests that made the Angora Tahoe Summit,” he told one newspaper. TAHOE IN DEPTH n PAGE 19 Lakeview Commons project opens Redesigned beachfront offers gathering place, Lake access and environmental improvements

By Karin Edwards

New parks are always a cause for celebration. But when that new park includes a beach at Lake Tahoe, state- of-the art environmental improvements and facilities for concerts, picnics and small-craft boating, you really have something to cheer about. The new Lakeview Commons at El Dorado Beach in South Lake Tahoe radically transforms an eroding beach adjacent to Highway 50 into an elegantly designed waterfront area that Lakeview Commons hottest combines green building, energy and water conservation, and cutting-edge new gathering spot water quality improvements. An audience enjoys live music and views at Lakeview Commons, a project that utilizes state- Lakeview Commons is located in of-the-art erosion control methods to protect Lake Tahoe’s clarity. “We’re really proud of how this South Lake Tahoe where Highway 50 project has turned out,” South Lake worked with the local meets the Lake. Parking is available Tahoe Mayor Claire Fortier said during community for nearly at the intersection of Harrison Ave and a ceremony in January this year. “And two years developing a Lakeview Ave, just off of Highway 50. we’re grateful for this opportunity for conceptual plan for the families to come here to picnic and area. play and to enjoy our Lake. I hope this Construction began Lakeview Commons becomes a focal point in our town.” in earnest in May at El Dorado Beach The park, whose grand opening 2011, and landscaping was June 20, not only gives locals and was installed in the visitors a place to gather and hear spring of 2012. Native music, see films or go for a swim, it’s vegetation was used also designed to dramatically reduce the throughout the site. amount of sediment flowing into Lake The resulting project People Pier Tahoe. enhances scenic vistas Lake Overlook The project is a collaboration between to and from the Lake Waterfront the City of South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado through the use of Plaza County, and the California Tahoe natural materials. Cantilevered Walk Conservancy. It’s the centerpiece of Some of the Boat launch the community’s efforts to develop a improvements to the sustainable and vibrant environment recreational features of the site include: ramp; and and economy. n enhanced public beach access; n plaza-level improvements for day Boathouse Highway 50 The land was given to El Dorado n storm-water infiltration, pervious use recreation, including picnic tables, County in the 1920s by longtime paving and stabilization of the bluff to barbecues, seating areas, a bike path, families who wanted it to be used in reduce erosion at the Lake edge; and bike racks. Lakeview Commons perpetuity as open space. Although n terraced seating areas for Lake Former Mayor Kathay Lovell said it has always been a popular area for viewing (it’s expected to become the Lakeview Commons was important for residents and visitors, it’s never had best seat in the house for fireworks and a number of reasons. the facilities – such as the new plaza community events); “It’s prime lakefront property and and concessionaire building – that will n improved picnic and BBQ areas; we needed a place for our community make it a truly popular destination. n food concessionaire building; and tourists to gather and have a venue A few years ago, the county and the n a small boathouse for non- where they could sit and really enjoy the City of South Lake Tahoe staged motorized watercraft; Lake,” she said. “There is nothing else a competitive design contest and n a cantilevered Lake overlook; like this at Lake Tahoe.” began working with the winners, an n a new waterfront plaza for The successful summer 2012 concert internationally recognized team of community recreation; series proved that Lakeview Commons landscape architects and planners, on a n an aquatic invasive species is a welcomed and loved community plan to redesign the area. The designers inspection station at the existing boat gathering place. PAGE 20 n TAHOE IN DEPTH Threshold report shows gains for Tahoe Clarity decline slows; improvements in scenic resources, air quality

By Kristi Boosman Tahoe Regional Planning Agency

In late April, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency presented the draft 2011 Threshold Evaluation to the public before TRPA’s Governing Board. The Those of us who love this Lake, comprehensive report offers a snapshot of like I do, have a duty to our fellow the ecosystem health in the Tahoe Basin “ by documenting the status and trends of citizens to protect it. It’s important more than 100 environmental indicators we measure how the environment is ranging from air and water quality to fish and wildlife. responding to our policy actions on The Report revealed that the Tahoe the ground and this report shows our Basin made environmental gains in the majority of indicators over the last five collective actions are making a positive, years, although water quality continued meaningful difference. to be a concern. The evaluation was the fifth published since the adoption of A bear hunts for spawning kokanee salmon at Taylor Creek. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev. the Regional Plan in 1987, with updated ” reports expected to follow every four slowed over the last decade. The Report improving environmental quality. years. states the winter clarity threshold n Trends in stream water quality For the first time, an independent panel indicator met the interim target of 78.7 indicated that conditions have not of scientists coordinated by the Tahoe feet (2011 measured 84.9 feet) and is declined. Science Consortium reviewed the 2011 trending toward attainment of 109.5 n Air Quality: The Tahoe Basin Report. Dr. James Mahoney, Chair of the feet. Summer clarity and nearshore made gains over the last five years. The TRPA Independent Scientific Review conditions remain a concern. majority of air quality indicators were Panel, called the document “a top-level “Lake Tahoe is truly the Jewel of the at or better than adopted standards. report with no major flaws.” Sierra and I’m very encouraged to see Indicators for carbon monoxide and “I would judge this Report, out of the TRPA’s progress toward meeting its vehicle miles traveled moved from non- 30 peer reviews I’ve done, as among the environmental quality standards,” said attainment into attainment. Federal and best.” U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. state tailpipe and industrial emission TRPA Executive Director Joanne S. The biggest improvements were standards have likely contributed, Marchetta said the Report was a milestone in air, average annual water quality along with walkable, transit-friendly for both the Agency and the Tahoe Basin. and scenic resources. Summer water improvements such as the Heavenly This report underscores “This is a proud day for TRPA,” she quality (particularly along the Lake’s Gondola in South Lake Tahoe. said, “not only because the majority of shoreline), soil conservation and noise n Soil Conservation: Eight of nine “why we have invested in ecosystem environmental standards measured at are areas of concern, the Report said. indicators related to impervious land restoration for the last 15 years Lake Tahoe are moving in a positive Another finding noted the need for coverage were in attainment, although direction, but because we’ve raised the improved monitoring and update of “over-covered” wetlands negatively affect and why we need to reaffirm our bar on the scientific rigor of our work environmental threshold standards. water quality and other resources. Stream commitment to restoring here at the Agency.” The 2011 Threshold Evaluation zone restoration efforts implemented Other public officials weighed in on spotlights the overall environmental by TRPA partner agencies are making the Tahoe Basin. the results of the technical report. health of the Tahoe Basin. progress in achieving restoration goals “Lake Tahoe doesn’t belong only to Some highlights: although more needs to be done. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.” Nevada or to California – it belongs to n TRPA assessed indicators n Scenic Resources: The Basin made every citizen of the United States,” said associated with 151 standards and made gains in scenic quality since 2007. U.S. Sen. Harry Reid. a status determination on 92 of them. Compliance with standards is at 93 Partners in the Environmental Of these indicators, 63 percent were percent with an improving trend in Improvement Program, launched in the attained or implemented and 37 percent scenic quality for the built environment. late 1990s, have invested $1.6 billion in have not yet been attained. Improvements are needed along ecosystem restoration in the Tahoe Basin n The Report found the Regional developed roadways and the shoreline. with water quality investments being Plan, through the partnerships of n Vegetation: Sensitive plant species one of the highest priorities. The rate of many federal, state, local and private Lake Tahoe annual clarity decline has organizations, has made progress on Continued on page 21 TAHOE IN DEPTH n PAGE 21

Bark beetles trigger Could crayfish harvest help clarity? haze problem in West UNR researcher backs commercial fishing of water-clouding invader A new study finds that bark beetles, which have bored through more than six By Jim Sloan billion trees in the western United States and British Columbia since the 1990s, can Nevada officials recently issued make trees release up to 20 times more the first ever commercial permit for of the organic substances that foster haze harvesting crayfish at Lake Tahoe – a and air pollution in forested areas. move one University of Nevada, Reno A paper reporting the findings appeared scientist says could help improve the in the journal Environmental Science & clarity of the Lake. Technology, published by the American Sudeep Chandra, a leading Lake Chemical Society. Tahoe scientist who has studied invasive The study says that western North species and limnology at the Lake for America is experiencing a population 20 years, said commercial crayfish explosion of mountain pine beetles, which harvesting at Lake Tahoe could also help damages and kills pines and other trees the Lake by taking away a food source when they bore into the bark to lay eggs. for other invasive species that threaten In a defensive response, gases called Lake clarity and ecosystems. volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are Commercial harvesting of the A crayfish caught off a dock in Emerald Bay. There are an estimated 8 million pounds of released from the bore holes, contributing crayfish scattered around Lake Tahoe. estimated 220 million crayfish by the to the smog and haze that obscures views Tahoe Lobster Co. will make the tasty nutrients and grazing on algal cells, Tahoe is the critical area for fish habitat of natural landscapes in U.S. national crayfish available to local and regional some of which are dead, and that opens and a place where invasive species, parks and other natural areas. restaurants. up room for more algae growth. including crayfish and warm-water fish Kim Tisdale of the Nevada “Algae growth is a major factor in such as the invasive bass, can live. The Sierra Nevada Department of Wildlife said other Tahoe’s declining clarity. What we are crayfish thrive in this nearshore and a companies have expressed interest finding is that the crayfish stimulate harvest could have a positive impact. still growing, study finds in the commercial harvesting and are algae growth,” Chandra said. The harvest involves placing traps The Sierra Nevada are still rising, expected to apply for permits. Chandra estimates that there could be on the bottom of the Nevada side of and they’re a lot younger than most “Our interest is in maintaining a good as much as 8 million pounds of crayfish the Lake, from 5 to 250 feet below scientists previously thought. That’s the fishery,” Tisdale said. “We’ll monitor scattered around the Lake. He is helping the surface, and selling the trapped conclusion of Earth scientists in Nevada the operations and the effects on the the Nevada Department of Wildlife by crayfish to restaurants and local meat who have used space-based radar and ecosystem. It will be important to see identifying the best places and practices wholesalers. One California lawmaker the most advanced GPS measurements the effects of the harvesting. We’ll be for harvest. has introduced a bill to allow the to conclude that the entire range is now getting monthly reports on the number He’s also been working closely with commercial crayfish harvest on the rising at a rate of one to two millimeters of crayfish harvested and from which entrepreneurs who brought the harvest California side of the Lake as well. a year - less than an inch a decade - and locations.” idea forth to public agencies and “It can have a positive effect on in its modern form could be less than 3 Chandra said the signal crayfish, supports their efforts. the economy and the environment,” million years old. introduced in the Lake in the late 1800s, Chandra said a study he did last Chandra said. “And with a little butter And scientists who have long held very stimulates algae growth by excreting summer showed the nearshore zone of and garlic, it’s tasty too.” different views about the age of the Sierra Nevada concede the mountains may have Threshold report shows progress on fuels reduction and forest health undergone a more recent pulse of upward growth, but still maintain they reached Continued from page 20 recreational facilities through the panel recommended that noise their present height many millions of years have been protected, keeping those Environmental Improvement Program. standards and approaches be re- ago. standards in attainment. Osgood Swamp n Fisheries: Although TRPA and evaluated. The majority of standards in South Lake Tahoe, which supports an partner agencies have implemented were out of attainment. uncommon plant community, fell short of robust control and prevention TRPA and the peer-review panel attainment because of beaver populations. programs, aquatic invasive species are a highlighted data gaps and the need Aquatic invasive species and noxious major area of concern. to continue ongoing work to update weeds were identified as threats to n Wildlife: Indicators for special- Basin-wide monitoring programs. The uncommon plant communities. Progress interest wildlife show stable or scientific panel made recommendations is being made on fuels reduction and improving conditions. TRPA’s to include additional analysis to forest ecosystem restoration. development regulations have protected improve future reports. n Recreation: Both threshold riparian wildlife habitats and partner A copy of the 2011 Threshold standards have been implemented and agencies are making progress restoring Evaluation Report, the Regional Plan are in attainment. TRPA partners have these valuable habitats. Update and corresponding documents made substantial progress in upgrading n Noise: TRPA and the peer review can be found online at trpa.org. PAGE 22 n TAHOE IN DEPTH Restoring a lost fishery The Lahontan cutthroat trout was once a dominant fish at Lake Tahoe

By Lisa Heki U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The Lahontan cutthroat trout (LCT) was once the top fish predator in Lake Tahoe. In the mid-1800s when settlers first began arriving at Lake Tahoe, the water was teaming with native cutthroat. These fish, named for the distinctive slash of red under their chins, often weighed in at more than 40 pounds and were easy to catch from shore. Many Fallen Leaf research historic photos show anglers of all provides Tahoe template stripes, from kitchen workers in aprons to well-to-do gentlemen in neckties, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service holding up the huge, fleshy fish. began Lahontan cutthroat trout re- The Truckee River in combination introduction efforts in the Tahoe Basin with Taylor, Ward and Blackwood creeks in 2002 at Fallen Leaf Lake. Fallen historically provided spawning habitat Leaf Lake is much smaller than Lake for Lahontan cutthroat trout occurring in Anglers enjoy catching a Lahontan cutthroat trout. This 19.5-pound lake fish was caught at Tahoe, however it has many of the same Pyramid Lake recently. Lake Tahoe. However, the last spawning limnological characteristics, including a LCT was observed in these tributaries in similar suite of non-native species. 1938. Working with university partners, the Here’s what happened: After European cutthroat trout and 400 to 600 stream- to Fallen Leaf Lake and Lake Tahoe. The Service has developed a program of discovery in the mid 1800s, Lake Tahoe dwelling populations in over 3,600 miles research has improved management adaptive management and methods, and the Truckee River system became of streams within the major basins of strategies for stocking methods, locations which can now provide a template for known for its abundant timber and historic Lake Lahontan. Today, they only and frequency that improves the initial research in Lake Tahoe. mineral resources. By 1859 numerous occur in 10.7 percent of their historic survival of Lahontan cutthroat trout. In From a practical research perspective, lumber mills were established and began stream habitat and 0.4 percent of their recent years, research has documented the clear difference between the lakes is having negative impacts on Tahoe’s lake habitat. multiple year survival, improved angler the great depth and size of Lake Tahoe. fragile environment. The mills discharged LCT was listed as endangered in 1970 catch rates of Lahontan cutthroat trout, For this reason, in 2011, the Fish and sawdust and other logging debris directly and reclassified as threatened in 1975. In and this year, anglers are catching LCT Wildlife Service began working with the into the Truckee River and silt and 1997, during the Lake Tahoe Presidential in Glen Alpine Creek. Western Slope research vessel. erosion runoff from timber clear-cutting Forum, former President Bill Clinton and Lahontan National Fish Hatchery has The Western Slope crew has extensive significantly degraded water quality. Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt called taken the experience from Fallen Leaf experience working with large lake Eventually, these practices choked for the Lahontan cutthroat trout to be Lake and applied lessons learned to Lake systems in cooperation with conservation riverbanks and riverbeds with the debris restored to the Lake. Tahoe. scientists. As a first step, during the and ultimately prevented fish passage. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service A contract research vessel is on the summer and fall of 2011, the Lake was During this period, commercial is working in collaboration with state, lake throughout much of the year surveyed extensively with hydroacoustics fishermen also took advantage of federal, tribal and local partners to with researchers using hydroacoustic in order to develop methodologies for thousands of large LCT that made restore the lake form of Lahontan monitoring methods as well as more deep water scientific surveys. their way each spring from Lake Tahoe cutthroat trout to the Tahoe Basin. traditional sampling methods to During 2012, the Fish and Wildlife into the tributaries to spawn. They set The Lahontan National Fish Hatchery better understand the existing aquatic Service partnered with researchers to up permanent fish traps on the major Complex in Gardnerville, Nev., has been ecosystem. Complete hydroacoustic conduct a multi-year study of the Lake tributaries and used gill nets and seines stocking Fallen Leaf Lake since 2002 surveys are identifying ecological Tahoe ecosystem. The first year will focus to capture these large fish. with the strain of Lahontan cutthroat sub-regions, refining live fish trawling on the dynamics of the deepwater pelagic By 1880, overfishing, the damage to trout native to the Tahoe Basin. They techniques and lakewide surveys of zone of the Lake, with subsequent years the LCT’s habitat, and the introduction have partnered with researchers zooplankton. branching out to study connectivity with of non-native lake trout began to take throughout the past 10 years to improve The lake form of LCT are generally a the shallow and deep water zones. their toll. Commercial fishing was their understanding of the existing longer-lived top predator (15-20 years), banned in 1917, but LCT in Lake Tahoe lake ecosystem and used this applied feeding on any fish species that their did not survive. research to continually improve on their mouth gape can accommodate. This year LCT outside of the Lake Tahoe Basin conservation strategies. The applied at Pyramid Lake, an angler caught this also declined. In 1844, there were 11 research has demonstrated opportunities strain of LCT weighing in at 19.5 pounds lake-dwelling populations of Lahontan for re-establishing this iconic lake species at 6 years of age. TAHOE IN DEPTH n PAGE 23 Tahoe celebrates annual Wildfire Awareness Week 7 steps to creating defensible space The third annual Lake Tahoe Basin Basin homeowners can help protect their property from a wildfire Wildfire Awareness Week was held May 26 to June 3. The event, “Wildfire Defensible space is the area between Eliminate easily ignitable fuels, or Survival: Your Home, Your Responsibility,” a house and a wildfire where proper “kindling,” near the house. This will promoted homeowner and resident vegetation selection and management help prevent embers from starting a actions that reduce the risk from wildfire to can reduce the fire threat and help fire in your yard. This area is typically Tahoe homes and communities. Risk can firefighters defend the house. In the the residential landscape which has be reduced by upgrading vulnerable home Lake Tahoe Basin local fire districts irrigation and ornamental vegetation, components, creating defensible space will conduct free defensible space and it’s regularly maintained. Erosion- around homes, and having a plan in place inspections. The following are steps to control grasses and wildflowers are for evacuation. creating an effective defensible space. good choices for this area. Fire-resistant homes have fire-rated roofs, covered vents to reduce the risk of ember intrusion, fire-resistant construction materials and are in good repair. Photo courtesy of Living With Fire Defensible space involves selecting Step 3: Create a separation between and maintaining vegetation near the shrubs and trees. home, reducing the risk homes will ignite. Thin your dense stands of native trees Successful evacuations require having a and shrubs, such as Jeffrey pine, white plan in place and an evacuation kit. Photo courtesy of Living With Fire fir and manzanita. Photo courtesy of Mike Dannenberg Fire agencies and local organizations 1. Determine the size of an effective Step 6: Create a Noncombustible have collaborated to empower Tahoe defensible space. Area at least 5 feet wide around the Basin homeowners and residents Defensible space distance is base of the house. through community clean-up days, measured from the base of the house, This area should consist of free chipping and pine needle pick- extending outward from the house in all noncombustible landscape materials ups, evacuation drills, and educational directions. The recommended distance and ignition-resistant, low-volume activities including a webinar series. A varies depending on vegetation and plants. Avoid using wood mulch and postcard with defensible space tips and lot steepness. Steep lots can require a flammable plants, such as juniper, other safeguards was mailed to all 39,000 considerable amount of defensible space within 5 feet of the home. Herbaceous Tahoe Basin residential property owners. while flat lots with little vegetation will Photo courtesy of Living With Fire plants, such as lawn, clover, erosion- The six-part webinar series was require less. Use this online calculator Step 4: Remove ladder fuels. control grasses, flowers, some ground webcast in May and June, providing to determine your needs: http://www. Vegetation that can carry a fire covers and succulents, should be less wildfire risk-reduction strategies including livingwithfire.info/tahoe/beforethefire/ burning in low-growing plants to taller than 18 inches tall. Deciduous shrubs conservation landscaping, home upgrades defensiblespacezone/calculator.php plants is called “ladder fuel.” Lower tree should be pruned to remove branches and emergency preparedness. branches should be removed to a height contacting the ground or the house. Sessions were held on how to work of at least 10 feet. Remove ladder fuels with fire departments, land management to a height of 5 feet when no understory agencies, neighborhoods and vegetation is present. Lawn, flower beds communities and on the fire risk-reduction and low-growing native ground covers activities being conducted in the basin by are okay as long as they would not the U.S. Forest Service. allow a fire to ignite the tree. University of California Cooperative Extension advisor Susie Kocher, coordinator of the webinar series, said the Step 2: Remove dead vegetation. difficulty in reaching Tahoe second-home Photo courtesy of Living With Fire Dead vegetation includes dead and owners led to the relatively new webinar dying standing trees or recently fallen Step 7: Maintain the Defensible approach. trees; dead native and ornamental Space Zone. Recordings of the webinar sessions shrubs; dead branches; dried grass, This is an ongoing activity. Plants are available at the webinar homepage weeds and flowers. Remove fallen grow back and flammable vegetation at http://ucanr.org/tahoefirewebinar. For needles and leaves regularly within 5 needs to be routinely removed and resources on how to upgrade homes or Photo courtesy of California Department of feet of your house and seasonally farther Forestry and Fire Protection disposed of properly. Before each fire create defensible space in the Tahoe away. Don’t let this material accumulate season, re-evaluate your property using Basin check the Living with Fire website to more than 3 inches deep anywhere on Step 5: Create a Lean, Clean and the previous six steps and implement at http://www.livingwithfire.info/tahoe or your property. Green Area extending 5 feet to 30 feet the necessary defensible space. contact Susie Kocher at 530-542-2571 or from the house. [email protected].

INFORMATION COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION. WWW.LIVINGWITHFIRE.INFO/TAHOE/ PAGE 24 n TAHOE IN DEPTH Best in Basin Awards Building and restoration projects that set new standards for Tahoe By Jeff Cowen Green Building Project Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Miller residence, Incline Village The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency annually recognizes the projects that One of the first homes in the Region to qualify for the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification. Green materials demonstrate exceptional planning, design and compatibility with the Lake Tahoe include paint with no volatile environment. Here are a few of the projects that received a Best in the Basin organic compounds, concrete award for 2011 and why they rose above other projects in their categories. countertops, advanced insulation, air exchange equipment, high- Erosion Control Project: performance windows and blinds, Lake Forest and smart technology throughout This project restored wetlands and floodplain in a highly to monitor energy consumption. disturbed Lake Forest watershed east of Dollar Hill. The project rescued Lake Forest Creek from storm drains and returned it to a restored meadow. Culverts along the Recreation Project: restored creek were designed with natural stream bottoms Van Sickle Bi-state Park to re-create fish habitat. Only weeks later, Kokanee salmon One of the nation’s first bi-state parks, Van Sickle were seen swimming over the gravels of the new culvert. covers nearly 700 acres and provides easy access Boardwalks from Stateline casinos for hikers, mountain bikers and foot and equestrians. A connector trail reaches to the bridges Tahoe Rim Trail. This project included restoration enhance of more than 4,000 square feet of stream recreational environment zone. (See story on page 20.) access while protecting the meadow. New Commercial Project: Tamarack Lodge, Heavenly Mountain Resort Restoration Project: The main inspiration for the design of the mid-mountain day Upper Truckee River Restoration, Airport Reach lodge at the top of Heavenly’s gondola came from the ski lodge This is the largest river and stream environment zone restoration project to date in designs of years gone by the Tahoe Basin, and is a lynchpin in the effort to completely restore the Basin’s largest that were simplistic in form river and conveyor of runoff to Lake Tahoe. The project transformed this section of the but elegant in the detailing. river from a straight-and-deep, manmade channel – constructed in the 1950s to make The design needed to way for an airport runway – to shallow, man-made meanders that help slow the river, accommodate the severe control erosion and allow greater filtration and groundwater recharge. The restoration logistics of constructing a supports outstanding and long-missed habitat for native vegetation as well as fish and 15,000-square-foot structure wildlife. (See story on page 14.) at 9,150 feet above sea level with limited vehicle access and a very limited construction season. The resulting clean, elegant and dramatic wood structure blends into its surroundings while providing a striking contrast with the snow and sunlight. The site was carefully chosen to accommodate skier and visitor circulation, maximize views, allow passive solar gain and to minimize tree removal. This building achieved the Silver Level of the U.S. Green Building Association’s LEED certification.