Friends of the West Shore works toward the preservation, protection, and conservation of the West Shore of Lake Tahoe, our watershed, wildlife, and rural quality of life, for today and future generations.
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We hope that everyone is staying safe and healthy during these trying times. The current pandemic has affected all aspects of our daily lives. It has also led to changes in how our agencies are handling permitting and project planning. For example, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and Placer County have moved most permitting processes to an online system.
Several projects that have been in the works were delayed, however some are now moving forward with online meetings and public webinars, such as the SR 89 Corridor Project and Lake Tahoe West Forest Restoration Project.
Please continue reading below for more information on West Shore projects and activities. As always, we look forward to your continued feedback and support, and encourage you to
contact us
with any additional ideas or questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Judith Tornese,
President
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COVID-19 Community Information:
We have added information to
our website
regarding Placer and El Dorado County COVID Shelter-In-Place directives and how current requirements affect second homeowners and visitors to our area. The
Governor’s Order on March 19
prohibits the use of short-term rentals for tourism purposes until further notice. Both Placer and El Dorado Counties have also asked second homeowners to remain at their primary residences until further notice due to the limited medical facilities and other resources in the Tahoe/Truckee area.
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Electric Bikes Travel Analysis on Forest Service Trails ** NEW **:
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) will soon release scoping information regarding a proposal to allow the use of electric bikes ("e-bikes") on a subset of USFS System trails in the Tahoe Basin, which may include portions along the West Shore. Documents are not yet available, but are expected soon and will be posted
here
. As an ‘add on’ to this environmental analysis, a new mountain bike trail on the mountainside of SR 89 from Meeks Bay to Emerald Bay may be considered. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
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Homewood Mountain Resort (HMR):
Although we have no new updates to report regarding construction status, in response to recent questions regarding the permit term, we've prepared a brief summary of the timeline and most recent information below:
- The HMR Master Plan project was approved in 2011. FOWS (partnered with the Sierra Club) and the California Clean Energy Committee filed separate lawsuits.
- The original permit term, which required construction to start within three years, was extended due to litigation against the project.
- FOWS settled with HMR in 2014, however the CCEC settlement wasn't completed until 2017.
- HMR was given an extension on the permit until Feb. 2020 as they were allowed three more years to begin construction once all litigation was settled.
- In 2019 we became aware that HMR was circulating a document that sought investors for the project.
- According to TRPA, HMR started work on one of the lifts last year, thus meeting the permit requirement to start construction before it expired in February and keeping their permit active.
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Meeks Bay Resort and Marina:
TRPA has selected a contractor to prepare the Environmental Impact Report/Study and began public engagement this spring. At this time, the USFS anticipates release of the draft Environmental Impact Report/Study in the winter of 2021. Learn more
here
.
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Lake Tahoe West Restoration Partnership:
The Lake Tahoe West Restoration Partnership has completed a strategy to guide forest restoration activities along Lake Tahoe's West Shore with the goal of increasing the resilience of the landscape and to protect against prolonged drought, climate change, and extreme fire.
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The Project Scoping Notice/Notice of Preparation (Notice) was released in April by the USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, California Tahoe Conservancy, and the TRPA, who are planning a joint environmental document for the project. The purpose of the Notice is to solicit views of interested persons, organizations, and agencies as they relate to the scope and content of the information to be included and analyzed in the environmental document. The Notice provides a 30 day public comment period, with comments due by noon on 5/11. The Notice, project details, and recorded webinars are available
here
.
FOWS h
as been a participating stakeholder in the LTW process since 2016 and supports the science-based approach that includes increased thinning of biomass and use of prescribed and managed fire. Because our forests have become overstocked due to over a century of fire suppression, thinning the overly dense forests is necessary to reduce the danger of high-severity fire and to establish conditions that will allow for the beneficial use of fire on the landscape. It is well supported by science that our forests rely on periodic fire to remain healthy, supporting our environment (including lake clarity), as well as reducing the danger posed to our communities by the unplanned catastrophic wildfires that are on the increase in our region.
However, we have not endorsed all aspects of the Proposed Action and will be submitting comments and questions on the Notice (to be posted on our website once available).
State Route 89 Corridor Planning (Tahoma to South Lake Tahoe):
Two public meetings were held in March (
see materials
) and a webinar was conducted on April 2nd (view
presentation slides
or
video
). The draft State Route (SR) 89 Corridor Plan, which will address options to improve traffic and pedestrian conditions in the future (especially at Emerald Bay), will be released soon. To learn more about the SR 89 Recreation Corridor Management Plan and sign up for e-newsletters, visit
www.trpa.org/SR-89
.
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Other projects:
- Tahoe Keys Aquatic Invasive Species Control Project - This project proposes testing of several methods, including the use of herbicides (currently prohibited in Lake Tahoe), to address the abundance of Aquatic Invasive Species in the Tahoe Keys lagoons that has also spread into Lake Tahoe. Learn more here. The draft Environmental Impact Study is anticipated this June.
- West Shore Highway Crossing Improvements: Placer County has prepared a plan to improve pedestrian and cyclist crossings along SR 89 from Tahoe City to Tahoma. The Preliminary Design Report reviews existing conditions and recommends measures to be taken at fourteen crossings. Placer County is currently working to secure necessary permitting from Caltrans and hopes to construct the project this summer.
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Regional and local planning updates:
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"ONE TAHOE" Transportation Funding Initiative:
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ONE TAHOE
is an initiative to develop new and additional funding on a long-awaited (and chronically underfunded) extensive transportation system (e.g. transit, bike/pedestrian trails, auto, water borne). There are no new updates, however
this article
was recently published in the Reno Gazette Journal.
TRPA Regional Transportation Plan:
TRPA has been holding
weekly webinars
focused on transportation information and planning. The next scheduled webinar is:
COMMUNITIES
Monday, May 11, 12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Learn more about how transit, trails, and technology are used to transform Lake Tahoe’s transportation system.
The 2020 Regional Transportation Plan Update is proceeding and on schedule for adoption by the end of 2020. View the Tahoe Regional Transportation Plan 2045
HERE.
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Other ways to support FOWS:
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AmazonSmile:
AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support the Friends of the West Shore every time you shop,
at no cost to you
. When you shop at
smile.amazon.com
, you’ll find the same benefits and ease of shopping on Amazon.com with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to FOWS.
Click here
to learn more. When you set up AmazonSmile to support FOWS, simply type Friends of the West Shore into the search bar and FOWS should be top on the list. Hit "Select" and you're done - it's that easy!
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eScrip (previously SHARES):
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The eScrip program allows shoppers to designate FOWS to receive donations earned through their purchases; up to 5% of your purchase will be donated to FOWS at no cost to you. Sign up through
this link
.
* Unfortunately, Save Mart discontinued its participation in the eScrip/S.H.A.R.E.S. program. However,
numerous stores throughout California and online retailers (
see list
)
will continue to participate!
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We invite you to contact us to learn more, ask questions, or simply get to know the FOWS Board.
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