July 17, RGJ story on Angora restoration

Tahoe officials: Rehab efforts inadequate
JEFF DELONG
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Posted: 7/17/2007


Emergency restoration plans by the U.S. Forest Service for areas burned by the disastrous Angora Fire fail to adequately protect homes, a high school and Lake Tahoe's sensitive environment, South Lake Tahoe officials said Monday.

City officials are concerned that rainfall could cause debris flows, threatening city property where it abuts national forest land burned by the fire.

Last week, the Forest Service issued a report detailing nearly $2.2 million in emergency erosion control improvements believed necessary to offset immediate erosion problems in the burn area.

They don't go far enough, said South Lake Tahoe City Manager David Jinkens.

"It's not going to handle the runoff," Jinkens said. "We don't think the current plan will handle the runoff that's expected."

In a letter to Terri Marceron, supervisor of the Forest Service's Lake Tahoe unit, city Public Works Director John Greenhut identified four specific areas of concern:


West of South Tahoe High School, debris flows coming from steep and badly burned terrain could sweep downhill to Lake Tahoe Boulevard, incapacitating drainage systems and possibly closing the road.

Debris flows could threaten the high school and nearby homes, with several homes "directly in the path of any debris flows."

West of Gardner Street, there is further potential for damage to streets and residential areas.

The fire burned into meadow areas near where Pope Marsh drains out into the Tahoe Keys. Debris flows could directly enter Lake Tahoe in the area, posing an issue of significant environmental concern.

In each case, Greenhut wrote, debris basins could be built to capture and contain debris before it could cause significant damage.

The Forest Service recommendations do not include such projects, but it is the federal government's responsibility to do the work in the watershed upstream of city property, Greenhut said.

"As soon as it starts raining, these basins will be needed," Jinkens said, adding El Dorado County and Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board officials share the city's concerns.

Rex Norman, spokesman for the Forest Service's Tahoe unit, said he has not seen the city's letter and could not comment on it.

But Norman said the Forest Service is concerned about debris flows resulting from post-fire runoff.

"That's a major focus of our concerns," Norman said. "Most certainly, we're going to be taking concerns about debris flows into consideration."

Jinkens said he is confident the Forest Service "will respond positively" to issues raised by the city. He also acknowledged it might make the government's emergency rehabilitation efforts more expensive.