USFS may alter High Meadows

Matt Dickinson at (530) 543-2769.


COMMENTS SOUGHT FOR HIGH MEADOWS
MANAGEMENT PROPOSAL


South Lake Tahoe Calif. The US Forest Service, Lake Tahoe Basin
Management

Unit (LTBMU) is seeking public, agency and organization comments during
a

public scoping period through April 7, of a proposed action for the
High

Meadows Area near South Lake Tahoe California.



One of the largest land acquisitions in recent years, High Meadows
contains

exceptionally important watershed and water quality values and nesting

habitat areas for California Spotted Owl and Northern Goshawks. High

Meadows is in the headwaters of Cold Creek and an important watershed

system for Lake Tahoe. Recreation opportunities include excellent
access to

High Meadows, the Star Lake area, Monument Pass and the Tahoe Rim
Trail.



The proposed action follows extensive resource inventories, analysis
and

monitoring. It would establish a forest plan land-use designation for
the

1,790 acre High Meadows area, which was acquired by the forest service
in

2003. The proposal has three main elements: 1. management area

designation, 2. meadow ecosystem restoration and, 3. Access and Travel

Management (ATM) projects for roads and trails.



Management Area Designation is needed for this recently acquired land,
and

will describe suitable uses and resource management for High Meadows.



Restoration projects will enhance habitat and address decades of
impacts to

meadow, forest and streams, including vehicle traffic and cattle
grazing.

Fuels reduction and forest health projects including prescribed fire,
will

address lodgepole pine encroachment on meadows.



ATM is a systematic approach to the design and maintenance of roads and

trails that provide recreation opportunities and administrative access
on

designated forest service roads and trails. The ATM- roads and trails

projects will expand non-motorized access and opportunities,
maintaining

the character of High Meadows. Some trails would be redesigned to
reduce

erosion or to connect to existing trails and destinations. Sections of

user-created trails would be eliminated due to their resource impacts.
Two

miles of road would be decommissioned and five miles of trail converted
to

non-motorized use.



A decision on the proposal will be made following an environmental
analysis

process and formal public comment period.



The management direction would be compatible with land uses in the
three

adjacent management areas- the Heavenly, Freel and Tahoe Valley
management

areas.



A public meeting is being offered to explain the proposal and accept or

receive public comment. The meeting will be held on March 27, 2008
from

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Forest Supervisor’s Office, 35 College
Drive,

South Lake Tahoe.



Comments on the proposed action will be most helpful if received no
later

than April 7, 2008. Comments can be provided through the internet at

comments-pacificsouthwest-ltbmu@fs.fed.us. Please use subject line:
“High

Meadows Project” Comments can also be submitted my standard email to:

mattdickinson@fs.fed.us. For more information on this proposal and

providing relevant comment, contact Matt Dickinson at (530) 543-2769.



A complete and detailed description of the proposed action can be
obtained

on-line at www.fs.fed.us/r5/ltbmu and click on Projects and Plans, or

through a link on the welcome page. The proposed action may also be
viewed

at the Forest Supervisor’s Office, 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe

during regular business hours.



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