Forest Service messing with Tahoe trails

NEWS RELEASE
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USDA Forest Service
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
35 College Drive
South Lake Tahoe CA 96150
(530) 543-2600
www.fs.fed.us/r5/ltbmu

Date: March 5, 2008

Contact: Garrett Villanueva at (530) 543-2762

FOREST SERVICE PROPOSING TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS ON EAST SHORE
PUBLIC COMMENT SOUGHT FOR INTEGRATED TRAIL SYSTEM TO PROTECT WATER
QUALITY
WHILE MAINTAINING RECREATIONAL ACCESS

South Lake Tahoe Calif. The USDA Forest Service, Lake Tahoe Basin
Management Unit, is seeking public comments on a proposed action that
would
improve the system of trails serving National Forest System beaches on
the
East Shore of Lake Tahoe.

“The East Shore Beach area’s popularity has continued to increase,
creating
a need to develop an efficient and integrated system of trails, while
better protecting the environment,” said project leader Garrett
Villanueva.
“Decommissioning some user-created trails and rerouting other trails
will
reduce erosion and run-off into the lake, while improving the
recreational
experience in this area.”

The entire project is in Nevada, extending from Spooner Summit north to
Chimney Beach and from the water’s edge to Nevada State Park lands.
Crews
would decommission approximately 1.6 miles of user-created trails,
upgrade
3.5 miles of user-created trails and construct 2.2 miles of new trail.

The project would route trails away from stream environment zones and
other
sensitive areas, protecting water quality and sensitive wildlife
habitat.
Information kiosks would encourage “pack-in, pack-out” practices
and signs
would direct users to stay on system trails. The Forest Service would
install fencing and signs to protect sensitive resources.

Efforts to protect the environment during trail construction will
include
installing best management practices for water quality and conducting
operations to minimize disruption to wildlife.

Comments will be most helpful if they’re received by March 28, 2008.
LTBMU
staff anticipates implementing the project in July 2008.

The proposed action and a map are posted on the LTBMU website at
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/ltbmu/projects and are also available for
viewing
at the Forest Supervisor's Office, 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe,
CA
96150. For further information, contact Garrett Villanueva, (530)
543-2762.