NEWS BRIEFS
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Tahoe Keepers Target Unwanted Species
Do you kayak or canoe on Lake Tahoe? Then help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species by becoming a Tahoe Keeper, a person who inspects and decontaminates their boat and gear every time it is hauled out and moved between new water bodies. Non-native species such as quagga and zebra mussels, the New Zealand mudsnail, and the spiny waterflea could irreparably damage the Lake Tahoe watershed, and their transport is illegal. These invasive species are spread through water and debris that can collect in cockpits and hatches, cling to outer hulls, rudders, and paddles, and even hide out on footwear and gear long after paddling.
Those who successfully complete the free, 10-minute online training program will become members of the Tahoe Keepers stewardship community, and will receive “proof of training credentials” and a membership sticker.
Watercraft inspectors from Tahoe Resource Conservation District, easily identified by their red shirts and large straw hats, will visit popular paddling launch sites around Lake Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake throughout the summer to educate paddlers about aquatic invasive species and how to self-inspect watercraft and gear.
If you’ve visited a high-risk water body, or want to play it safe, take advantage of free non-motorized watercraft inspections and decontaminations at roadside watercraft inspection stations located at Meyers, Spooner Summit, Homewood Mountain, Northstar-at-Tahoe, and Alpine Meadows. Info: Tahoe Boat Inspections hotline, (888) 824-6267, TahoeBoatInspections.com, TahoeKeepers.org
Pain McShlonkey Raises $37,000 for Nonprofits
In its second year, the Shane McConkey Foundation’s signature event, the Pain McShlonkey Classic, celebrated the life of pro skier Shane McConkey and raised big bucks for local causes.
With support from Squaw Valley, Redbull, GoPro, Oakley, K2, Santa Cruz, Marker, and countless other donors, volunteers, and athletes, the Shane McConkey Foundation will donate over $37,000 to local nonprofits, including $20,000 to the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District’s environmental sustainability programs for the second year in a row. The foundation will also donate $15,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a cause close to Shane McConkey’s heart. Other foundation donations include $2,000 to the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe and $500 to the Truckee Pump Track Project. Info: shanemcconkey.org/foundation
Joerger Ranch to Get Environmental Review
Joerger Ranch will be undergoing environmental review, but first the Town of Truckee is seeking public input on the scope of the project’s environmental analysis.
Joerger Ranch is 67 acres of land surrounding the intersection of Highway 267 and Brockway Road in Truckee. The owners of the property are proposing to divide the land into separately zoned sections of housing, retail, commercial, and manufacturing. Comments on the project are due by June 25. Info: townoftruckee.com/index.aspx?page=468
Martis Valley Trail Plan Moves Ahead
The comment period is closing on the environmental review of plans to construct a paved trail through Martis Valley. The nine-mile trail would connect Truckee to Northstar and the Fibreboard Freeway. The trail is a major step in the linkage between Truckee trails and the North Shore. Two alignments are being considered — one that follows Highway 267, and one that is farther into the valley on the Northstar side.
The comment period on the draft environmental impact report closes on June 11. Environmental documents, descriptions, and background material are available on the Martis Valley Trail website. Info: martisvalleytrail.com
Supervisor Holmes Fights Renewal of Fire Fee
Placer County’s Third District Supervisor Jim Holmes testified in May at a regulatory hearing before the California Board of Forestry in Redding. The hearing was held to receive public comment on the implementation of a “fire fee” on structures located in State Responsibility Areas (SRA), where the state has firefighting responsibilities.
The annual fee would be up to $150 per structure for lands within the SRA and could affect some 800,000 property owners and 31 million acres throughout the state, including rural SRA land in Placer County. The fee originated in a state budget trailer bill for fiscal year 2011-2012 and imposed the fee on all inhabitable structures within the SRA. The fee could raise as much as $85 million annually.
The fee has been controversial since it was first enacted, and many of those opposed say the fees are unfair because residents already pay local taxes for fire protection, on top of services provided by CAL FIRE. The board’s temporary implementation of the fee is set to expire in late July, and the board may start a new 45-day comment period next month on making the fee permanent. In addition, there is pending legislation in the State Assembly that would repeal the fee entirely.
“The state is setting itself up for long-term liability by assuming a greater role in fire prevention,” Holmes said. “CAL FIRE needs a healthy and strong local fire protection infrastructure to achieve its mission and protect California from the effects of wildfires. SRA fees weaken the state’s mutual aid system by unraveling the ‘respond-first-we’ll-figure-out-the-cost-later’ understanding.”
Placer County Offices Move to Tahoe City
At the end of May, Placer County’s Community Development Resource Agency, Environmental Health Services, and the County Executive Office’s North Lake Tahoe offices moved into the Customs House building at 775 N. Lake Blvd., which the county bought in 2010. The move is part of the county’s efforts to consolidate county services and departments.
The county previously occupied a smaller space on the West Shore, which was in need of renovations and did not have enough room for the 18 employees. The Customs House, at 10,600 square feet, is double the size of the old space.
The new offices will have video teleconferencing capability so Tahoe area staff can meet with west county staff without incurring the time and costs of driving from Lake Tahoe to Auburn. The building will be more customer-friendly and have a larger waiting area.
Tahoe Fund Names First CEO
After 18 months as a volunteer organization, Amy R. Berry has been named as the first CEO of the Tahoe Fund. A full-time CEO means the Tahoe Fund will be able to continue to do the important work of raising funds for environmental improvement projects that will restore and enhance Lake Tahoe.
Berry was the director of marketing and communications for ACCIONA Energy North America, one of the world’s largest renewable energy companies. She is a seasoned business executive with a successful career in building brands, developing corporate strategies, attracting media attention to causes, and fostering community relations. A resident of the Reno/Tahoe area since 2003, she was chosen from a pool of 60 candidates in a five-month nationwide search that was led by an independent search firm.
The Tahoe Fund is the organizing sponsor of the Lake Tahoe Summit hosted this year by Sen. Dean Heller on Aug. 13 at Edgewood in South Lake Tahoe. The fund is also hosting its second annual dinner on Aug. 12 at the White House at Edgewood. Info: aberry@tahoefund.org, tahoefund.org
