Coast Guard Reports Zero Boating Deaths on Lake Tahoe
The Officer-In-Charge at the Lake Forest Coast Guard Station, Senior Chief Daniel Bennett, reported that there were zero boating deaths on Lake Tahoe between October 2008 and October 2009, a drastic improvement from the eight boating-related deaths that occurred in 2006.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary Sierra Division spent over 2,300 hours patrolling the lake in 2009, provided escorts to events and regattas on Lake Tahoe, completed 706 free Vessel Safety Checks, and educated boaters through their boater safety classes.
The auxiliary is seeking volunteers with a wide variety of skills including boating, teaching, marketing and finance. Info: Joe Harris, 650-279-9159, northtahoecgaux.com
State Funding for Community Pocket Park Released
The Sierra Nevada Conservancy recently notified the Mountain Area Preservation Foundation that $93,500 awarded as a grant in December 2008 is now available for the final planning and design of the Trout Creek Pocket Park located in downtown Truckee.
Once completed, the restored park will provide protections to a part of Trout Creek and create a community-gathering place.
First-Time Homebuyer Assistance Program Approved by Council
The Truckee Town Council approved a first-time homebuyer down payment assistance loan program at the Nov. 19 council meeting. The program provides down payment assistance for households that have income levels of up to 80 percent of the Nevada County Area Median Income, 80 percent to 120 percent of the AMI (moderate) and 120 percent to 160 percent of the AMI (above moderate).
The deadline for applications is Feb. 5. Applicants must either live or work in Truckee and are encouraged to attend one of the public workshops that will be held in January to explain the program. Applications will be selected using a random selection process at 2 p.m. on Feb. 18. Info: townoftruckee.com or the Town’s Housing Program Operator, 530-272-5395
NLTRA Awards $31,500 in Marketing Grants
The North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, in collaboration with the North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce, recently awarded $31,500 in grants to 11 area organizations through its Community Marketing Grant Program.
The organizations benefiting from the program this year include: SnowFest ($8,000), the Olympic Heritage Celebration ($8,000), Ta-Hoe Nalu stand up paddle boarding events ($3,000), Lake Tahoe Music Festival ($3,000), UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center’s Fish Hatchery Opening ($2,500), Squaw Valley Institute’s cultural programming ($2,000), Tails in Tahoe ($1,500), Sierra State Parks Foundation’s Inside Lake Tahoe Event Series ($1,500), The Orchestra and Community Choral Artists of the Tahoe Area’s music series ($1,000), Girls On the Run Sierras’ Lunafest Film Festival ($500) and the Lake Tahoe Paddleboard Association’s paddle boarding races ($500).
Nevadans Helping Natives Blanket and Clothing Drive Success
Students from Sierra Nevada College’s Native American Student Association (NASA) held a coat and blanket drive in November to fulfill the vision of Dr. Bill Redel, a long-time Tahoe resident and Sierra Nevada College professor. Their hard work resulted in the collection of 94 coats and 57 blankets.
Over 1,000 Acres Added to Tahoe National Forest
Over 1,000 acres of upper elevation land has been added to the Tahoe National Forest. Funding totaling $3 million came from the Land and Water Conservation Fund as well as contributions from the Northern Sierra Partnership and the Gene and Elaine Smith family. The areas include:
1) Webber Falls: 480 acres along the Little Truckee River located along the Hennesse Pass Road 15 miles northwest of Truckee.
2) Pierce Meadows: 160 acres near Eagle Lakes. Located north of I-80 near Cisco Grove.
3) Rubicon River/Granite Chief: 417 acres of land along the Rubicon River, including 270 acres within Granite Chief Wilderness. In this same purchase 406 acres were also added to Eldorado National Forest.
4) English Mountain: 160 acres south of Jackson Meadows Reservoir and 11 miles north of I-80.
Alder Creek Pile Burning in Truckee Ranger District
The Truckee Ranger District has begun burning piles in the Alder Creek drainage to reduce fuel loading in the Wildland Urban Interface. Over the past five years, the district has emphasized fuel reduction in this area using tools such as mechanical thinning and mastication to reduce ladder fuels. The overall project area is from Hillside Drive down to Highway 89 North on National Forest System lands.
Burning will be completed in stages in order to facilitate smoke dispersal and limit smoke impact to residences. Fuels management personnel work with the California Air Resources Board and the local air quality management districts to plan the pile burning so that smoke impacts to communities are minimized. Info: Linda Ferguson, 530-587-3558
