summit

May 1 is here, and than means road construction on Kingsbury Grade (State Route 207) which is closing off through traffic to the Carson Valley is also here.

A Spring storm dropped snow on the Sierras Friday, leaving a couple of feet of snow to blanket the higher elevations and a couple of inches at lower levels around Lake Tahoe.

Kirkwood Mountain Resort is in it's last weekend of operations for the 2013-14 season and is celebrating 2" of snow at the base and 28" at the summit in the last 24 hours. Even with the recent weeks of mild temperatures, their base is still recorded at 64".

They are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Prescribed fire operations by the U.S. Forest Service will continue around the Lake Tahoe Basin during the week of April 14, 2014, and are likely to continue throughout the month of April, weather permitting.

During the next few weeks, burning may take place on Spooner Summit on the East Shore, in the Luther Pass Campground off of Highway 89 near South Lake Tahoe, and on the west side of Highway 89 near Tahoma on the West Shore. Operations are ongoing and may continue as weather, staffing, and conditions allow. Locations could vary due to changing conditions.

Though late season storms have helped skiers and boarders enjoy Lake Tahoe resorts a bit longer, the snowpack measured at 38% of normal today during the monthly test at Echo Summit. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR)reported a statewide average of just 32% of average.

Surveyors from DWR trekked to several monitoring stations as they do annually to measure the water content in snow, as well as depth, to try and pinpoint the state's water supply this summer.

Pedestrian and bicycle transportation and safety will be among the topics at the 12th annual Nevada Bicycle and Pedestrian Summit, scheduled for March 11 and 12 at the Atlantis Casino Resort in Reno.

Developed to augment statewide bicycle and pedestrian resources, the summit will provide the latest information on bicycle tourism, facility planning and design, safety, enforcement and education initiatives, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations, as well as Safe Routes to School program information.

A year and a half road construction project will result in the closure of Kingsbury Grade for almost 75 days this year and more in 2015. Since this will have an impact on local businesses, residents and commuters, a forum was held on Wednesday in order to inform the community about the impact.

A full house was on hand in the TahoeChamber conference room to listen to representatives from Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), Tahoe Transportation District (TTD) and the road construction company.

Leadership Lake Tahoe, on behalf of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce, is proud to host the first annual Elevate Your View Lake Tahoe Leadership Conference at MontBleu Resort. This one-day conference, on May 10, 2014 is meant to raise awareness and empower our community to improve the future of Lake Tahoe.

Join Us for Wine, Spirits & Appetizers on Thursday, January 23 at the Riva Grill in South Lake Tahoe from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Silent Auction Items Include: Camp Richardson Vacation Package, Getaway San Diego Vacation Package, K2 Skis, Lake Tahoe Yoga Classes & many more!

All proceeds will directly benefit the Elevate Your View Lake Tahoe Leadership Summit 2014 to be held on May 10, 2014.

This one-day conference is meant to raise awareness and empower our community to improve the future of Lake Tahoe. More details on the conference can be found at www.ElevateTahoe.com

Snow has blanketed the west with several inches of snow at the lower elevations at Placerville and Auburn up to over a foot in the Sierra Nevada. South Lake Tahoe reports this morning are coming in at 12" to 15" near lake level and the snow is still coming down.

South Lake Tahoe Councilwoman Angela Swanson has declared her candidacy for El Dorado County Supervisor District 5. "There is no better time to jump in," said Swanson of her announcement. "I am in the final year of my council term and will leave office having accomplished many of my goals and with an in-depth knowledge of the key issues affecting the district." Swanson cites economic redevelopment, smart growth and community investment as her top priorities along with building cohesiveness within the newly expanded district.

U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews will begin prescribed fire operations in several locations around the Lake Tahoe Basin tomorrow, Wednesday, October 23, 2013. Weather and conditions permitting, operations will take place on the South Shore near Pioneer Trail and Al Tahoe Boulevard, Blackwood Canyon on the West Shore, Spooner Summit on the East Shore, and Bunker Drive near Tahoe City. Crews will burn approximately one to two acres per day in these locations and expect to continue operations through the weekend and into next week.

With thousands of motorcyclists expected for Street Vibrations there is extra caution urged on public roadways. As of noon today there have been 3 accidents involving bikers on the road in Lake Tahoe and Carson City, resulting in 1 death and 4 hospitalizations.

Two people were hospitalized after a crash shortly before 10 a.m. at North Carson Street and Medical Parkway. A man was flown by Care Flight to Renown hospital; the other person was taken by ambulance to Renown.

From September 5 – 15th the Ruffwear pack will be on the road visiting fans and retailers in California and Nevada as well as stopping at the Surf Dog Surf-A-Thon in Del Mar Beach to benefit the Helen Woodward Animal Center.

If you see the Ruffwear van, swing by and say hi or better yet, snap a shot of you or your dog photo bombing the van, share and tag #DogGoneRoadTrip on Instagram and we’ll reward our favorites with some nice schwag.

LOCAL RETAILER EVENTS

TahoeChamber is pleased to announce the participants for the Leadership Lake Tahoe Class of 2013/2014. 25 applicants have been accepted in to the upcoming program due to start next month. Leadership Lake Tahoe is an intensive 10-month experience in which participants meet once each month for a full class day.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) introduced Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak and noted that this was the first time, ever, a Russian Ambassador has visited Lake Tahoe. Senator Reid described Russia's Lake Baikal as the most voluminous freshwater lake in the world, containing roughly 20% of the world's unfrozen surface fresh water, conservation efforts, and compared both Lake Baikal and Lake Tahoe as "two of the fairest places in all of the earth".

2013 Lake Tahoe Summit in progress Sand Harbor State Park, NV:

Vice President Al Gore challenged Lake Tahoe, Carson City, dignitaries, guests and residents, that there should not only be a continued annual Tahoe Summit but a global summit formed. And, that every resident should take on a demonstrative example to the world in having Lake Tahoe as an example regarding the greater issues of global warming.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency is marking this year’s Lake Tahoe Summit by highlighting the Environmental Improvement Program’s 15 years of achievement restoring and protecting Lake Tahoe’s fragile ecosystem.

Launched at the 1997 Presidential Forum at Lake Tahoe by then President Bill Clinton, and Vice President Al Gore, the Environmental Improvement Program (EIP) is a partnership of more than 50 federal, state, and local agencies, private interests, and the Washoe Tribe.

Scientists continue to remove invading warm-water fish from Lake Tahoe, while new research indicates some of the tiniest bugs that live on Tahoe’s bottom are disappearing at an alarming rate.

Those were among the research efforts conducted by experts at University of Nevada, Reno that were demonstrated at the lake Monday and two weeks before the Lake Tahoe Summit, an annual event celebrating decades of work to protect the landmark alpine lake.

UPDATE 8:02PM: State Route 207 Kingsbury Grade is now open to motorists with controls. Please use caution around firefighters and equipment that remain working the fire.

Fire personnel will remain on scene to gain further containment of this fire. The cause of this fire is still under investigation.

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UPDATE: 7:17PM: Around 200 firefighters remain on scene tonight on the Kings fire on the Carson Valley side of Kingsbury Grade near Lake Tahoe. The fire is approximately 4 to 5 acres in size, Douglas County authorities report. Containment is estimated by 8 p.m.

U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews will resume prescribed fire operations on the East Shore of Lake Tahoe beginning Thursday, May 30. Crews expect to burn approximately one to three acres west of the Spooner Summit area. Operations are scheduled to last through the day, weather and conditions permitting.

The governors of California and Nevada have agreed to renew a bi-state partnership to preserve, protect and enhance Lake Tahoe through the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Compact.

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval and Calif. Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced Tuesday an agreement that renews the partnership, which has been under threat of repeal.

U.S. Forest Service fuels management crews continue prescribed fire operations near Spooner Summit beginning Monday. Crews expect to burn approximately 40 acres. In addition, operations begin Monday on Tahoe Mountain near Dundee Circle. Crews expect to burn approximately six acres. Operations in both locations may continue through the week, weather and conditions permitting.

A prescribed fire is planned Wednesday near Logan Shoals on the east shore of Lake Tahoe, the U.S. Forest Service reports.
About two acres has been cleared for burning. Prescribed fires are also happening through the week on Spooner Summit where about 10 acres a day are being burned.
Below is is a U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Managment Unit news release on the burns.

Prescribed fires on Spooner Summit east of Lake Tahoe are planned for Tuesday through the end of next week, U.S. Forest Service officials said Friday.
Fuel management crews will burn about 10 acres each day, weather permitting with smoke visible along Highway 50.
Below is a news release and 10-year fire reduction plan from the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit of the U.S. Forest Service.