regulations

Two Tahoe conservation groups, the Sierra Club and Friends of the West Shore, filed a federal lawsuit on Monday challenging new rules for Lake Tahoe that seriously reduce protections for the treasured mountain lake. The new Tahoe Regional Plan Update, approved in December by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), shifts authority over future development decisions to local jurisdictions. The plan also allows those towns and counties to adopt weakened pollution controls that do not meet the minimum environmental requirements established by TRPA.

California Gov. Jerry Brown today delivered the 2013 State of the State Address. Here's the prepared text:

On the question of whether the Homewood Mountain Ski Area Resort, a ski area on Lake Tahoe’s West Shore, can be revitalized, the U.S. District Court validated all of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s environmental findings in the decision on the Sierra Club’s lawsuit challenging the project. The court remanded the case back to TRPA on one very limited issue concerning the adequacy of the economic analysis related to one of the alternatives studied, TRPA officials said.

For the first time since 1987, Lake Tahoe has a new regional plan for development and land use.
Twelve of the 14 voting members of the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency's governing board voted in favor of the new plan, with one member voting against it and another abstaining, according to TRPA spokesman Jeff Cowan.

Business interests say the plan is an overdue overhaul of regulations that will jump-start Tahoe's tourism economy while also protecting its environment.

The City of South Lake Tahoe and Lake Tahoe Community College Connect Community Education are sponsoring the Renovator, Repair, Painter (RRP) course for local construction workers. The Lead Safe Worker 8-hour training for Renovators, Repair and Painters is being offered at LTCC campus on Saturday, December 8th from 8am-5pm.

The cost to attend the training is $50 and up to two workers from each local company are welcome to participate.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California and the Sierra. This report is for the week of Oct. 17-24.

Progressive or provincial? That is the crux of the issue facing our south shore community during this election and well into the next decade. Do we want a viable, prosperous community that our children and grandchildren are proud to call home? Or do we want the Tahoe of yesterday—only older and shabbier, with fewer families and more boarded up businesses?

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California and the Sierra. This report is for the week of Sept. 26 through Oct. 2.

Well-known South Shore Lake Tahoe artist Peter Darvas was being treated at Barton Memorial Hospital on Tuesday evening after he tried putting out a house fire on Pioneer Trail.

Authorities said the fire, reported shortly before 6 p.m., was at the corner of Edna and Pioneer Trail. Darvas’ home, according to city records, is at 3128 Pioneer Trail – at that corner.

According to a message from City Manager Nancy Kerry to Councilman Tom Davis, Darvas was in the house and tried to put the fire out. He was being treated at Barton Memorial Hospital.

As I noted earlier this year, one of California’s two Free Fishing Days will be on Sept. 8. The other Free Fishing Day was way back on July 7. You can fish, all day, without a fishing license on Saturday.
You will be able to fish wherever you like in California, without the need for a fishing license.

This is a reminder that special trout fishing privileges begin on Friday at Heenan Lake in nearby Alpine County, Calif. Here you can catch (and release) some really nice Lahontan Cutthroat Trout for a limited time.
Each year, that season opens the Friday before Labor Day and closes the last Sunday in October (October 28 this year). If you’re interested and if you would like to enjoy a totally different fishing experience, plan to spend August 31 at that easy-to-get-to location.

The regional plan cleared a critical hurdle. No fanfare. No high fives. Not even a story in the local press. Yet an unprecedented moment in Lake Tahoe history transpired last week that may shape the Tahoe Basin for decades to come. That moment was the agreement reached by the Bi-State Consultation group, which should serve as the foundation for the new TRPA regional plan.

But first a little history lesson.

A California-imposed fire prevention fee on property owners will be issued for El Dorado County residents including those living in rural areas around South Lake Tahoe, officials said Wednesday.

The agency that oversees Lake Tahoe is reworking its regional plan. It's the first big overhaul since 1987, and the initial draft has raised concerns about how much and where commercial development will be allowed.
Alex Leff, with the conservation organization Friends of the West Shore, says the main draft plan would allow significant commercial development on recreational land, which makes up 22 percent of Lake Tahoe's Basin.

Warm weather and cool fishing is expected this week along the many lakes, rivers and streams in Nevada, Northern California and the Sierra. Here is this week's fishing report for the week of July 25. As always, pack plenty of sunscreen, abide all regulations and have your fishing license with you.

The South Lake Tahoe City Council will again discuss how it should regulate medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.On Tuesday, the council is scheduled to discuss and possibly give direction to...

Great fishing is being reported throughout Nevada, Northern California, Lake Tahoe and Sierra this summer. Here is this week's fishing report, through July 17, for rivers, lakes and streams in the region.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada, Northern California and the Sierra. This report is for July 5 through July 10.

The North and South Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce leaders at Lake Tahoe have joined together to launch a Region-wide public participation campaign to harness the groundswell of support for a new vision to restore and revitalize the Basin. Called TahoeFuture.org, the campaign will focus, over the next 8 months, on two critical land-use and transportation plans that create a blueprint for a revitalized Lake Tahoe.

Competition is on Lake Tahoe from one hour before sunrise to "High Noon" Sunday, June 3.
Prize money is awarded to anglers who reel in the largest Mackinaw $1,000, $500 Brown Trout, and $250 Rainbow Trout.
$50 entry fee includes Derby Entry, T-shirt, a wonderful Buffet Brunch (11:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m.), and Raffle.
Proceeds to benefit community charities through the Tahoe City Rotary Club Foundation.
Pre-register in Tahoe City at Jake's On The Lake or Pete 'N Peters tavern by 5pm Saturday, June 2nd.

Memorial Day weekend will make for near-perfect conditions for fishing in Nevada, Northern California, Lake Tahoe and the Sierra. Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams now through the holiday weekend.