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Forest Service seeks public input on Tahoe projects

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is seeking input on proposed improvements to an 8-mile section of Nevada State Route 28 from Spooner Junction to Sand Harbor.
FILE PHOTO

The U.S. Forest Service is seeking public comment on several management and improvement projects around Lake Tahoe.

On the East Shore, the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) is asking for input on proposed improvements to an 8-mile section of Nevada State Route 28 from Spooner Junction to Sand Harbor. The project incorporates the third phase of the Nevada Stateline-to-Stateline Bikeway along with a planning effort to improve safety and enhance the scenic quality and access to East Shore recreation destinations, according to LTBMU.

The proposal includes construction of a class-1 shared-use pathway from Spooner Junction to Sand Harbor, installation of retaining walls and slope stabilization measures, and construction of connections from the pathway to parking lots and recreational facilities.



Proposed highway improvements would include: expanding the existing parking areas at Secret Harbor and Chimney Beach, constructing two new parking areas at Skunk Harbor and the south corridor park-n-ride, creating safe highway pull-outs along the entire corridor that would include cultural, historical and natural resource interpretive signs and vista points for photo opportunities.

New restroom facilities also would be constructed at each parking area and bicycle racks and seating would be installed where feasible.



The project also proposes relocating electrical and communication utility lines and the current sewer export pipeline, and installing fire hydrant connections at strategic locations.

The scoping letter and proposed action is available at http://bit.ly/2BzwYzj. Contact Jennifer Hebert at 530-543-2857 or jenniferhebert@fs.fed.us for more information on the project and how to comment.

Comments are most helpful if received by Dec. 23.

NORTH SHORE

LTBMU also is asking for input regarding the management of 1,138 acres of national forest land off Mount Rose Highway (Nevada State Route 431) above Incline Village. The effort seeks to establish National Forest System standards for streams and habitat, recreation, road and trail management under the LTBMU Land Management Plan.

The project also proposes an amendment to modify a portion (approximately 400 acres west of Third Creek) of the project area from a general conservation management area to a backcountry management area. The change would benefit water quality, habitat, scenery and provide dispersed recreational opportunities, according to LTBMU.

The remainder of the site would remain designated as a general conservation (general forest) area.

Project-specific proposals include adopting, decommissioning and rerouting of existing trails; adopting existing roads and replacing and/or upgrading road and trail stream crossings; installing best management practices (BMPs), interpretive and wayfinding signs; creating new trail and pedestrian access routes and resource protection barriers; allowing vehicular use of the dam access road under the terms of a special use permit, and closing other trails to motor vehicle use.

Restoration activities would include removing the dam diversion ditch that connects Third Creek to the former Incline Lake bed; restoring stream channels and aquatic species habitat throughout the area; revegetating areas that are degraded, with native vegetation species; restoring damage to wetlands, which resulted from water diversion activities; repairing erosion along the Franktown Ditch; developing a plan for future white bark pine management; and reducing tree density in meadow and wetland areas through forest thinning and restoration of Aspen communities.

The scoping letter and proposed action is available at http://bit.ly/2jAOdIm.

Contact Ashley Sibr at 530-543-2615 or asibr@fs.fed.us for more information on the project and how to comment.

Comments are most helpful if received by Jan. 5.


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