PLACER COUNTY, Calif. – Placer County District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson issued a statement on Wednesday addressing the beach closures over the holiday weekend.

“The Fourth of July is historically one of the busiest times of the year in the Tahoe Basin, and this year we saw not only significant crowds,” Gustafson said in the statement, “but very concerning behavior in some areas that understandably created fear and frustration for officials, residents and visitors.”

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office closed the Lake Forest Beaches, including Skylandia and Bristlecone, on the Fourth of July after 4 p.m. due to illegal activities, including underage drinking and littering.

“I can assure you that it was not a decision made lightly but in coordination with many officials, organizations, and community members,” her statement said, acknowledging that other beaches and neighborhoods continued to experience significant challenges following the closures.

“Those impacts remain an important part of our ongoing discussions and future planning,” she expressed.

Gustafson expressed that these incidents are circulating on social media and necessitate proactive messaging and preparation.

Also in the statement, Supervisor Gustafson noted that similar issues over the years have culminated in alcohol bans on the Truckee River and public beaches, as well as the toll on law enforcement.

Ahead of the holiday, Gustafson collaborated with the Tahoe CEO’s office, public safety agencies and community partners to prepare for large crowds and mitigate impacts.

“I am extremely grateful to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office and all the public safety personnel and partner agencies who worked throughout the holiday weekend to manage crowds, respond to incidents and help keep our communities safe under challenging circumstances,” she said. “Their responses were extraordinary, as they were outnumbered by hundreds to one.”

Moving forward, the supervisor says she will be meeting with the U.S. Forest Service, California State Parks, Tahoe City Public Utility District, North Tahoe Public Utility District, Placer County Executive Office, California Tahoe Conservancy, California Highway Patrol, and Placer County Sheriff’s Office to discuss experienced issues, evaluate a collective response and solutions ahead of future holiday weekends.