Dear Friends:

After yet another trying year, we hope the New Year brings you health and happiness.

There are several projects located along or near the West Shore that we will be focusing on in 2022, including but not limited to:

Other projects that may be brought back for further public input include:

• The Lake Tahoe West Forest Restoration Project, which examines the best landscape-scale approach to improving forest health and fire resilience along the West Shore;

• The US Forest Service (USFS) Basinwide Trails Analysis Project which proposes to allow electric bikes on approx. 87 miles of Tahoe’s existing dirt trails and other trail modifications; and

• The USFS Winter Recreation and Over Snow Vehicle Travel Management project, which proposes modifications to where snowmobiles are allowed in the Basin.

As always, we will keep you updated on these and other projects in our bi-monthly newsletters. We look forward to your continued feedback and support, and encourage you to contact us with any additional ideas or questions you may have.

Sincerely,

Cascade to Meeks Bay Trail

As reported in our last newsletter, a public webinar was held on 10/25 to seek public input on a feasibility study that will examine the constructability of the segment of the West Shore Tahoe Trail (bike/pedestrian) from Cascade Lake to Meeks Bay, dubbed the Cascade to Meeks Trail. In general, the study route has been broken down into six smaller segments for further review and ranking. FOWS submitted comments on 11/15/2021. Concerns include the proposed routes through the Tahoe Hills area (and lack of an alternative option) and the possibility of drawing more traffic associated with use of the trail (as occurred with the SR 28 Incline to Sand Harbor trail), which may create parking, safety, and other problems along the West Shore.

Meeting materials, maps, and the recorded webinar are available here. Final study recommendations are anticipated in summer 2022. For more information and to opt-in to receive future communication about the West Shore Tahoe Trail and the Trail Feasibility Study, www.westshoretahoetrail.com.

Meeks Bay Resort Restoration Project

TRPA has stated the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Report (DEIS/DEIR) is expected to be released in late February/early March and a 60-day public comment period will follow. A Stakeholder Forum meeting will be held shortly after the release of the DEIS/DEIR, and project leaders have tentatively scheduled the item for public comment at the March 23 TRPA Governing Board meeting. We will send an alert when the DEIS/DEIR is available for review and comment. Information from previous meetings and other materials can be accessed here.

Martis Valley West Specific Plan

Oral arguments were heard on 12/17 in front of the State’s Third District Court of Appeals; the Court has 90 days to determine if the environmental report on the Martis Valley West development project was done properly. Issues include inadequate analyses of traffic impacts to the Tahoe Basin, wildfire/evacuation concerns, and other impacts. The Sierra Watch, the League to Save Lake Tahoe, and Mountain Area Preservation are behind the appeal.

Tahoe Keys Aquatic Invasive Plans Treatment Proposal

The Final Environmental Impact Report was released on 12/29/2021. The project, which proposes the use of chemical herbicides in the Tahoe Keys (prohibited until now due to Tahoe’s special federal Outstanding National Resource Water designation) was approved by the Lahontan Water Board at their Jan. 12-13 meeting, and will be brought to the TRPA Advisory Planning Commission on 1/18 (for a recommendation) and TRPA Governing Board (for approval) on 1/26. FOWS signed on to a letter prepared by the Tahoe Sierra Club Group, supporting their comments to the Water Board asking the project be denied until all non-chemical options have been employed first, and that the causes of the weed infestation - including stagnant water and nutrient inputs - be adequately addressed. We encourage you to submit comments and/or verbally comment at the hearings; meeting materials will be posted here.

Village at Squaw Valley

After the key court victory last summer in Sierra Watch’s lawsuit against the massive project, there has been update from the owners of Squaw Valley (now Palisades Tahoe) regarding their plans at this time.

White Wolf Subdivision (Alpine Meadows)

Publication of the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the proposed White Wolf Subdivision is expected “in coming months.” We will keep you updated regarding the release of the DEIR and public comment period.