The U.S. Forest Service, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is providing a second opportunity for the public to comment on the Spooner Hazardous Fuels Reduction and Healthy Forest Restoration Project. The comment period is open though Dec. 17.

The Spooner project is located on the eastern side of the Lake Tahoe Basin along both sides of portions of highways 50 and 28 between Logan House Creek-Lincoln Park to the south and Sand Harbor State Recreation Area to the north. This project is in portions of Washoe County, Douglas County and Carson County.

The goal of the project is to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire to communities and resources, while also providing conditions for improving forest health. When completed, the Spooner project will return forest conditions to those closer to natural tree densities and types found prior to settlement, when the forests were dependent on occasional low intensity fire. These conditions will allow fire professionals to re-introduce fire for ecosystem restoration and, in the event of wildfire, reduce the intensity to permit safer and more effective fire suppression.

This second comment period addresses changes made to the project description. Mechanical treatments originally proposed within the wildland-urban interface portion of the Lincoln Creek Roadless Area have been changed to hand thinning and pile burning treatments. Another change added project features to reduce the possibility of erosion in the project area. Lastly, the comment period also recognizes recent changes to the National Environmental Policy Act and qppeal processes. These changes are included in the Spooner Project Cover Letter, posted on the LTBMU website along with project details. Full information about how to provide comment is also included on the website. Visit: http://fs.usda.gov/ltbmu and follow the Forest Service Offers Second Public Comment Opportunity for Spooner Fuels Project link on the homepage.

If you have questions about the project, contact Duncan Leao, Interdisciplinary Team Leader, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, Calif. 96150, or call (530) 543.2660 Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm.