By Kathryn Reed

It’s hard to know if more should be read into the National Weather Service in Nevada declaring this Hazardous Weather Awareness Week.

The reality is creeks, rivers and streams in and around the Lake Tahoe Basin are rising. Even Lake Tahoe is rising.

The threat is so real the Weather Service in Reno has issued a small stream flood advisory until 9pm June 24 from Alpine County, along the West Shore, to Squaw Valley. Most of the problems will be west of Highway 89 in the basin, according to weather officials.

The bike trail near Gardner Mountain and above the Camp Richardson stables on June 19. Photo/Kathryn Reed

Campgrounds, hiking-biking trails, and back roads are subject to flooding.

“Peak flow in area streams will occur each evening into the overnight hours from tonight through early Friday evening,” the Weather Service said. “Slightly cooler temperatures by this weekend will mitigate the flood potential.”

The threat to recreationists is so real the U.S. Forest Service on Tuesday issued a warning, too.

“Water that you may have crossed easily at one point in the day may not be crossable when you’re ready to return,” Lisa Heron, spokeswoman for the USFS, said.

Besides water flowing in places it usually doesn’t flow – like covering the bike trail by several inches behind Meeks Lumber in South Lake Tahoe – snow is found on trails not far from trailheads.

The Forest Service advises people to take cross country skis or snowshoes into the backcountry.