Owners of unleashed dogs in Upper Truckee Marsh to be cited
By Kathryn Reed
While the dog ban at Upper Truckee Marsh is seven weeks away, enforcement of the leash law is being increased starting this weekend.
With the mild winter the area is experiencing, more people are outside playing. That in turn means more dogs running around in sensitive areas and disturbing wildlife.
AJ won't be allowed in the Upper Truckee Marsh area from May 1-July 31. Photo/Kathryn Reed
May 1 begins the second year of the seasonal three-month dog ban on this acreage owned by the California Tahoe Conservancy in South Lake Tahoe. Even dogs on leashes are not allowed at that time.
The reason is to protect the natural resources in the area, which is the largest wetland habitat in the Lake Tahoe Basin. This is the only one of the nearly 5,000 CTC properties that has this type of closure.
The Conservancy spent nearly a decade monitoring the area. Because people let their dogs run free, the board in July 2010 voted on the seasonal ban.
What will change this year is that more citations and fewer warnings are likely to be issued. This is because El Dorado County sheriff’s deputies used 2011 as a year to educate people. Animal control also patrols the area.
Plus, there are signs at the entrances to the marsh alerting people about the rules, so it should not come as a surprise.
Dana Dapolito, CTC associate environmental planner, said data collected from last summer in regards to the habitat is still being analyzed.
But it was pointed out if dogs continue to roam in the marsh-meadow, it is hard to quantify if the ban is helping flora and fauna in the area because it’s not a true ban.
good
What about the packs of roaming coyotes: the real culprits? Ridiculous over-regulation!
So what happens If the data shows no improvement in Habitat conducive to whatever indicators are being measured? Perhaps coyotes are the largest impact on birds and other species. Also, if more recognized trail networks are created it may only perpetuate this ecological management problem.
We could always sell the land to vail corporation….
It is again ridiculous. Cite the out of control ‘owners’, but for the many whose dogs are off-lead and controlled this is another intrusion and over regulation.
the Meadow Police are hard at work
watch out for the Yellow Cress
do not fish the Creek
Hobo’s ,Bears, Coyotes only allowed to be in the Meadow and Concervancy employes
Have to move to the city to go off leash legally. sad.
Really people? One closure of 3 months to protect nesting sites is asking too much of you? You honestly cannot be bothered to put your dog on a leash? Don’t even start giving me the “It is my right blah, blah, blah” line because guess what it isn’t,it is a privilage. If people would be responsible and leash their dog and pick up their dog’s poop, we wouldn’t have to have all of these rules in the first place. There are thousands of acres of National Forest land where you can let your dog run free, so a few closures in certain areas seems reasonable.
As far as the coyotes and bears go they are a part of the natural eco system and nature has factored them into the equation, but a lot of free roaming dogs and human impact are not. Also some of the reasons we have so many coyotes is because we have been making it so easy for them by letting our dogs and cats roam free. So let us help support wildlife restoration instead of whining about our own selfish interests. It is the wildlife that makes this a special place to live. Or as “log cabin” suggested you can move to the city to let your dog run free.
For some reason dog owners feel entitled to do what they want. Leash laws have been effect since dog licences were issued. Sadly licences are rarely enforced these days. I can’t tell u how many times I have had a unleashed dog frighten me or one of my family members while the owner is yelling at their dog and repeating to me that their dog is friendly.
Dog owners, go to a dedicated dog park. They can roam free there. I only wish the forest service would follow the CTC in dog enforcement. It would make hiking more enjoyable for everyone.
For those of u who feel the bears and coyotes should be leased or create havoc on the meadow, that’s called ECOLOGY. The natural cycle of WILD LIFE, not domesticated life.
How many dog owners does it take to pick up there dog poop? None, they never do!
Make the leash law under 25 foot, some these people got marlin reels to reel in the pup,that’s after it craps on your porch.
Who can I get to enforce the laws on BARKING DOGS//
every year I call them 10 or more times and they spend our taxes on GAS to come out and say naughty. naughty,, to the owners..NEVER A FINE OR CITATION next day same ole, same ole..OUT AGAIN nothing happens …..I will continue calling untill i get some relief…..SO WHY CANT THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS???
WHO ELSE CAN I CONTACT??? and what can be done ????
You either like dogs and their style or your don’t. It appears both sides are leaving their comments here.
Personally I like greeting other people’s dogs when I’m hiking, makes the world a cheerier place for me.
But I do understand not everyone cares for dogs. My only confusion comes from the idea that there are two stratas in the wild.
Those that naturally belong and those that don’t.
My question when and how did humans (with or without a dog in tow) become an unnatural part of any given landscape?
I don’t figure folks who tell me the critters have more of a right to be here then I do?
Says who? You? Please edify me.
This is stupid, secret beach has long been a spot to bring your dog and do some swimming for the day. Most dog owners just switched to Kiva Beach last year when they started patrolling in the Meadow. Instead of paying conservancy employees to sit at the entrance why don’t they walk the beach and meadow, clean up if necessary and write tickets to dog owners who let their dogs poop w/out cleaning it up. This would literally cost the same amount of money and would be a goverment service rather than another government regulation.
If you don’t like dogs Tahoe must be a tough place to live.
For your edification, 55, no one has said you can’t be in the wild with your dog on a leash. The CTC has gone to the next extreme and has punished everyone, including leashed dogs because of irresponsible non-leashed dogs. The landscape is better with humans and dogs in it. Just follow a couple of simple rules.
I could imagine what the roadways would be like without rules.
India. Lot of deaths and little concern for one another.
Guess I will have to load up the dogs in the truck and drive somewhere to take them for a walk. Of course that will probably cause at least a foot of clarity loss to the lake. And maybe ctc could take care of the coyote problem by getting the head of fish and game to come up and hunt a few.
no one has said you can’t be in the wild with your dog on a leash.
Well that’s mostly true but the meadow is now closed from May to July. Leashed or not.
For those who live adjacent to the wooded area off Springwood, it is an unnecessary regulation.
Meadow off limits? No problem, just let the folks walk their dogs in the wooded area.
And if you’re in the woods why not let dogs run? That’s what they’re made to do.
Are humans also banned from the marsh during breeding season? They are the real problem not the dogs …