By Kathryn Reed

Despite an ongoing 1½-year-old lawsuit involving Washoe Meadows State Park, improvements at the South Shore park are expected to begin this summer.

The bridge crossing Angora Creek is slated for replacement, along with work on the channel so it flows better.

Comments for the CEQA documents are being taken until June 5. Project specs are available for review at the El Dorado County library in South Lake Tahoe.

Cyndie Walck with State Parks told Lake Tahoe News the plan is to work on the bridge and channel starting in August. The goal is to have everything wrapped up this season, with some possible vegetation work needed next year.

A lawsuit involving Washoe Meadows State Park will not stop upgrades from happening this summer. Photo/LTN file

“The bridge will be redwood. It will have 30-foot long stringers,” Walck said.

This bridge is not near the golf course.

Once the comment period closes, the park system will begin securing necessary permits from Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and others.

“For the Angora Creek project, we are reviewing the recently received documents to see if we have any questions or comments. We appreciate that the project goals are to improve meadow habitat and improve park visitor experience in Washoe Meadows State Park,” Lynne Paulson told Lake Tahoe News.

Paulson is part of the Washoe Meadows Community that in November 2011 sued State Parks regarding its swapping land between the state park with neighboring Lake Valley Recreation Area.

State Parks, as all land owners along the Upper Truckee River are being mandated by Lahontan and TRPA, must reduce the amount of sediment flowing from the river to Lake Tahoe. Rerouting the river so it has a more natural meander is the most common way to achieve this goal. Proposed improvements to this section of river also come with reconfiguring the holes of Lake Tahoe Golf Course that sits on the state recreation land. Originally nine holes were to be moved. That has been revised to five.

Walck said until the lawsuit is resolved, the river restoration, the park’s first general plan and other recreation issues cannot be dealt with.

“For the Upper Truckee River and golf course project, Washoe Meadows Community’s lawsuits — and the concerns that prompted the action — remain unresolved but are active in the court system with motions, case updates and other actions on the court calendar during the coming months. It is important to continue to protect Washoe Meadows State Park’s resources and hold government agencies accountable for following the law,” Paulson said.

The other project this summer is working on the creek. It can range in depth from less than 6 inches to 3½-foot gullies. The deep part means water is not flowing into the meadow and therefore it is drying out.

“That access is from the west side off Lake Tahoe Boulevard,” Walck explained. “(The project) is to maintain the water table and spread water off the sewer line.”

Both projects are expected to cost about $150,000. State Parks will pay for part of it, with Tahoe Fund money expected as well.