Massive tree thinning project to get under way
The multi-year South Shore Fuels Reduction and Healthy Forest Restoration Project is about to resume.
On April 21, work will take place between Highway 89 and Cascade Lake, and between the west end of Gardner Mountain and lower Angora Ridge. Approximately 380 acres in these areas will be thinned by hand, which is done by crews with chainsaws and involves piling the material for burning at a later time. Work is expected to last approximately one month.
Work in units along Lake Tahoe Boulevard near South Tahoe High School and the Sand Pit OHV area may begin as early as May 1. Approximately 80 acres in these units will be thinned using mechanical equipment, which cuts the tree down, cuts the tree into sections in the cutting area, and then removes the tree and as much material as possible.
The Forest Service will officially close these areas while crews are working.
The Forest Service will provide periodic updates online.
For general information on the South Shore project, go online.
It would be interesting to find out where all the firewood is going, or if any will be available to the public or seniors and elderly. Couldn’t find such info on their website.
I agree that a program to make firewood available to seniors at a discount rate would be a great idea. My husband and I are of an age where it is no longer feasible to go out and cut down trees. Even doing the splitting is a daunting task.
Last year I saw many of these trucks full of our trees leaving the basin. Where they were going, I do not know.
Steve, I suggested awhile ago that since they’re logging in So.Shore… oh,er, excuse me “thinning for a healthy forest and fuel reduction” that the wood go to the folks that live here, especially the seniors and those that are struggling to get by. My plea was met with the sound of crickets.
The wood is being sent out of town to the highest bidder, plain and simple. Do the agencies that approved this logging operation care about the people that live here? Obviously not!
It’s all about getting the wood and the money and moving on to their next place of “thinning for a healthy forest”.
Thinning trees in heavily populated areas ? Somehow, for whatever reason (money?) that’s not being considered. So while alot of us live in a tinder box nothing is being done. But hey, trees out in the open? A short distance away from the houses? Cut em’ down then haul em’ out of town!
Keep your fingers crossed for a fire free summer! OLS
I can’t believe that you guys are forgetting the mentally and physically handicapped. Also cancer survivors, veterans, those without pickup trucks, casino and resort employees who work double shifts, addicts, etc. I think we should all get firewood permits and donate to the needy. Anyone who agrees, please meet me at the front desk of the Forestry Service on Monday morning. I have a few extra chain saws.
I think the guy that lives next door is poaching the wood. He comes home two or three times a day with his truck full of firewood. I have never seen any tags or markings that show its legal wood. So with the firewood lot in our neighborhood its sure to be safe when the fires come, NOT…
The devastation that the logging caused last summer at Cathedral Road was sickening. Instead of taking the small trees and brush that was the fire hazard they took larger trees to be sold for lumber. They left so much debris the trails were not usable. Very sad!
Go figure says-
If you are concerned about the “firewood lot” next door, call the forest service or sheriff and have it checked out. Complaining here doesn’t do any good, make the call.
Sheriff-573-3300
Forest Service-543-2600
Steven, I have contacted the fire dept and will call the FS. The fire dept did nothing. Its been a issue for years but the fire dept folks are probably buddies with the guy and thus its just a circle jerk. The rule is that their huge pile of wood has to be 30 feet from the property. That isnt even enforced. When angora fire was happening their huge pile had hot embers falling on it and since we are in lukins water zone there was no water to put out fires. We were evacuated for 24 hours and I really didnt think our home would make it. Thankfully it did. This summer might be a problem again.
Go Figure-I wish you were my neighbor. You seem so unassuming and pleasant. Let’s grab a beer and talk about sports and the piles and piles of logs all over the powerline trail sometime. Maybe you’d pitch in and help clean it up with me? I’ll split it with you. We could easily amass far greater amounts than your current neighbor. Maybe you should actually tell your neighbor about the unending piles of wood on the powerline trail so someone could actually do something productive with it instead of letting it rot away. Wouldn’t it suck if those piles disappeared one night? While you’re calling the FS ask if they’ll open the gate so the needy can schlep it the hell out of there. Do something productive instead of stewing on the jones’s. Unless you’d like to find your way into the circle jerk? Go Figure it out
This thinning project is devastating he forests and wildlife habitat of Tahoe. Some thinning if fine but what is going on is the rape of the forests. Kae, what is going on with the Sierra Forest Legacy lawsuit that might have been initiated by a UNR professor?
Hikerchick, Yes, the 10,000 acre logging operation on So. Shore is a big deal. A big BAD deal!
The USFS has no one to answer to. Sure, under pressure they may listen to the public but basically they can do anything they want with public lands. Like so many other Govt. agencies with no oversight, (TRPA,CTC,TTD and so many others) , they write their own rules and in doing so justfy their huge budgets and high salaries for those at the top who have the final say on said projects.
If this means clear cutting large swaths of forest and using the word game, “thinning” rather than logging, “healthy forest” as for what it really is…no forest! Re-zoning a beautiful forest for residential and commercial development (think about whats happening over at No. Shore!!!) well, that’s what we’re dealing with.
Can we fix this? Doubtful, and they know it. They already bought the politicians and the judicial system. All we can do is go to meetings, sign petitions and voice our disgust.
Hate to sound so negative Hikerchick, but I’m afraid the game is rigged and it aint’ in our favor. OLS
“A big BAD deal!” Pretty strong conclusions. Now OLS, tell me, is it the stocking, structure or maybe forest composition that you have a problem with? If mixed conifer forests tend to thrive at lower densities, and the FS is reducing densities; well exactly what is the problem? Feel free to use numbers.
I agree OLS the FS is immune to public input but what is really sad and frightening is that they continue these projects to make work for themselves even though the science from their professional peers argues against it.
Kind of a nightmarish thing that seemingly nothing can stop.
Also, all the new mountain bike trails around Tahoe Mountain…..none set aside for just hikers. Next Mr Villanueva will being building mountain bike trails on both ridge lines over the road to Angora Resort. So now all the approaches from that direction to Angora will be bikes and/or cars with none designated just for hiking. You’d think two ways for bikers to get up there and return would be enough but no, bikes have all three routes open to them. I have nothing against mountain bikers but most hiking areas have at least a couple of trails just for hiking. I think here its getting to be that we need to go on the PCT or into Desolation to find a trail where mountain bikers aren’t bearing down on you.
‘This thinning project is devastating he forests and wildlife habitat of Tahoe. ‘
Fuels reduction increases biodiversity. Especially post fire.
Moral Hazard, My concern is that the areas that are being logged are just fine left alone. What does need thinning are some of our heavily wooded neighborhoods.
I don’t want to see another Angora fire right here in So.Shore, it would be catastrophic! Few roads available for evacuation and an understaffed police dept. and fire crews. During the Angora fire we could’nt get out of Sierra Tract as traffic was at a standstill. Pioneer Trail and hwy 50 all choked up with traffic barely moving.
We are rapidly heading into a very scary fire season. So rather than logging out at the end of Sierra Blvd, all the way to Golden Bear, lets try protecting where people have homes that would be highly suscepitible to a wildfire. Gardner Mtn., Sierra Tract, Al Tahoe, Ski Run and on and on.
Yes Pescado, biodiversity is good so lets encourage it! I’d just like too see the “thinning” take place where the people have the most to lose, like their homes and everything they’ve ever owned, and somethings that are irreplacable.
Sorry Moral Hazard, I have no numbers to back up my feelings on this issue, just giving my take on the logging taking place. OLS
OLS, you don’t have a clue what is fine or not fine because you have never taken a single second to actually learn about forests in Lake Tahoe or anywhere else. There is a ton of information available, you sir have not taken the time to obtain it, but you have no problems disparaging someones work even when it is you that has failed to do any work to learn about the problem.
The basic issue is that stocking is running from about 180ft2/acre up to 300ft2/acre in untreated areas and it is being reduced to about 130ft2/acre. That is still over stocked.
The benefit is that with about 20% canopy opening brush and forbs get enough light to grow. That is wildlife food.
What eats trees OLS? Have you seen an animal eating a tree? Me either, maybe its the stuff on the ground that is being regenerated that is the wildlife habitat.
OLS, so now you are an expert on fire behavior? And you are comfortable telling fire behavior experts where they should site fuel breaks?
Amazing
Moral Hazard, I was merely expressing my opinion on logging in the basin and the danger of a wildfre in one, if not all, of our neighborhoods.
I’m not an expert on fire behavior, simply throwing my thoughts out there as to what I see as a possible problem with dire consequences.
I hope you feel better (and I’m sure you do) for attacking me and my opinion about logging and fire danger here at the lake. Have a nice day! OLS
I had the very good fortune of working with a gentleman who was by far the smartest person I ever knew while simultaneously being extremely benevolent. His circle of personal friends were comprised of former U.S. Presidents, Nobel Laureates, authors, industrialists, entrepreneurs, university heads, artists, etc. I recall a bit of career advice from him which was “Find one thing you really enjoy, hone your skills, and be the best you can be at that. For everything else hire a professional in that field, because no one can be an expert in everything.”
Spouse – 4-mer-usmc
OLS there is a responsibility that goes along with expressing an opinion, especially when you are running peoples work into the ground. You, as the speaker, have a responsibility to obtain information about the topic you are speaking about.
You are stating that fire managers and the Forest Service in general are irresponsibly implementing fuels reduction projects.
I am pointing out that you are irresponsibly attacking them with NO information.
OLS, I am pointing out that you are the irresponsible one here. And it is your active choice not to get any information about forests of the Lake Tahoe Basin.
OLS, a more responsible person might post their thoughts in the form of a question and make an attempt at getting some information.
Moral Hazard get off your high horse. This is a public forum for us to express opinion. We are not all experts in every field but we are still entitled to voice our opinion, ill informed or not.
You really don’t have to be an expert just a keen observer to see the logging is motivated by profit under the guise of forest health and wild fire danger.
Moral Hazard, I’m just saying I don’t care for the logging in the basin. Sorry if that offends you and you feel the need to lash out at me.
I have lived here since 1962 and know a bit about the surrounding forests from first hand knowledge. Nope, no college degree or class room teachings other than the little bit I got at STHS.
I beg your forgiveness for not being as informed as you would like. I’m just an old Tahoe guy stating my thoughts.
Now go away, I find you to be unpleasant and of a mean spirit. Good day, Sir! OLS
With all due respect, I think a big part of the problem with some posters is their lack of any clear delineation of a personal opinion and their presentations as fact. That, and their directives on every public policy issue throughout the Tahoe basin from the north shore, to the south shore, to Meyers, which comes across as self-proclaimed professional consulting expertise.
But that’s just my opinion, which I would like to clearly delineate since people can’t read my mind.
Hey sliced. Really? Thanks for the nonadvice. Probably wouldnt work out between us…
OLS, I agree with you that forest thinning needs to occur around homes and neighborhoods, but the Forest Service can only thin trees on National Forest Land. Fire Protection Districts, such as Lake Valley and Meek Bay, have thinning programs in the county. The City of SLT Fire Department should implement a thinning program to take care of areas within the city limits.
Ann B., You bring up a good point about tree thinning in the city limits. Years ago I had to go thru the forest service to get a tree marked for removal on my property. Then that task was passed along to the TRPA and from what I hear now it’s up to the Fire Dept. to mark trees.
I’ll suggest this to my neighbors and maybe we can get some of these trees marked and dropped that are right next to our houses or in my case buckeling the asphalt in my driveway.
Not only will we be reducing the fire danger, we will be letting in more sunshine for our gardens and yards plus getting the short term rewards of some firewood for the old wood stove.
I’ve got new trees sprouting up around here so I’m not opposed to cuttin’ down a few big ones right next to the house. Thanks Ann B., OLS