Calif. agencies eager to rebuild Kings Beach pier

Rebuilding Kings Beach pier would ideally ensure it could be used by boaters even during a drought. Photo/LTN file

By Kathryn Reed

STATELINE – Providing more recreation access is the overriding reason to improve and extend the pier at Kings Beach, according to the landowners.

While State Parks and California Tahoe Conservancy are about to embark on the environmental process for this project, tied into it is creating an updated general plan for the Kings Beach State Recreation Area.

This 14-acre swath of lakefront last had a general plan written in 1980. That document only covers 7 acres, was 12 pages, with 1½ pages devoted to the environmental impact report. Today’s EIRs are usually at least an inch thick.

The general plan will include policies for the site. The event center is not part of the discussion other than how parking affects it. The building is owned by North Tahoe Public Utility District, however parking is on state property.

Where the pier will be rebuilt is still to be determined. Four main issues to be looked at in the environmental documents include fish habitat, scenic impacts, littoral processes and safety.

The depth and length of the pier will be dependent on where it is located and the orientation.

The plan is to have a portion be fixed on single pilings that will be attached to a floating pier. Three action alternatives are expected to be studied in the EIR/EIS that Ascent Environmental will put together.

State reps gave a presentation April 13 to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency’s Advisory Planning Commission. The TRPA will have a say in the environmental impact statement and pier project, but not the general plan.

Lighting was one concern. The answer: only navigational lights will be on the pier.

Parking was another issue that was broached. State Parks technically closes the parking area at sunset. However, because this is used more like a community park, that policy may change.

The existing boat ramp has not been operational for years, mostly because of the water level. It’s future is also being considered.

Sue Rae Irelan with the CTC pointed out how the last time the ramp was open the town of Kings Beach looked much different. Boat trailers were parked on Highway 28. Now the highway has been improved, roundabouts added and trailer parking wouldn’t fit in.

Dredging was brought up. And while it’s possible to do so, the amount of sand that moves in and out of this section of the lake was called “dynamic” and therefore would require continual dredging.

One APC member asked about water transit. This would require a special use permit by State Parks and additional environmental review, along with more land side issues addressed.

“It would be a huge mistake to go through the process without considering a water transit option,” Steve Teshara, APC board chairman, said. As a planning consultant for the Truckee North Tahoe Transportation Management Association, he was instrumental in crafting a letter to the state agencies about water borne transit – even if it’s a shuttle and not the proposed lakewide ferry.

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Notes:

·      The deadline to comment on the notice of preparation is April 15.

·      More information is available online.

·      The draft environmental documents should be released in early 2017, with the final completed in summer 2017.