Time to get Christmas tree permit in Tahoe
The Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and the Eldorado National Forest will begin the sale of Christmas tree permits on Nov. 13.
Permit holders may choose from a variety of pine, fir or cedar trees up to 6 inches in diameter at the base in designated cutting areas. Trees must be cut on the forest where the permit was purchased.
Permits must be purchased in person, are not transferable and are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Permits will be issued during regular business hours on the LTBMU until noon on Dec. 22, and on the ENF through Dec. 28.
In support of the Every Kid in a Park program, the LTBMU and the ENF will offer one free Christmas tree permit to fourth-grade students who present a valid paper voucher or durable EKIP pass. The student must be present to obtain a permit and when cutting a tree under the EKIP program.
LTBMU permits cost $10 each, with a limit of two per family or address. These permits will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis with a forest limit of 2,250 permits total.
ENF permits cost $10 each (cash only), with a limit of four permits per family or address. These permits will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis with a forest limit of 4,500 permits total.
While walking my dog, I was very disheartened to watch as cars and trucks were streaming up and down the road through Blackwood Canyon this past Saturday during the Thanksgiving holiday…with HUGE trees loaded into pick up trucks having been cut down for Christmas trees. As well as many medium sized trees also cut and tied to cars. I had my suspicions as to how many of these trees were really permitted to be cut. I wish there had been someone from the forest service there at the road intersection to hwy 89 to check for permits , knowing that the Saturday of the holiday weekend would be a time trees are most likely going to be “poached” from this canyon. Now the gate is closed for the road access so hopefully the cutting will be stopped. But next year…could we have someone on patrol up there possibly??