1 week until Upper Truckee Marsh is off-limits to dogs
By Kathryn Reed
It’s the afternoon of April 22 at the Upper Truckee Marsh in South Lake Tahoe. Four dogs — two are leashed, two unleashed. This high percentage of unleashed dogs is what has led the California Tahoe Conservancy — the landowner — to issue an edict banning all dogs for three months beginning May 1.
On Friday, the dogs were being encouraged to run toward the riparian habitat to chase a ball. As the foursome walked toward the lake the people were yelling at the dogs — clearly not in control of their two dogs.
Two dogs are encouraged to run free April 22 in the Upper Truckee Marsh. Photos/Kathryn Reed
The two other people with one dog each on leash exchanged comments about how it’s too bad the responsible dog owners are being punished for the acts of others. They both agreed this area is no longer fun to visit in the summer because of the unruly nature of humans and canines.
For now, not all of the meadow is accessible because the water is in the backyards of some residences.
Trout Creek is visible, but only because that’s where the water is running the fastest. Otherwise, its banks have disappeared.
The CTC may have an item about the dog ban on its May 19 agenda. People can always comment on items not on the agenda.
Nice fair and unbiased article
Perhaps stiff fines for the dogs running free rather than punishing the responsible dog owners. For too long the City, County, and agencies have sought to control the irresponsible by making regulations and ordinances which penalize the responsible residents (eg; mandatory trash, etc.). Seeking to control the irresponsible by punishing the responsible is wrong and unAmerican.
#1 Post the marsh with the rules.
#2 Use random enforcement (after 5 pm, weekends, holidays, etc.).
#3 Make the fines substantial and raise them with multiple violations.
#4 Use the revenue to fund signage and enforcement, making the guilty, not the innocent pay.
I support this ban, as there are many places to walk our leashed dogs. Lets give the wildlife a chance to nest. But I’m fairly new to the area, and only familiar with the entrance to Cove East Beach near the Tahoe Keys Marina. Where is the entrance to the area that will be banned?
I believe the ban is for the entire meadow between the Keys and Al Tahoe neighborhood. There are multiple entrances along El Dorado in the Al Tahoe neighborhood. I live in this area and have walked my dog through the meadow almost everyday for the past two summers (since I’ve had him). Before I got my dog I frequented the meadow and was always amazed at how many irresposible dog owners there are and their total disregard for a simple rule. This is why my dog is always on his leash when I walk the meadow. It is very disappointing that it has come down to a full ban of dogs but totally understandable. With the amount of dogs I have seen running freely even after a few years of being told to leash them it has become the only option. Sucks for all of us who are responsible with our pets.