Dredging? Tahoe Keys Marina, no applications as yet. I’m curious as to what the lowest shallow depth of the channel is. Any info on that fellow boaters?
If your boat draws over 2 feet, I’d say get your boat out soon or be prepared to have an ice locked frozen boat this winter when “the Keys Freeze” begins. OLS

The curse of the Washoe comes home to roost . White man kill the marsh, white man kill the lake , white man paying the price now.

The dredge has been sitting there for a good bit of summer because the TKPOA (west channel) and the Keys Marina (east channel) are idiots who didn’t get their acts together to apply for a permit in a timely manner.

The barge with the crane attached is a potential accident waiting to happen and needs to be move, sooner than later. Anybody know why the barge has been allowed to remain there all summer and any idea who owns the barge?

The barge belongs to a company from the bay area that built the pier at Round Hill. I think they have been waiting for another job for 2 years. Its time to get it gone. They did try to get it in the marina but no way.

If we do not have a heavy snow season (180% of normal of so) there will be no boating out of this marina next year. These turds will not be dredging anytime soon. BK will be a great opportunity for someone new to come in and operate this place to a higher standard.

Wait; I’m confused. Chad and Robert at the marine have been promising for a year that they had the application for dredging in there possession and would begin dredging next week. Just like they said there would be free beer tomorrow at the fresh katch. Sooo can we agree that they are liars know??? Please reply if I’m missing something

Once again the Tahoe Keys Marina, under the leadership of GM Spinnato (Skippy)has been caught in another lie. He has been telling everyone all season long the he was going to dredge. In fact he refused to let the barge out in front of the channel to come and be dismantled and shipped off the hill. He started telling boaters that the barge was there to dredge, so he could con them out of slip fees. It amazes me how many people still believe this fool.

go figure, Yes! Sept.19th is talk like a pirate day!
Although not widely recognized, it is slowly gaining a global status. Pirate history also ties into the religion of “The Flying Spaghetti Monster”.
Please rermember our beloved pirates as we all owe them a debt of gratitude. Amen and AARRRGGGHHH! OLS

Notice sent to Tahoe Keys property owners by TKPOA 9-10-2014

Dredging Status as of September 10, 2014

John Larson from Tahoe Keys

I personally apologize for the misleading statements that I have made and that have been made by Association management over the past three months regarding the timing of the West Channel dredging. Initially we did significant additional investigative work and modified our project based on discussions with the regulatory agencies; they gave us assurances that these efforts, which delayed the permit application, would expedite permit approval. The assurances were honored by some of the agencies but other agencies treated the permit application with a “business as usual” approach which has resulted in the delays.

At this time we are waiting on permit approval for dredging (see details below). We recommend that boaters keep an eye on Channel depth based on their individual needs to determine when it will be necessary to pull their boats out this Fall.

West Channel
Water depth in portions of the West Channel is approximately 3.5 feet.

We started work on obtaining a dredging permit in April 2014. The permitting process has been long and frustrating as Lake Tahoe has many layers of federal, state, and local regulatory agencies. Obtaining a permit to dredge the West Channel is dependent these agencies giving their blessing before the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) will issue us a permit. Here is the current status:

Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board – This agency approved our project by letter dated September 8 following a 10-day public comment period on our project that ended on September 6. They received no adverse. The Lahontan approval also includes the TRPA approval for the project.

California State Lands Commission – This agency notified us on September 8 that they have decided that their approval of our project requires Commission concurrence. The next Commission meeting is October 14 and, if approved, they will notify ACE after that. This was unanticipated and is a major setback for completing the dredging this year.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife – This agency is considering whether additional studies are needed for the project. We are actively pursuing an answer from them. The timing of their action and its impact on our project timing is unknown.

Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) – We have been working with this agency to overcome their contention that our project cannot be approved under the Nationwide Permit covering this type of work. We know of at least three other approvals given in the Lake Tahoe Basin that directly contradict their position. If it is covered, they can issue a permit when all of the other agencies have given their approval (e.g. sometime after mid-October). If it is not covered, then it will take an additional 90 days or longer to obtain approval.

The bottom line is that we will not be able to start dredging before the middle of October at the earliest and it is possible that we will not be able to start before Spring 2015. It is important to note that any and all of this is subject to change at the whim of the myriad of federal, state, and local agencies that regulate the Lake Tahoe Basin.

East Channel
Water depth in portions of the East Channel is approximately 2 feet.

Tahoe Keys Marina (TKM) told us today that they intend to submit their application to dredge the East Channel by September 19. The East Channel dredging is a much larger project that is estimated to cost $1.5 to $2 million. While our application for the West Channel has paved the way for the review of their application, they will likely run into the same hurdles and the same timeframes for approval. At this time, it appears unlikely that they will do the large scale dredging in 2014 and they may be able to do a limited dredging project in the channel area between the sheet pile bulkheads. TKM told us they intend to complete the dredging in Spring 2015 if it cannot be completed this year.

TKM, under our 1991 Settlement Agreement, is responsible for taking the lead role in dredging the East Channel. The options available to TKPOA range from seeking court action to enforce the 1991 Settlement Agreement which requires TKM to take the lead on any dredging project to working with Tahoe Keys Beach and Harbor Association to get the channel dredged in Spring 2015. The later option includes the risk that recovering TKM’s portion of the cost (approximately $1 million) may entail legal action.

Contingency Plans
In the event that neither Channel dredging is completed this Fall, there are two options for boat owners to consider. For boats that use the West Channel (moored in the Main Lagoon to the west of Ala Wai Boulevard), the owners can take them out at either Cave Rock or Obexer’s Marina both approximately 10 miles from the Tahoe Keys by water. If there are problems with these locations or water levels fall further, TKPOA may open one of the lagoon maintenance ramps for its members use. For boats moored in the Marina Lagoon (east side of Ala Wai Boulevard), the owners can take them out at TKM.