El Dorado County Parks & Recreation Digest

Spring conditions in the Lake Tahoe Basin have finally arrived but the effects of a tough winter will likely delay the official opening of many National Forest recreation sites, including beaches, campgrounds, forest roads and trailheads.

When El Dorado County closed the Rubicon Trail due to the atmospheric river storms, some users asked why. Resulting discussion led to a resolution that any closure should be for limited reasons and at the direction of the county’s transportation director.

John Stark has been appointed the director of parks and recreation, effective May 15.

Ducks Unlimited’s mission is to conserve, restore, and manage wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. A new partnership will allow Watchable Wildlife to continue its mission of helping Californians experience nature.

El Dorado County will increase compensation to environmental consulting company Dudek by more than $142,000 for additional analysis and planning on the Diamond Springs park project. The park is will be adjacent to Charles F. Brown Elementary School.

The El Dorado Hills Community Services District has just announced plans to fund renovations at Jackson Elementary School, but new facilities for Peter Bertelsen Park will be put on hold.

California State Parks invites individuals to “Live the Parks Life” as rangers or lifeguards in the nation’s largest state park system. Through June 10, individuals can apply for the State Park Peace Officer Cadet exams.

Outdoors in Plumas, which ran 68 recreational sites in the Plumas National Forest, is ceasing operations.

New legislation supported by U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) would enable the USDA Forest Service to retain some fees paid annually by ski areas and use it for local projects.

Sierra State Parks Foundation announced a historic Memorandum of Agreement between the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California and the Sierra District of California State Parks.

California State Parks and the California Natural Resources Agency are reminding visitors about three ways to explore the great outdoors for free.

The Lake Tahoe edition of Monopoly—a modified version of the game originally inspired by Atlantic City’s Boardwalk—was revealed at Edgewood Resort.

JLL will prepare a dozen regional strategic plans to help the state marketing organization promote smart, sustainable tourism over the next decade.

The South Lake Tahoe City Council was presented with the status of the recreation center project and also a new plan for garbage and waste collection.

The Georgetown Nature Area is a local treasure located behind the Georgetown School of Innovation and is well-loved by regular visitors. Several annual events are hosted in the park.

Final designs for the future Bass Lake Regional Park presented at the El Dorado Hills Community Services District were met with concern by the sports community.

Avi Kwa Ame National Monument will protect sacred Native American sites, wildlife.

American River Conservancy announced the purchase of Lewis Ranch—972 acres protecting 3 miles of creek frontage and oak woodland and forest habitat near the South Fork American River in El Dorado County.

The Wopumnes Tribe breaks ground Nov. 19 on the Nisenan Village Interpretive Garden in partnership with Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park. The gathering begins at 11 a.m.

Nevada State Parks and partners, including local officials and private donors, gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of a visitor center and amphitheater.

Fodor’s, publisher of travel guidebooks, has recommended tourists bypass Lake Tahoe next year due to a “people problem”—crowded beaches and trails, traffic, and threats to the lake’s clarity.

For the first time in three years, visitors won't need to book ahead to enter the park in 2023.

The prospective Cameron Park Lake splash pad became a hot topic during the Oct. 19 Cameron Park Community Services District Board of Directors meeting, with some concerned the project isn't the best use of CSD funds.

The Incline Village General Improvement District Board of Trustees met Oct. 24 to discuss the formal timeline of the recreation center expansion project and the end to the grant agreement with the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation.

The South Tahoe High Climate Crew Club and Key Club posed questions about housing issues and environmental threats to this year’s candidates for South Lake Tahoe City Council.

BEBOT got its first test run on Tahoe’s beaches: it's a solar-powered, tank-treaded cleaning robot that removes trash. One mission by this real-life WALL-E on a pre-cleaned beach unearthed 2,000 pieces of plastic.

US Forest Service and Sensus R.A.D. Trails opened a new all-levels mountain biking trail on a rehabilitated logging road on Upper Tyrolean trail above Incline Village.

The Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has released the Nevada Trail Finder, a free, web-based mapping resource that details thousands of miles of trails across Nevada’s public lands and waterways.

Heritage Park’s construction fencing was recently whisked away after months of delays. “The construction work is completed at Heritage Park,” confirmed El Dorado Hills Community Services District General Manager Kevin Loewen.

The Tahoe Fund and EarthViews have created the first “street view” style map of all 72 miles of Lake Tahoe’s shoreline. This new, interactive map offers a 360-degree view of the shoreline, as well as underwater views and water quality data.

The El Dorado County Board of Supervisors has approved a preliminary design for a community park in Diamond Springs. Concerns from residents and county leaders include traffic congestion and noise.

The California Tahoe Conservancy has awarded the following grants to support environmental education and expand equitable access to Lake Tahoe’s beaches, trails, and mountains: Adventure Risk Challenge ($100,000), the Gateway Mountain Center ($150,000), Lake Tahoe Unified School District ($99,000) and the Tahoe Rim Trail Association ($100,000).