Placer County Parks & Recreation Digest

With an increase in visitors expected this year, Auburn State Recreation Area is doubling its staff of swift-water lifeguards this year. The program began last year and was the first of its kind in California. A lifeguard tower is also being added to Lake Clementine this year to reduce safety risks in that area.

The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is reaching out to both the general community and fellow agencies to seek input on the environmental review of the Meeks Bay Restoration Project. The goal is to return the area into a more natural state while still accommodating recreation.

Auburn Area Recreation and Parks District is experiencing a lifeguard shortage for the second year in a row, which will prevent public pools from opening to the community for weekend swim sessions. Until further notice, public swim is only on weekdays.

The Placer County Board of Supervisors approved a master plan that provides a 20-year vision for park and recreation development, doubling recreation acreage by 2040 and tripling trail miles.

Placer County Water Agency recently issued its 2022 recreational water release schedule, as well as campground information for the Middle Fork American River Project. The county is adjusting to the driest January-March on record.

The Rocklin City Council voted to change parks and recreation development impact fees for the first time in two decades. Fees will be based on unit-size ranges rather than categories based on the type of development.

Due to continued low water levels, the Sand Harbor boat ramp will remain closed for the summer. Beginning on May 27, the parking lot will be opened to provide limited parking for vehicles with kayaks and paddleboards.

After 16-year-old Scotty Lapp died tragically in a ski accident on Feb. 13, his idea of a local skateboard park began to take on momentum. Scotty’s mother has been working with a group of his North Tahoe High School friends to make the skateboard park a reality.

Residents can now use their library cards to check out day passes for free access to more than 200 state parks. The move is part of a collaboration between California State Parks and the California State Library to provide more equitable outdoor access for all Californians.

The California Tahoe Conservancy has announced $1,005,800 in grants to government agencies in Placer and El Dorado counties. The grants will support projects to expand public access to Lake Tahoe, improve water quality, and increase resilience to climate change.

As part of its Reexamining Our Past Initiative, California State Parks is seeking input on a proposal to change the way history is interpreted at Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park. The effort will provide visitors with more inclusive and historically accurate information.

According to a Placer County news release, a newly introduced ordinance—Camping and Personal Property Storage on County Property and Public Areas—aims to regulate camping and storage on county property where signage is posted and allows camping by necessity when shelter is not available.

The Auburn Area Recreation and Parks District is asking the public for suggestions on names for the “24 Acre” property and associated Regional “C” baseball field as it begins the process of improving the property.

Placer County hosted a virtual town hall to inform residents about the final draft of the Parks and Trails Master Plan. According to a county news release, the plan is a culmination of a five-year process to reflect the recreational needs of Placer communities.

The Resort Triangle trail network, Martis Valley Trail and a scenic overlook were among 12 projects approved by the Placer County Board of Supervisors for approximately $3.2 million in transient occupancy tax funding.

Placer Land Trust has added to its preservation of the North Fork of the American River. Eleven acres has been added to its Bailey North Fork Preserve.

Auburn State Recreation Area has expanded access to China Bar to seven days a week. The roads have been improved, which allows for the area to avoid issues like wet weather closures.

The Roseville City Council has approved a master plan for Sierra Vista Park. The park will cost $2.5 million, and contain 8 acres in the growing Sierra Vista neighborhood.

The Placer County Board of Supervisors has granted $60,000 to the Auburn Recreation and Parks District for playground improvements to Meadow Vista Park—a welcome piece of news for area families.

The grand opening of the Auburn Bike Park on Nov. 7 marked the end of an eight-year process. Attendees enjoyed vendors, beer on tap from the Station Public House, and food by Carol’s Market. An estimated 400-500 people attended.

The North Tahoe Public Utility District is seeking applicants for two alternate positions. The selected candidates will serve the district's Recreation and Parks Commission. Residents and business owners are welcome to apply.

The Placer County Board of Supervisors has approved a grant application for recreational improvements near Yankee Jims Road.

California State Parks officials approved a plan on Sept. 30 to expand public access to the Auburn State Recreational Area by allowing more campsites.

Despite local concern over increased fire risks, the California State Parks and Recreation Commission voted unanimously to adopt a general plan for the Auburn State Recreation Area that provides long-term management direction for the 30,000-acre state park.

After a century of private ownership, Johnson Meadow is now public land. The Tahoe Resource Conservation District will host a webinar about the restoration project and would like to hear from South Lake Tahoe residents in particular.

The Caldor Fire spared many homes and buildings in the Tahoe basin, but several recreation areas were hit hard. Groups such as the Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association and Tahoe Rim Trail Association are getting ready to repair damaged trails.

Though much of the U.S. Forest Service lands have reopened, the Eldorado National Forest emergency closure will continue due to ongoing hazards associated with the Caldor Fire.

Roseville celebrates the long-awaited completion of Harry Crabb Park with a grand opening ceremony. In attendance will be the park’s namesake: former mayor Crabb, who served on the Roseville City Council from 1980 to 2000.

The Caldor Fire pushed deeper into the Lake Tahoe basin Tuesday, as firefighters worked to protect structures and control the mega-fire. New evacuation order were issued for Alpine County and Nevada’s Douglas County.

With fires roaring across California, the USDA Forest Service is closing all 20 million acres of the state’s national forests to public access for two weeks. The Forest Service said the closure will extend through at least Sept. 17.

After completing the California State Route 89 Corridor Management Plan, officials identified the creation of a multi-use trail along the lake’s southwest shoreline as a high priority need. The planning process has now begun, kicking off with an informational webinar at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 14.

After more than 16 years with the city of Rocklin, Kevin Huntzinger has been officially promoted to the job he’s been doing since the fall of 2020. Huntzinger has worked for Rocklin Parks and Recreation in 2005, holding progressively more responsible roles within the department.