Project includes next phase of East Shore bike path
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif., Jan. 24, 2020 – The USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) issued a draft decision for proposed improvements to the Highway 28 corridor from Sand Harbor to Spooner Junction on Lake Tahoe’s East Shore. The draft decision incorporates Alternative 2 of the Proposed Action and is subject to the pre-decisional objection process (36 CFR 218.5). Objections will only be accepted from those who submitted project-specific written comments during the designated comment period. Objections must be submitted within 45 days following the publication of the legal notice in the Tahoe Daily Tribune on Jan. 24, 2020.
“The Highway 28 improvement project represents the culmination of an extensive multi-agency planning effort aimed at improving public safety, recreational sustainability and community enjoyment along the East Shore,” said LTBMU Forest Supervisor, Jeff Marsolais. “We are excited to build on the momentum of the new East Shore trail with this next important connection.”
Project-specific activities would improve highway safety and infrastructure; summer recreational access; water, air and scenic quality; and increase non-motorized access to the SR-28 corridor.
Project-specific improvements would include construction of a new shared-use pathway; connection of pedestrian trails in six locations; addition of parking spaces at four sites; construction of emergency pull-outs and vista points along the highway; installation of storm water capture and infiltration features; installation of a new effluent pipeline and fiber optic cable; and construction of a new aquatic invasive species (AIS) inspection station.
The project proposal was developed, designed and will be implemented in coordination with partners that include California and Nevada state parks, Nevada Department of Transportation, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and the Tahoe Transportation District.
The draft Decision Notice/Finding of No Significant Impact is available on the LTBMU projects webpage at https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=52969. Documents can be found under the “Project Documents” heading. To submit an objection, find the “Get Connected” heading on the right-side of the webpage, then select the “Comment/Object on Project” link. You must have commented during the designated comment period to submit an objection. Objections must be submitted or posted by 11:59 p.m. on March 9, 2020 (PDT).
For more information on the project, contact Mike Gabor at 530-543-2642.
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The mission of the U.S. Forest Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the nation’s clean water supply, a value estimated at $7.2 billion per year. The agency has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of the 850 million forested acres within the U.S., of which 100 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
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