Outdoors

With wildfire threatening many areas surrounding Lake Tahoe this summer, members of the Washoe Tribe have embarked on a project to integrate use of their tribe’s traditional knowledge into current land management strategies to restore Tahoe’s Meeks Meadows, an area of cultural significance to the tribe.

Wild horses seen here roaming around Washoe Valley.

The fall colors have me itching to plant bulbs, so I’m going shopping for daffodil bulbs. I love to see their bright flowers in the spring after a dreary grey winter. An added plus is that the ground squirrels leave them alone, not like the tulips, which the squirrels love to eat.

INCLINE VILLAGE — The scientific community around Lake Tahoe is buzzing after an amazing discovery by the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science. The non-profit organization was hosting a citizen science event in June in the Donner Lake area when participants discovered a Spiny Baskettail (Epitheca spinigera) dragonfly. The species was first discovered in the region more than 100 years ago but had not been seen here since.

Hello fellow anglers. Mother nature did not waste any time did she? When It's fall, she just hits a switch to cold, and here we are.

Here in the Carson Valley we got as low as 23 degrees. For those souls in Bridgeport, the temperatures got down to 13 degrees. Time to get out the big coats and maybe some long underwear for those cold morning fishing trips.

Due to ongoing drought conditions and low water levels at Fallen Leaf Lake causing dry conditions in Taylor Creek, the Fall Fish Festival, held annually at the Lake Tahoe Forest Service visitor center, has been canceled. The festival was also canceled in 2020 due to COVID concerns.

Nice group of horses on BLM land southeast of Dayton.

Quail around Carson City are not easy to capture photographically as they always seem to be on the run. This photo of a few of them perched on a fence Tuesday was taken moments before they scattered off.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency has awarded funding to seven critical transportation projects across the Tahoe Region that will reduce congestion, expand regional trails, provide free transit, support sustainable recreation and tourism, assist with Caldor Fire recovery work, improve lake clarity, and create climate resiliency, the agency announced Monday.

A black bear was spotted in a plum tree on the west side of Carson City on Monday, Sept. 27, 2021 at the corner of Thompson and Elm streets. He rested in the tree for over an hour until coming down around 2 p.m. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

The sunset Monday evening creates a "Sierra Wave" over the area.

As Northern Nevada families are looking for closer-to-home options for Fall Break travel with kids, Nevada offers a variety of fun and educational ‘near’cations. Travel Nevada has ideas for making memories in our own backyard, including exploring ghost towns, heading out after dark to soak in the stellar skies, or attending the wacky Outhouse Races in Virginia City.

Sunrise over the Pine Nut mountains.

Bird life Monday on the Carson River arriving and departing.

Fall colors are definitely not just in the trees but everything you see. Carson City is brimming with fabulous Autumn colors. These wildflowers were found Sunday along the walking paths in West Carson City. The Rabbit sagebrush blooms are beautiful too. Get out there and explore!

Growing giant pumpkin is a passion for some gardeners. The author in this blog reports touring giant pumpkin growers in Utah. One pumpkin weighed 1,500 pounds, growing 60 pounds per day. He expected that pumpkin might reach 2,000 pounds by season’s end.

CARSON CITY — Nevada leaders are excited to announce the U.S. Economic Development Administration is providing a $160,000 grant to the Nevada-based Great Basin Institute to establish the nation’s first-ever professional recreation trail building school in Ely, Nevada.

Carson River reflections in first morning light Tuesday.

Harvest Moon taken Tuesday, Sept. 21 at around 9:15 p.m.

The Carson River and morning light create a beautiful painting.

The 2021-2022 fishing season will begin on Friday, Oct. 1 at Pyramid Lake, according to a press release by Tribe Chairwoman Janet Davis.

Outdoor recreation across Nevada is the topic of conversation at the next Rotary Club of Carson City meeting. Colin Robertson, the Administrator for the Nevada Department of Conservation and Resources’ Outdoor Recreation Division, will be the guest speaker.

A Carson City west side neighborhood had a visitor early Saturday morning. The bear jumped fences and climbed a tree along the same property.

The sunset lined up Saturday night to capture this shot from the Lompa Ranch and looking at our famous C Hill.

I’m a bit perplexed. I used to advise weaning trees off their summer water routine towards the end of August, so that they could be acclimated and hardened off before the September freezes. Now, it’s the end of September and I’m just beginning to think about getting plants, particularly trees, ready for the cold.

Smoke-free, cool winds and beautiful clouds make for a breathtaking Sunday morning sunrise from North Carson City.

UPDATE Sept. 21: Closures are in place due to the Tamarack Fire, through Nov. 30.

CARSON RIVER EAST FORK: The portion of the river accessed by BLM managed lands, from Carson River Resort to the CA/NV state line is CLOSED. This includes Hangman's Bridge area.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR: The East side of the reservoir, and all lands surrounding the reservoir is CLOSED.

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Hello fellow anglers. There is a lot going on with the west coast this year.

CARSON CITY — Nevada residents and visitors are invited to celebrate Nevada Public Lands Day on Saturday, Sept. 25 with a “fee-free” day at Nevada’s State Parks. Park fees, including entrance, camping (Saturday night) and boating, where applicable, will be waived at state parks throughout Nevada.

Squaw Valley ski resort officials announced Monday they are changing the name of the world-renowned resort near Truckee to 'Palisades Tahoe' after a year-long process. Officials changed the name to remove the word 'squaw,' which is considered offensive as an ethnic and sexual slur for Indigenous North American women.

My friend sent me a photo of an insect to identify. The photo was of the common, prolific pests of elm trees, elm leaf beetles. If you have elm trees, most likely you have these beetles. They go together like ash trees and aphids.