Alpine

With more than $100 million in revitalization efforts this year, a mountain of changes are underway at Tahoe South, the “No. 1 Ski Destination” (USA Today 2014), providing more upscale lodging, entertainment, shopping, skiing and outdoor recreation for the 2014-15 winter season.

The resort-to-recreation renaissance includes the planned winter opening of the $60 million remodel of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe, $24 million remodel of MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa, $3 million at Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel and $15 million for the Château shopping center across from Heavenly Village.

Here is this week's fishing report for rivers, lakes and streams in Nevada and Northern California. This report is for the week of Oct. 15-21, 2014.

The nomination period for the 2014 Blue Ribbon Awards ended on Friday, Oct. 10. TahoeChamber’s prestigious awards program that recognizes exceptional South Shore businesses received over 175 nominations for eight separate award categories. The finalists and winners will be announced at the 7th Annual Blue Ribbon Awards dinner and ceremony on November 13 at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe. Tickets for the awards ceremony are now available for purchase at www.tahoechamber.org.

Congratulations to the 2014 Blue Ribbon Awards nominees:

Hello fellow anglers, time to get out and enjoy some fall fishing. Now for those who do not fish, take a trip up to Alpine County just to see the fall colors. Highway 88 up to Caples Lake or highway 89 through Markleeville, up to Monitor Pass, and please don't forget your camera. For those you who do fish, here is your local report:

SILVER LAKE:  

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of Oct. 13-19, 2014: Street sealing will continue between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. from Monday, Oct. 13, through Wednesday, Oct. 15, in an area bounded by Hells Bells and Carson River Roads on the north and west abd Marsh and Buzzys Ranch Roads on the south and east.

Each year, the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection works in partnership with other public agencies, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations to provide students with a unique opportunity to learn about local water quality issues, water quality protection, and to participate in watershed research.

These field studies provide a unique hands-on opportunity to learn about the Carson River watershed and the natural environment.

Tahoe Cheese Company of Carson City is one of three area food producers to receive federal grant money to expand production and market their Northern Nevada products, the USDA announced Thursday. McCleary Ranch, north of Carson City in Washoe County and the Frey Ranch Estate Distillery of Fallon were also approved for Value-Added Producer Grants.

This is my annual reminder to enjoy the colorful displays of the leaves on Quaking Aspen trees, also known as "quakies" at this time of the year. Last Saturday, Elaine and I took a drive to Hope Valley, Calif., to see those colors and they are different this year, as compared to the past.

This year, and, obviously, due to the prolonged drought we have been experiencing, the leaves are not as vibrant as in previous years. In fact, there is an interesting mix of no leaves, green leaves and yellow leaves, often in the very same grove of quakies.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of Oct. 6-12, 2014. The Nevada Department of Transportation will be continuing road work on Highway 50 from Arrowhead Drive in Carson City to Baldwine Lane in Mound House.

There will be single lane closures on weeknights from 1 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. in the westbound direction and from 7 p.m. to 11 a.m. in the eastbound direction.

Hello fellow anglers, Renee and I have been on a fishing adventure across California. We spent most of last week on a friend's boat located near the San Joaquin river, just out of Rio Vista.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of Sept. 29 to Oct. 5, 2014. Street sealing will occur weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with minor delays expected in the following areas:

UPDATE SATURDAY: The Sierra received anywhere from 3 to 6 inches of snow overnight. Go here for a photo gallery of Lake Tahoe ski resorts getting snow on their mountains.
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The Cascade Fire burning near Snow Lake on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe continues to hold at 30 acres as of Thursday afternoon, according to the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. The wildfire is located entirely in the Desolation Wilderness. No structures are threatened.

A band of rain showers is moving through northern California and approaching the King Fire Thursday morning, according to the National Weather Service. Some light rain and higher humidity will likely decrease fire activity, meaning much less smoke, if any, will pass east of the Sierra Crest.

UPDATE THURSDAY 9AM: A wildfire above Cascade Lake on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe reported late Wednesday afternoon continues to burn, and the size is now reported at 30 acres as of this morning, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The fire is burning in the Snow Lake area of the Desolation Wilderness near Emerald Bay. This wildfire is not related to the King Fire currently burning west of Lake Tahoe.

Due to the ongoing drought, limited water in the Carson River impacts fish and wildlife habitats, especially by the end of summer. To enhance flows along the West Fork of the Carson River, the Carson Water Subconservancy District is utilizing their storage water rights to supplement water in the watershed.

A 36-year-old Carson City man was jailed Saturday night, admitting to using a handgun to fire shots outside his Dori Way residence. Bladimir Belerra-Estrada faces a felony charge of possessing a firearm without proper citizenship status, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of discharging a firearm in a residential area.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of Sept. 22-28, 2014. Robinson Street between Curry and Carson Streets will be open in an eastbound direction only on Monday, Sept. 22, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The road will be closed in both directions on Tuesday, Sept. 23, and Thursday, Sept. 24, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Detours will be provided.

The following news release is from North Tahoe Fire Protection District Fire Chief Michael Schwartz and Meeks Bay Fire Protection District Chief Tim Alameda regarding the King Fire burning in El Dorado County. This announcement was forwarded Thursday evening by the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit public information officer:

Tahoe Residents and Visitors, There are No Evacuations at this present time

Here is the Carson City area road report for Sept. 15-21, 2014. Beginning Monday through Thursday the Carson City I-580 Freeway will have a single lane closure in the northbound direction due to maintenance between Fairview Drive and Carson Street from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. During this time, the speed limit will be reduced to 55 mph.

Fall is that time of the year when there are a multitude of all kinds of interesting outdoor activities in this general area of the Far West. Here is a listing of some of the fall activities that might be of interest:

Apple Hill, California.
Basque Festival in Carson City.
Candy Dance in Genoa.
Celtic Celebration in Reno.
Closing of the 2014 fishing seasons at Fort Churchill Cooling Ponds, Hinkson Slough, Hobart Reservoir, Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area, North Pond and Topaz Lake in Nevada.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of Sept. 8-14, 2014. Beginning Monday, Sept. 8, through Thursday, Sept. 11, I-580 (Carson City Freeway) will have a single lane closure in the southbound direction due to maintenance between Carson Street and US 50 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. During this time, the speed limit will be reduced to 55 mph.

The second Free Fishing Day in 2014 in California will be this Saturday, Sept. 6. The first was way back on Saturday, July 5. On Saturday you will be able to fish wherever you like without the need to buy a fishing license.
However remember that you will need to abide by the rules and regulations that govern whatever waters you will be fishing.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of Sept. 2-7, 2014. Crews will be striping roadways throughout the city weekdays between the hours of 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Minor delays are expected on roadways that are being striped while the work occurs.

Waves that would do Oahu's famous north shore proud could likely be expected at Lake Tahoe during an epic winter storm, scientists conclude in new research.

Winds and storms often push Tahoe's azure waters into sizable waves several feet high that hammer the landmark alpine lake's shoreline in a seascape-like scene.

Hello fellow anglers, welcome to Labor Day weekend. It seems as though the summer flew by again, and here we are going into September. Last week Renee and I spent a few days in Alpine County. We set up base camp at the Carson River Resort. The resort is centralized in the area we enjoy fishing the most. We started on the East Carson River and worked our way up to Wolf Creek and Silver Creek. The water flows have slowed down but are still very fishable.

Public comments are being accepted on a draft environmental impact report for Heavenly Mountain Resort’s Epic Discovery Project until Tuesday, October 21, 2014.

The U.S. Forest Service, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, and Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board directed the preparation of a joint environmental document for the project, located at the Heavenly Mountain Resort in El Dorado, Alpine and Douglas counties.

Monday, Sept. 1 will be the last chance to receive the early-season rate on Lake Tahoe Local, Tahoe Value, and Epic season passes — all of which offer access to Heavenly Mountain, Kirkwood and Northstar California resorts.

Here is the Carson City area road report for the week of August 25-31. The Nevada Department of Transportation will be continuing road work on Highway 50 from Arrowhead Drive in Carson City to Baldwine Lane in Mound House. There will be single lane closures on weeknights from 1 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. in the westbound direction and from 7 p.m. to 11 a.m. in the eastbound direction.

On Monday, August 25, Telegraph Street will be closed to through traffic between Division Street and Minnesota Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Welcome back to another week of Senator Square, all news about students, staff and events at Carson High School. If you have information you’d like the community to know about in relation to CHS, please contact me agolik@carson.k12.nv.us.

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