DO WE NEED TO PASS THE HAT TO HELP ROYAL GORGE LLC THIN THEIR FORESTS TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY?

Here's a paste from Saturday's e-edition of the Sierra Sun. As it's pretty clear after Royal Gorge's forestry talk on Saturday that they're not planning on clearing out all their kindling until after their EIR, despite the fact their lands have about 700 trees per acre (mostly small, scrub), instead of 100-300, maybe we need to start raising the issue with Cox, Kranz, and (for what it's worth, Doolittle.) Kevin Whitlock, Royal Gorge's forestry consultant, had suggested we start calling TNF's, and our representatives attention to the state of our local public forests, but he was a bit tongue tied about what we should do about his employer's lands, which present a clear and present danger to both our community, and our water supply-- the consequences of a fire would be disastrous for our lakes. It seems like our fire safety is being held hostage to their development. I wonder why they didn't follow through with their plans to clear out in 2007? Was it because they found out the trees were going to have to go to a different mill, and so they only broke even, or had to spend some money? Maybe we should all pass the hat to help them be better stewards of their land, and the safety of our community.

Saturday, August 9, Sierra Sun 

Lake Tahoe and wildfire meetings set 

Three days before the annual Tahoe Summit, state, federal and local lawmakers will gather to dis cuss wildfire.

In the wake of California’s most costly spate of wildfires, congress men, state legislators, rural com munity leaders and residents will be in Sacramento brainstorming ways to reduce future catastrophic wildfires. 

The bi-partisan meeting will be held Aug. 13, and aims to find “common sense solutions to reduce forest fuels and better land man agement practices,” according to a release from State Sen. Dave Cox, who represents the Truckee-Tahoe area. 

Expected to attend are Rep. John Doolittle; state Sen. Sam Aanestad; Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa and Assemblyman Rick Keene, who represents Truckee. 

Meanwhile, on Aug. 16, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will host the 12th Annual Lake Tahoe Summit at Valhalla Estate on Tahoe’s South Shore.  Feinstein is expected to announce new federal legislation intended to protect the lake and surrounding Tahoe Basin. 

At the first Lake Tahoe Summit in 1997, President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore unveiled a sweeping plan to protect Lake Tahoe and the Basin. It included efforts to restore the lake’s steadily declining water clarity, and to reduce the risk of fire by thinning forests of dangerous fuels such as shrubs and dead trees. 

— Sun staff report