By Kathryn Reed

As if Mother Nature hadn’t taken away most of the sand in Tahoe via a full lake, now the state of California is cutting off what little access remains in parts of the South Shore.

The Upper Truckee Marsh and the beach below where the Alta Mira building used to be adjacent to Lakeview Commons became off-limits effective June 28. When that policy might be lifted is anyone’s guess.

It’s all about protecting sensitive habitat and erosion concerns.

The new rules are happening days before the basin’s busiest week of the year. The California Tahoe Conservancy, which owns the land, is laying down these rules – not the city of South of Lake Tahoe.

“Generally, people will need to get wet to access the closed areas and they are not the most desirable beach locations,” Nick Meyer with the California Tahoe Conservancy told Lake Tahoe News. “There isn’t really much beach to access, especially near the Alta Mira site. The stretches where the beaches are largest will still be open to access.”

The Upper Truckee Marsh area is not entirely cordoned off, but a large swath is no longer open to the public.

“The Upper Truckee Marsh is the largest remaining wetland in Lake Tahoe. It hosts several special status bird species and the largest remaining population of Tahoe yellow cress in the world. The habitat for this endemic plant has become very limited as a result of the high lake level,” Meyer said.

If people don’t comply, consequences will be handled on a case-by-case basis. The CTC board at its meeting earlier this month entered into an agreement for the California Highway Patrol to work its properties.

“We will use temporary fencing, signage, staff patrols, education, and law enforcement patrols,” Meyer said of how the agency plans to enforce this new edict.

According to Meyer, the following are potential laws people would violate if they disregard the signs:

·      California Penal Code involving damaging plants on state property;

·      South Lake Tahoe code dealing with closed park areas;

·      City code involving tampering with signs and landscaping;

·      City code banning removal of natural resources;

·      City code about injury to or removal of plants.

However, according to city officials, the city ordinances are not applicable on state property.