By Jeff DeLong, Reno Gazette-Journal

Quagga mussels could survive and reproduce in Lake Tahoe’s waters, particularly in places where a different aquatic invader is already present and where algae is flourishing in shallow waters, a new study suggests.

Research conducted by scientists from University of Nevada, Reno and the Desert Research Institute confirms earlier work that indicates adult quagga mussels can live in Tahoe’s water and that successful reproduction can occur and juvenile mussels survive to repeat the cycle as adults.

Experts had hoped low calcium levels in the landmark alpine lake might help protect Tahoe from major infestations of the type in Southern Nevada’s Lake Mead and other water bodies around the country. It appears that’s not the case.

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• Lake Tahoe News is looking for freelance writers to cover issues throughout the Lake Tahoe Basin and Truckee. If interested, mail resume and writing samples to info@LakeTahoeNews.net with “freelancer” in the subject line.

• The Bicycle Advisory Committee of the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Facilities Joint Powers Authority is meeting March 6 from 9-11am at Lake Tahoe Airport.

• Nevada gained an estimated 42,334 people from July 2013 to July 2014, according to the state Demographer’s Office. This is about 1.5 percent, about equivalent to the increase of 1.8 percent the prior year, but higher than the 2011-12 period when the state grew by 1 percent.

• Duane Whitelaw is now general manager of the North Tahoe Public Utility District.

• Job seekers in El Dorado County and across the Sacramento region are invited to attend the Tri-County Job Fair on March 13 from 9am-1pm at the Folsom Community Center, 52 Natoma St. in Folsom. It will feature 65 local employers. For info, go online.

Serena Caplins, a doctorate student at the UC Davis studying population biology, will present From Summits to Seas: Understanding Evolution through the Study of Butterflies and Ribbon Worms on March 12 at 6pm at Lake Tahoe Community College.

She will explore how a variety of techniques and disciplines, including genetics and ecology, are used by evolutionary biologists in their efforts to describe and understand animal diversity.

This LTCC Speaker Spotlight Series is free and open to the public.

By Alexei Koseff, Sacramento Bee

The standoff between state officials and the University of California over its finances and admissions policy grew tense Tuesday as the university threatened to limit enrollment of California students next year unless it receives more money from the state.

UC President Janet Napolitano told an Assembly budget subcommittee that the university will cap in-state enrollment at current levels while continuing to increase the number of nonresident students, pending the outcome of budget negotiations with Gov. Jerry Brown.

“We will not not be admitting students that we don’t know that we actually have funding for,” Napolitano said.

Democratic Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins slammed the plan, expressing frustration over “UC’s latest attempt to use students as bargaining chips.”

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Nine members of the Tahoe Cross Country competition team will compete March 9-15 at Junior Nationals at Auburn Ski Club.

This is the first time that any TXC athlete will compete. Nine athletes were named to the Far West Junior National Team. To get where they are today, these young athletes put in hundreds of hours rollerskiing, running, hiking and skiing over the last year.

Cam Goldstone has made some extraordinary improvements over the course of the year. In the last handful of weeks he has really come into his own. His top end speed is extraordinary, and his ability to push through trying conditions is elite. He’s one of a very select few athletes at JNs who will be hoping for slow challenging conditions — where the mentally strong are separated from the rest.

Cooper Anderson is the youngest member of TXC going to Junior Nationals. This typically would be irrelevant, but the selection procedures for qualifying as a “U14” to race as a “U16” are much more difficult. Typically athletes must finish within 10 percent of the “standard time,” but Cooper, as a younger athlete, had to finish within 1 percent. He met and exceeded that challenge several times. As for Cooper the skier, he knows how to “hop V1” better than anyone in the region.

JC Schoonmaker is, in many ways, the team leader. Despite being in ninth grade, he carries himself professionally, and he is always looking out for his teammates. Turns out he’s a pretty fast ski racer, too. This year he is just starting to figure out exactly how fast he can be. JC’s “V2” is just about as efficient as it comes.

Max Roske is emblematic of the team. He is relatively new to ski racing, and getting faster at a terrifying rate. He also knows how to persevere. On his first day rollerskiing he had a scary crash. Most people would be done at that point, but the next week he was back – and it’s paid off.

Nate Cutler has a serious need for speed. His top gear is as good as anyone’s. Cutler knows how fast he wants to be and is piecing together exactly what he needs to do to get there. He knows better than just about anyone his age when it’s time to rest and when it’s time to press.

Quinn Lehmkuhl is best explained by the term “Quiet Fire.” She isn’t smack-talking her competitors, she doesn’t finish races or intervals heaving and collapsing to make a scene. She simply takes care of business.

Sofia Sanchez has the will and endurance of anyone, but to just talk about her motor is to ignore her incredible technique improvements over the year. People should fear her efficiency.

Tara Gallant is a no-nonsense athlete who also enjoys a good game of blob-tag. Her V1 is top notch, and her focus and drive are world class. Watching her in an interval session is like watching a professional, she knows exactly what needs to be accomplished and she does it.

Ursula Volz is a beautiful skier. Whether it’s her ability to glide, apply power, change gears, increase the tempo, or ski smoothly, she really has very few weaknesses. Unfortunately much of her season has been derailed by sickness, and yet she was still able to qualify for JNs – that’s a testament to the kind of athlete that she is.

— Provided to Lake Tahoe News

By Trevon Milliard, Reno Gazette-Journal

Nevada school districts now have the authority to issue 10-year bonds without voter approval, according to an emergency bill passed by the Assembly and signed into law by Gov. Brian Sandoval on Wednesday.

The law change will provide an estimated $20 million a year to Washoe County School District to build new schools and renovate existing campuses over the next decade, not to mention also providing a multimillion-dollar funding source to districts around the state for the same cause.

The emergency bill, Senate Bill 207, was a quick replacement Tuesday for Senate Bill 119, which was stalled in the Assembly because of another provision that would have dropped the requirement that workers be paid prevailing wages for school construction projects.

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By KTVU

A destructive insect that could have serious adverse impacts for wineries and agricultural water use was discovered in Marin County last week, county officials said Wednesday.

An official with the Marin County Department of Agriculture found a glassy-winged sharpshooter last Thursday while inspecting a shipment from a nursery in Ventura County, according to county officials.

That shipment has since been returned, but the name of the nursery that sent it is being withheld to prevent unwanted attention, according to the Department of Agriculture.

The glassy-winged sharpshooter is known to feed on more than 300 plants, including grapevines and almond trees, many of which are found in Northern California. Apples, blackberries and eucalyptus trees are also among the affected species of plants.

Once attached to a host plant, the glassy-winged sharpshooter can drain 200 to 300 times its own body weight in water every day. A tree that has been heavily infested can lose 10 to 15 gallons of fluid each day, requiring farmers to significantly increase irrigation, according to the Department of Agriculture.

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By Kathryn Reed

Cycling enthusiasts aren’t waiting for South Lake Tahoe officials to figure out how and when to put in a bike park at Bijou Community Park. The mound of dirt sitting there is already a feature of sorts. But that’s not exactly why it’s there.

The 400-cubic-yards of dirt came from the Harrison Avenue project. It will be moved – possibly this summer – to another location in the park to construct what will be a 5-acre bike park with two pump tracks and a BMX track in the center.

Bike parks attract all ages and ability levels. For those new to the sport or not quite ready for some of the gnarly trails the banks and features at the park are a way to speed up the learning process. They are also where cyclists might end their day after riding the trails.

These types of parks are growing in popularity and help lure tourists to an area. Mountain bikers, like other athletes, are willing to spend good money on their sport.

Outdoor Foundation did a study in 2010 that all cyclists annually contribute $133 billion to the U.S. economy. Of that, $46.9 billion is spent on expenses related to cycling trips.

Bijou Bike Park may be built this year. Rendering/Design Workshop

It is possible South Lake Tahoe will have such a park by the end of the summer.

The bike park has been talked about since 2011. The nonprofit Bijou Bike Park Association was formed to be the main force behind the project. The group has come up with a design, more than half of the needed money to build it, a professional builder and a ton of enthusiasm.

Twenty-two people spoke at the March 3 City Council meeting – all in favor of the park. About that many also wrote letters of support.

However, a couple hiccups have arisen that are preventing the park from being a done deal.

Originally, BBPA and the city were going to enter a lease agreement. Because of the cost of liability insurance and needing to acquire coverage per Tahoe Regional Planning Agency rules, it is now going to be a city run bike park with BBPA providing assistance with construction and maintenance.

TRPA claims the city is putting in 32,000 square feet of new coverage – even though it’s dirt. Coverage regulations are something the bi-state regulatory agency came up with as a way to deal with erosion issues. The city could borrow from its bank of coverage or come up with the more than $60,000 for the mitigation fee – which is paid to TRPA. Staff is leaning toward the latter so the banked coverage could be used for a commercial project such as renovating the recreation center.

It’s also possible the coverage the school district is using for the current BMX track could be transferred to the city.

Taking out a permit will trigger the immediate requirement to bring the restrooms up to the Americans with Disability Act specifications. While this was on the city’s to-do list, it wasn’t slated for this construction season. That cost is estimated at $25,000.

At Tuesday’s meeting the city was told in addition to the $100,000 already pledged to the bike park, another $86,241 is needed in cash and about $35,000 in in-kind services that would include staff time for planning and moving the dirt. The total project is estimated to be $511,000.

Some trees will need to be removed. Irrigation will be put in to dampen the course so dust is not an issue. An electrical conduit will be established so in the future lights could be installed. Bleachers are possible down the road. (The disc golf area will not be affected.)

BBPA has been talking with Lake Tahoe Community College to possibly use its parking lots when events are staged at the park.

The BMX track pays LTUSD 20 percent of gross revenues, so some sort of contract would be devised between that group and the city. Last year the BMX group hosted an event that brought 300 competitors to the area. This year a different event is expected to draw 500 to 600 riders.

Lake Tahoe Unified School District wants to use its land where the current BMX track is for a ball field at South Tahoe Middle School so that facility needs to move. The new BMX track would be 900 feet; 100 feet longer than the current one.

Still to be worked out are the legal issues regarding volunteers working on city property and liability issues for the city if someone is hurt. Garrett Villanueva, trails specialist with the U.S. Forest Service, explained to the council how the feds have an arrangement so volunteers are covered under their workers’ comp insurance.

Councilmembers Austin Sass and Tom Davis (who was absent because of an illness) make up the city’s recreation implementation subcommittee. They will meet next week with BBPA and city recreation commission members to iron out some details, while the city attorney works on legal ramifications.

—–

Notes:

• Bijou Bike Park Association has a website with information, a way for people to make donations and to get involved.

To the community,

Attending her first Bread & Broth dinner, Mary Cooper, a supervisor of guest services at Heavenly Mountain Resort, was very moved by her volunteering experience.

“Really enjoyed being a part of something that benefits those in our community,” she said. “It was actually fun and the volunteers are great. Really looking forward to the next time.”

On Feb. 23, Heavenly Mountain Resort was the Adopt A Day of Nourishment sponsor for B&B’s evening dinner at St. Theresa Church Grace Hall.

Fellow Heavenly associates helping Cooper serve the evening’s 112 guests were Jolena Hearn, assistant manager, guest services; Kelly Carmichael, product sales and service manager; Chris Barbar, assistant manager scanning; and Paul Hopkins, product sales and service, director.

As a nonprofit, all volunteer organization, B&B appreciates Vail’s EpicPromise grant program that funds a monthly B&B meal and guarantees that a great sponsor crew from the ranks of Heavenly employees will be volunteering alongside B&B volunteers to serve the hungry of the community.

“It is a great feeling to know that I am a part of a community that gives to others in need,” said Chris Barbar.

B&B is very grateful for and welcomes the support we receive from the Heavenly Mountain Resort community.

To help B&B as a donor or sponsor, contact me at 530.542-2876 or carolsgerard@aol.com.

Carol Gerard, Bread & Broth

The Maloff medical facility could open in 2017. Rendering/Provided

If people didn’t know the Maloff name, they will now.

The second significant building in South Lake Tahoe is going to have their name on it. Next up is the Robert Maloff Center of Excellence.

The Barton Foundation was given $10 million to build a health and sports performance center just behind Barton Memorial Hospital near the emergency room. Talks have been under way since last summer to bring this donation to fruition.

This is part of Barton Health’s overall master plan that will delve into what the healthcare organization wants to be in the future. In the last several years it has bought various medical practices and has started to have the bulk of its facilities be near the hospital. This also will tie into what the city is doing with the Tahoe Valley Area Plan. In that plan is a separate medical niche.

The other significant donation by Lisa Maloff came last fall when she gave Lake Tahoe Community College nearly $6 million to build the university center that will bear the Maloff name.

Maloff’s late husband, Bob, co-owned and operated Lake Tahoe Inn and Timber Cove Lodge in South Lake Tahoe. Plus, he had other significant real estate dealings. He died in 2011 at the age of 90.

Lisa Maloff, who still resides in South Lake Tahoe, was a founding member of the Barton Hospital Auxiliary. Promoting wellness, activity, and fitness in the community have long been goals of the Maloffs. Building this center will carry those beliefs further.

The donation will fund what is likely to be a two-story 25,000-square-foot orthopedic, sports performance and wellness center. Medical experts will have state-of-the-art equipment to use on patients in a coordinated, team-based approach to medical care in one location. It will also offer physical therapy, sports medicine and sports performance, and diagnosis-specific fitness and nutrition programs.

It is expected to break ground this summer and open in 2017.

A bit of irony is that South Lake Tahoe could have had a similar facility 25 years ago, but Barton said no to orthopedist Richard Steadman when he wanted to create a state-of-the-art orthopedic facility in South Lake Tahoe. He ended up doing so in 1990 in Vail, and now it is a world-renowned clinic.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report