By Matt Weiser, Sacramento Bee

A new report released Wednesday on California’s well-recognized water management problems might be most noteworthy for what it does not include.

The report by the Public Policy Institute of California, “Managing California’s Water,” does not suggest deep water conservation on farms.

It also does not presume that all of the state’s native fishes can be saved. Or that all its aquatic habitats should be restored to some pre-settlement ideal.

Rather, the report’s theme is “reconciliation,” which the authors define as managing California’s water resources to benefit the environment and the economy of today.

“We have to keep in mind, we don’t have a natural system left in California,” said Peter Moyle, one of the co-authors and a fisheries professor at UC Davis. “We need to build a system that works as well for people as it does for fish.”

The authors propose a shift from managing water and habitats based on the needs of a single endangered species to one that preserves whole ecosystems. They go so far as to suggest this may mean sacrificing some species for a greater good.

The 500-page report focuses on statewide water problems, but the eight authors acknowledge the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta remains at the heart of many issues.

Read the whole story

The National Weather Service in Reno has released snow totals for the greater Lake Tahoe area.

Here are some results:

• Heavenly Valley – 18 inches last 24 hours; 30 inches in 48 hours

More than a shovel will be needed to reach the front door of this house on Venice Drive in South Lake Tahoe. Photo/Kathryn Reed

• Homewood – 20 inches in 24 hours; 40 inches in 48 hours

• Carson City – 3 inches in 24 hours; 12 inches 48 hours

• Squaw Valley – 20 inches in 24 hours; 38 inches in 48 hours;

• Kings Beach – 18 inches in 24 hours; 24 inches in 48 hours

• Reno – 11 inches in 48 hours.

Expect the cold to stay around for the better part of next week in the Lake Tahoe Basin. The wind will be picking up too. Snow is likely on Tuesday and Wednesday.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

By Steve Green, Las Vegas Sun

Caesars Entertainment Corp. on Friday posted improved results for Las Vegas in the fourth quarter as gamblers returned to the Strip in bigger numbers.

While Caesars lost money companywide in the quarter — in part due to a slump in Atlantic City — net revenue in Las Vegas increased from 2009’s fourth quarter thanks to the acquisition of Planet Hollywood and higher spending by visitors, despite flat or lower hotel room rates.

Harevey and Harrah's at Stateline saw revenue decline from the previous quarter. Photo/LTN file

Net revenue of $727 million in the Las Vegas market was up from $649 million in the year-earlier quarter.

This helped boost Caesars’ profit from operations in Las Vegas from $97 million in 2009’s fourth quarter to $101 million in the 2010 quarter. Same-store sales in Las Vegas increased 0.9 percent, Caesars said.

While hotel occupancy in Las Vegas remained above 90 percent, average daily room rates fell or were flat because of increases in the city’s room count, Caesars said.

Caesars’ Las Vegas properties are Bally’s Las Vegas, Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon, Caesars Palace, Flamingo Las Vegas, Harrah’s Las Vegas, Imperial Palace, Paris Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood and the Rio.

Friday’s numbers indicate these properties are holding their own against intense competition from the likes of MGM Resorts International, Wynn Resorts, Las Vegas Sands and newly-opened competitor the Cosmopolitan.

Caesars’ properties in Laughlin, Reno and Lake Tahoe generated quarterly net revenue of $94 million, down from $102 million as visitation declined and guests spent less.

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By Freddy Perryman, U.S. Ski Team

MARIANSKE LAZNE, Czech Republic -– Overall World Cup leader Hannah Kearney of Norwich, Vt., celebrated her birthday Saturday winning her sixth World Cup of the season in Marianske Lazne beating rival Jennifer Heil of Canada. Jeremy Cota of Carrabassett Valley, Maine, took third, earning his second World Cup podium of the season.

With clear, cold skies, sugary snow and a crowd of several thousand, the stage was set in Marianske Lazne for a World Cup to remember.

The day began with Kearney qualifying first, something key to her strategy in giving her the choice of lanes throughout the finals. With convincing runs, Kearney blitzed the first heat and the quarterfinals. In the semifinals she earned payback against Canadian Chloe Dufour-Lapointe, who beat her at Worlds, in order to face Heil in the final.

Saturday’s World Cup final was a showdown of giants. Kearney, who has been nearly unstoppable this World Cup season finally had the opportunity to face off against her friend and rival the 2011 individual and dual moguls World Champion Jennifer Heil of Canada.

In the final run, Heil was the first across the line of the short and fast Czech course. Speed wasn’t everything, though, as Kearney’s run was cleaner and more technical. The judges rewarded her the win 19.16.

With her win Saturday, Kearney has firmly cemented her lead in both the overall and moguls World Cup standings. There are three moguls events remaining.

On the men’s side, Jeremy Cota led the USA in third adding to what has been his best season with two World Cup podiums and three fourths.

The U.S. put three men and three women in the top 10. Joining Kearney were Kayla Snyderman of Winchester, Mass., in eighth and Eliza Outtrim of Steamboat Springs, Colo., in ninth. For the men, Patrick Deneen (Cle Elum, Wash.) was eighth with David DiGravio (Farmington, Maine) ninth. In his first international World Cup, Jay Panther (Park City) was 15th.

Official results, FIS Freestyle World Cup, Marianske Lazne, Czech Republic, Dual Moguls

Men

1. Alexandre Bilodeau, Canada

2. Mikael Kingsbury, Canada

3. Jeremy Cota, Carrabassett Valley, ME

–

8. Patrick Deneen, Cle Elum, WA

9. David DiGravio, Farmington, ME

12. Nate Roberts, Park City, UT

15. Jay Panther, Park City, UT

17. Joe Discoe, Telluride, CO

24. Sho Kashima, Lake Tahoe, CA

Women

1. Hannah Kearney, Norwich, VT

2. Jennifer Heil, Canada

3. Chloe Dufour-Lapointe, Canada

–

8. Kayla Snyderman, Winchester, MA

9. Eliza Outtrim, Steamboat Springs, CO

11. Heather McPhie, Bozeman, MT

13. Heidi Klosser, Vail, CO

Keepin’ it Green & Earth Friendly tasting on March 15 at 6pm at Après Wine Company in South Lake Tahoe.

It’s nearly Saint Patrick’s Day so let’s celebrate with some green wines — organic, sustainable and biodynamic. Cost is $20 advance, $25 at door. It includes five wines and appetizer pairings. Discounts on wines tasted.

RSVP to (530) 544.9463.

Amphora Winemaker Rick Hutchinson hosts Tasting Tuesday on March 8 at 6pm at Après Wine Company in South Lake Tahoe.

Hutchinson is originally from South Lake Tahoe and loves to share stories about living here in the 1970s.

Cost is $25 advance, $30 at door. It includes

five wines and appetizer pairings. Discounts on wines tasted.

RSVP to (530) 544.9463.

Napa Classics tasting March 1 at 6pm at Après Wine Company in South Lake Tahoe.

Cost is $25 advance, $30 at door. It includes five

wines and appetizer pairings. Discounts on wines tasted. RSVP to (530) 544.9463.

The 2011 Garden Tour put on by the Lake Tahoe Historical Society is July 31 from 10am-4pm.

The theme will be “Learning More About Gardening.” Music and refreshments will be at the Ledbetter Terrace at Lake Tahoe Community College in South Lake Tahoe.

Four of the gardens on the tour belong to current or former employees of LTCC.

Tickets are $20 and may be purchased after July 1 at the museum (3058 Lake Tahoe Blvd.) or at Aspen Hollow, Nels Garden Center, Sun Basin and Tahoe Outdoor Living.

Explore Tahoe Winter Speaker Series continues on March 10 at 6pm. with a session on the impacts of water runoff and Lake Tahoe protection.

Kim Gorman joins Robert Erlich from South Lake Tahoe for a stormwater management program to present “Protecting the Watershed.”

Explore Tahoe Visitor Center is located in the Heavenly Village next to North Face retail store.

A $5 donation is requested for the program. Information: (530) 542.4637.

Powder, everywhere powder — and blue sky.

Here is the ski report from Curtis Fong, the Guy from Tahoe.