Despite all the warnings about how high rivers are in Northern Nevada and Northern California, not everyone is paying attention.

South Shore residents on Sunday saw two trucks stuck midstream in the Carson River.

Crossing the Carson River on June 12 and getting stuck. Photo/Bob Anderson

The river is flowing at about 3,000 cubic feet per second right now.

The height of the run-off is not expected to hit until the end of the month, so rivers are likely to rise more and run just as fast or faster in the coming weeks.

On top of that, all rivers are extremely cold — so getting out of a stuck vehicle to wade to safety poses even more dangers.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report

The Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition and Norma Santiago, El Dorado County supervisor, are hosting a public information session about the possible November ballot measure to redirect existing recreation funds from Measure S.

The meeting is June 16 from 5-7pm in the Cedar Room of the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Center on Rufus Allen Boulevard.

The proposed measure would allow accumulating Measure S funds to be used for rehabilitation of older bike paths and build youth ball fields. It would also create a bicycle advisory committee to advise the Community Facilities District Recreation Joint Powers Authority, the body which administers the Measure S funds, on bicycle needs in the community.

The meeting will be an informal, drop-in event. Attendees will have the opportunity to get copies of the proposed ballot measure language and resolution for consideration, ask questions of the JPA board members (which there are three) and JPA staff (which is just John Upton), and learn how to provide additional input on the proposed ballot measure.

The JPA will meet June 30 at 9am at the El Dorado County Library to make a final decision on whether to place the measure on the ballot.

By Kathryn Reed

Scrambling onto rocks, rolling around in grass, throwing a Frisbee, sitting at tables with friends, watching trees blow in the gentle wind. Life at Bijou Community School is a whole lot different now.

Dirt, and more often mud, is what the South Tahoe elementary school students played in. Not anymore.

First-graders Aidan Anton and Martin Valdez play on one of the new boulders at Bijou Community School. Photos/Kathryn Reed

With the force and determination of parent Kathy Haven behind the project, she corralled the necessary people, businesses and officials to make this a reality.

The nearly two-year project culminated June 9 with students patiently gathered on the blacktop listening to all the adults talk before they were allowed to run to the grassy field.

As a bit of a test, they were given treats, with the lesson being – use the bear boxes for the trash. With no plastic wrappers visible by the time they headed back to their classrooms Thursday afternoon, these Tahoe kids understand about not creating garbage bears.

Principal Karen Tinlin expects fewer students will be in her office with scraped knees and elbows now that they have a softer surface to play on.

Superintendent Jim Tarwater said practically the first day on the job six years ago Tinlin was complaining about the dirt in the back of the school.

Dale Rise was a bit overwhelmed looking over how this dirt field he grew up next to is now a showcase of sorts. His construction company donated significantly to the project.

The school district came up with half of the $50,000 expense through Measure G bond dollars, while the community came through with the rest. Big George Ventures, Tahoe Asphalt, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Tahoe Sand and Gravel, Barton Health Foundation, Bijou PTA, Adams Concrete Design, Dale Rise Construction, Signs of Tahoe, Tahoe Bear Box Co., De Celle Memorial Tahoe Relay, Ed Cook Tree Service, Aspen Hollow, Western Turf, Earth and Stone Landscaping, Fuller Construction and Cafecitos either gave cash, supplies or reduced their prices to make this a reality.

“It has been amazing how our community has contributed. For example, when I called Tahoe Asphalt about their big boulder sale, they asked how many we needed. When I said about 40, they came back with ‘we’ll just give them to you’,” Haven said. “It was amazing.”

Rotary Club of South Lake Tahoe was another huge component of getting this project completed. They along with parents and other volunteers like the entire Tahoe Derby Dames team finished putting everything in on June 4 – in the rain.

Twenty-three trees have been planted – mostly aspens and red maple. Five came last year, and seven more are on order.

Not all of the 12 picnic tables have been installed. Some hardware needs to arrive. One table is ADA compliant.

“I’m very happy to see this park for the community,” special education teacher Charna Silver said. “The fact that it’s attached to our school is a bonus.”

This is the only park between Rufus Allen Boulevard and Stateline.

The soccer-size field could be used in the summer for tournaments.

Between the blacktop and the field are the play structures. Haven’s next goal is to have exercise stations on the far corners of the field.

ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder (Click on photos to enlarge.)

Several volunteer opportunities are available in the Tahoe-Truckee area through the California State Parks system.

While none of the parks in the Sierra District is part of the 70 parks slated to be closed, they face funding cutbacks. Volunteers help fill that gap.

Here are the current needs:

• Vikingsholm accessibility escort docent

• Visitor service intern/park greeter

• Living history day at Sugar Pine Point

• Garden restoration volunteer at Ehrman estate.

For more information about volunteering, contact Heidi Doyle at hdoyle@parks.ca.gov or call (530) 583.3074.

In spite of the snow, rain and cold, more people participated in this year’s Lake Tahoe Bike Challenge than in 2010.

Here are some of the highlights:

Total number of trips: 3,077

Total miles: 10,592

Number of North Shore riders: 79

Number of South Shore riders: 213

Most elevation by a North Shore individual: 22,010 feet, Laura Traeger,

Most elevation by a South Shore individual: 20,468 feet, Twain Berg

Most trips per employee: Sierra Nevada Alliance – 18.09

Team results – most total miles: 1,314, TRPA

Team results – most elevation: 80,763 feet, Alta Alpina Cycling Club and Northstar-at-Tahoe with 53,293 feet.

The Reno-Tahoe Open, together with Doctors Louis Bonaldi, Jason Champagne, Daniel Rowan and Renny Uppal, introduce Doctors Supporting Troops to benefit current and former members of the military currently or previously living or serving in Northern Nevada.

The new program for the 13th annual PGA Tour event encourages active duty, guard, reserve and veterans of all military branches to write an essay explaining why he or she would like a chance to play in the tournament’s Wednesday Pro-Am. Nominations will be accepted through June 17, 2011 and winners are announced the week of June 27.

In addition to an opportunity to play, winners of the Doctors Supporting Troops contest may also attend the exclusive Pro-Am Pairings Party on Aug. 2 at the Eldorado Hotel Resort.

All essays must be 500 words or less and be submitted to Docs4Troops@MyNews4.com by 5pm June 17. Submissions may be entered by friends or family as well as the actual nominee. A copy of military identification should be included in the application and all nominees must have a handicap of 20 or better with verification from the golfer’s home course. To learn more or view the complete set of rules, go online.

The 13th annual Reno-Tahoe Open is Aug. 1-7 at Montrêux Golf & Country Club in Reno.

By Sam McManis, Sacramento Bee

When it comes to traversing difficult snow-impacted terrain, man apparently has an advantage over horse.

At least, that’s a conclusion that could be drawn from Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run race director Greg Soderlund, who has confirmed that the annual ultrarunning race on June 25 will be run despite snow conditions in Tahoe and Sierra that last week forced officials from the Tevis Cup — the 100 mile endurance horse race later in the summer contested over the same Squaw Valley-to-Auburn trails — to move its race to October.

“People can get over the snow,” Soderlund said. “What’s got people’s attention is Tevis’ postponement, but horses can’t post through all that snow. Well, I guess they can, but it would really damage the horse. We (humans) can climb over logs and go through debris that horses can’t. We’re pretty impervious to it.”

In the past week, since the Tevis Cup postponement, Soderlund said “rumors and speculation” swirled that Western States might be canceled as well. Considered the nation’s most prestigious ultramarathon, Western States has only been canceled once — in 2008, due to fires in the Sierra. Soderlund said there actually has been more snow in the hills for the 1983 and 1995 races, which were contested on slightly altered courses to accommodate the drifts.

Read the whole story

By Jeff Delong, Reno Gazette-Journal

WALKER — The big melt is on.

An epic snowpack locked in place by cool spring temperatures will soon be released by warming conditions, spilling water into churning rivers and streams.

It’s happening before Mike White’s eyes. He watched the levels of a foaming West Walker River next to his home rise by 6 inches overnight. By Friday morning, water was lapping at a rock that was dry the day before.

He knows more is coming. Maybe a lot more.

“It’s starting to move. We’re going to get some high water,” White said.

On Friday, the National Weather Service issued a hydrologic outlook calling for possible flooding along the eastern Sierra over the next two weeks.

Coinciding with a spike in temperatures, the highest flows are expected between next Tuesday through June 25. Highs in Reno next week are expected to be well into the 80s while nighttime lows in the Sierra will remain well above freezing.

That’s going to cause a lot of snow to melt and rivers and streams to gush. Flows are expected to peak by late next week, depending on location.

“That’s really going to quicken the snowmelt. The waterfalls and creeks should be amazing,” said Gary Barbato, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Reno.

It’s an issue because there’s still so much snow in the high country. The snowpack, Barbato said, is close to what it normally is in early April. At Lake Tahoe, the snowpack Friday was about seven times what it should be for early June.

Read the whole story

State Sen. Ted Gaines, R-Roseville, this week presented a resolution to off-roading legend Mark A. Smith of Georgetown to recognize his contributions in building a major hobby enjoyed by thousands of Californians and building our state’s economy.

“Mark Smith is the father of the world-famous Rubicon Trail off-road trek that literally created a new sport,” Gaines said in a statement. “Now people from across the country come to California to put themselves to the ultimate off-road test.”

Smith went on to lead the first team of drivers from the tip of South America to the Arctic Circle and led a team of U.S. off-road drivers in the 1987 Camel Trophy, the world’s No. 1 off-road competition, as well as being named “four wheeler of the decade” by United Four Wheel Drive magazine.

Mark A. Smith Off-Roading Inc. is an industry leader for off-road adventures, providing the equipment and expertise for groups and individuals who want to get off the beaten path and navigate the types of rough terrain first tamed by Smith himself.

“Mark Smith is a pioneer who shows true California spirit,” Gaines said. “He built a sport, built a business and built an unmatched reputation in his field.”

By Mike Lewis, Transworld Business

Snowboarder Jamie Anderson of South Lake Tahoe will be rocking Billabong for at least another three years. The brand announced this week that it had signed a three-year contract extension with Anderson, one of the sport’s top women riders.

“We are thrilled to be continuing our support of Jamie,” said Candy Harris, Billabong Brand Director, “she has become a true icon for the sport and we know the future holds no limit to her accomplishments.”

“It feels amazing to sign with Billabong for another three years, and I’m so proud to work with such a great company,” said Anderson. “I’m excited about expanding the Jamie Anderson Collection and couldn’t be happier about the relationship.”

Read the whole story