By Jeff Delong, Reno Gazette-Journal

Invading mollusks that have overrun Lake Mead have been found in two Northern Nevada reservoirs, Nevada wildlife officials report.

Preliminary tests indicate quagga mussels exist in both Lahontan and Rye Patch reservoirs, according to the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

The tests need to be confirmed but represent a worrying development, said Ken Mayer, NDOW’s acting director.

“We intend to keep the public informed about this troubling development and to do whatever we can to stop the spread of this very damaging species,” Mayer said.

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By Jeff Delong, Reno Gazette-Journal

After Nevada wildlife officials declined to consider a petition that could invalidate the state’s first black bear hunt, critics say they will take their case to court.

A complaint will be filed in District Court in Carson City “as soon as possible,” said Christine Schwamberger, an attorney and member of NoBearHuntNV.org.

The lawsuit will seek a restraining order blocking this year’s hunt, now scheduled to start the third week of August, Schwamberger said.

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By Kathryn Reed

There appeared to be more shapes and sizes of bicycles than of people in the parade down Highway 50 this afternoon.

Thursday afternoon’s parade from the Y in South Lake Tahoe to MontBleu in Stateline was for the average rider. It’s one of the many events leading up to Sunday’s start of the Amgen Tour de California that takes off from the state line area.

At the start of the parade at 4:15pm May 12 someone was overheard saying, “This is going to be the slowest trip ever to Stateline.”

A couple hundred bicyclists were taking up the right lane of the highway under police and fire escort. Slow Rollers Bicycle Club of Lake Tahoe put on the parade.

People were in costumes, horns being honked, kids being pulled and tricycles pedaled.

Friday night is the black-tie optional gala for the professional ride. As of Thursday afternoon, 408 guests were expected. This is about the same number Sacramento had for its gala last year. Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority Executive Director Carol Chaplin said they were prepared to accommodate 600 if need be.

At the LTVA meeting Thursday afternoon it was announced the California Highway Patrol will be arriving a day early because of weather concerns with the start of the multi-day event on May 15.

“The road being wet is not an issue. The problem is accumulation of inches (of snow) and that has not been in any forecasts,” Chaplin told the LTVA board in regards to Sunday.

On Sunday all lanes of the roads the professionals are on will be closed.

“These guys ride where they want. Wind direction has a lot do with where they are on the road,” Chaplin said.

ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder (Click on photos to enlarge.)

The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is planting native seedlings in the Angora area this week.

Planting will occur on 24 acres of National Forest System lands off Tahoe Mountain Road near South Lake Tahoe.

Forest Service crews will plant approximately 4,000 Sugar and Jeffery pine seedlings. Funding for the seedlings came from donations to the Penny Pines program. The Forest Service Placerville Nursery supplied the seedlings, which are about 1 year old and 6-inches tall.

Reforesting the area with native species will speed up progress toward healthier forest conditions. Without this helping hand, little to no natural regeneration of conifers would occur in the high severity burn areas. In areas where natural regeneration occurs, seedlings would mainly consist of white fir, which is susceptible to drought, disease and fire.

Because anywhere from 30 to 60 percent of seedlings may not survive, initial planting is at much higher densities than what is eventually desired. To increase the seedlings’ chance of survival, crews will remove competing vegetation surrounding the seedling during planting and as needed during future years.

By Jeff Delong, Reno Gazette-Journal

When it comes to weather’s impact on bear problems, biologists are hoping for not too much of a good thing.

A wet winter set the stage for healthy summer forage in the mountains, a situation that would probably have fewer black bears raiding garbage, breaking into homes and otherwise causing trouble.

But if winter-like storms continue too late into the summer, the opposite could prove true.

“It really depends on how late it lasts,” said Carl Lackey, a biologist and bear expert with the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

During the record year of bear problems in 2007, when the department received more than 1,500 complaints over bears, the problem was drought. Dry conditions withered berry bushes that bears depend upon as a natural food source, driving many wild bears into neighborhoods in the Reno-Tahoe area to raid for food.

Opposite conditions last year had frosty storms hit the mountains through June and produce a different problem.

“It basically freezer-burned a lot of berries,” Lackey said. “It just froze all the berry-producing shrubs that bears rely upon in late summer and fall.”

The result was another very busy year for bear troubles, with about 450 complaints received.

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By Kathryn Reed

Teams participating in this weekend’s Tour de California bike ride have been taking to the roads in South Lake Tahoe to get acclimated to the elevation and familiarize themselves with the route of the first stage.

It’s hard to miss all that lycra, especially as some groups take up whole lanes of Highway 50 to avoid the debris on the side and the wetness of the road from errant sprinklers.

Although the National Weather Service in Reno is calling for a 90 percent chance of snow on the May 15 start date, the race is still on. Overnight temps will be below freezing, with the high on Sunday close to 40 degrees.

AEG President Andrew Messick told VeloNews Monday rider safety is his top priority if the weather turns bad. “We’re not going to get too worked up about it. We’ll make sure we protect the safety of the athletes, that is always a top priority, as long as it is safe to ride, we’ll ride.”

Alternatives include shortening the first stage, but neither race officials nor Lake Tahoe tourism officials are releasing details about what happens if a blizzard strikes. Messick is already on the South Shore. Carol Chaplin with LTVA said a decision about alternatives would probably not be made until Sunday morning.

“The only problem is if we get accumulation (of snow),” Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority Executive Director Chaplin said May 12 at the South Lake Tahoe Lodging Association meeting.

“We’re working carefully with all relevant public safety and weather forecast entities,” Messick said in a statement Thursday. “We have developed a number of contingency plans, and when the Sunday weather forecast becomes clearer we will, in consultation with the teams, public safety organizations, and commissares, make a decision which will represent the best and safest course of action.”

AEG owns and operates the race.

Chaplin added that the professional riders are used to nasty weather – even if it’s not something the average cyclist would want to endure.

As it stands, the riders will leave the South Shore at 10:30am Sunday from the Stateline area, make their way around Lake Tahoe (clockwise) 1.5 times before ending at Northstar-at-Tahoe. Stage two leaves from Squaw Valley on May 16, where there is a chance of snow for the start that morning.

By Jeff Delong, Reno Gazette-Journal

The war of will between wildlife biologists and the Nevada Wildlife Commission over management of the state’s mule deer continues, with the panel appointed by Republican former Gov. Jim Gibbons poised to adopt policy critics insist lacks scientific support.

Commissioners are pursuing changes Chairman Scott Raine of Eureka said are needed after years of inaction to boost mule deer numbers across Nevada.

But critics, including Ken Mayer, acting director of the Nevada Department of Wildlife, say that proposed policies to be considered by commissioners later this month encourage livestock grazing and widespread killing of predators such as mountain lions and coyotes with little proven benefit to mule deer.

“They’ve been at this for some time. This is kind of the culmination of things,” said Mayer, who was fired by Gibbons as wildlife director in November 2010 and subsequently rehired on an acting basis by newly elected Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval.

Mayer and some members of the nine-member commission have been at odds over deer and predator management, with that disagreement showing little sign of dissipating.

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By John Schumacher, Sacramento Bee

Cycling’s version of free agency plays out every year. As riders seek their best opportunities, team management searches for the right mix in building rosters.

With most cyclists on one- or two-year contracts, change and uncertainty are givens. Throw in a team disbanding or merging with another and the deck shuffles even more.

Christian Meier, the 2008 Canadian national road champion, rode for Team Garmin-Transitions last year. But when Garmin and Cervelo Test Team merged, Meier found himself looking for a job.

He landed one with UnitedHealthcare, one of 19 teams set to race in the sixth annual Amgen Tour of California, which begins Sunday at Lake Tahoe.

“I actually knew a lot of the guys,” Meier said of UnitedHealthcare personnel. “It’s that familiarity of knowing all the riders.

“A lot of times, if you’re looking, you find a good team you’re very comfortable with; you want to stay as long as possible.

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On Course Events presents BMX skills exhibition featuring 2008 Olympic BMX racing medalists Donny Robinson (bronze) and Mike Day (silver).

Along with Olympic athlete trainer Greg Romero, the riders will demonstrate what it takes to be an Olympic bike racer.

This will be May 15 at approximately 11:30am at the Y in South Lake Tahoe after the Amgen road bike racers make the first pass at highway 50 and 89.

The event is free.

The preliminary start list for the 2011 Amgen Tour de California has been announced. Rosters may change before the start of the race Sunday.

More than 140 riders from 18 elite cycling teams are set to compete in the sixth-annual Amgen Tour of California, which kicks off May 15 in Lake Tahoe. The race will cover nearly 800 miles of picturesque California roadways and highways from May 15–22.

The race, which has become the largest cycling event in America, will feature riders from around the world, including competitors from Belgium, Spain, France, Germany, New Zealand and Sweden.

The field will include riders from well-known teams such as Team RadioShack, HTC-Highroad, Saxo Bank Sungard, Leopard Trek and Team Garmin-Cervelo, who all will be competing to take the title in the overall team competition. Some of the notable riders planned to start the race include:

Tour de France Overall Podium Finishers

* Andy Schleck (LUX), Leopard Trek; second 2009

* Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShack; third 2007

Tour de France Stage Winners

* George Hincapie (USA), BMC Racing Team (4)

* Levi Leipheimer (USA), Team RadioShack (2)

* David Zabriskie (USA), Garmin-Transitions (1)

* Thor Hushovd (NOR), Team Garmin-Cervelo (8)

* Oscar Freire (ESP), Rabobank Cycling Team (4)

* Andy Schleck (LUX), Leopard Trek (2)

* Kurt-Asle Arvesen (NOR), Sky Procycling (1)

* Linus Gerdemann (GER), Leopard Trek (1)

* Rubens Bertogliati (SUI), Team Type 1 – sanofi-aventis (1)

* Haimar Zubeldia (ESP), Team Radio Shack (1)

* Baden Cooke (AUS), Saxo Bank Sungard (1)

World Champions

* Thor Hushovd (NOR), Team Garmin-Cervelo

* Taylor Phinney (USA), BMC Racing Team

* Michael Matthews (AUS), Rabobank Cycling Team

* Lars Boom (NED), Rabobank Cycling Team

* Matthew Goss (AUS), HTC-Highroad

* Oscar Freire (ESP), Rabobank Cycling Team

* Danny Pate (USA), HTC-Highroad

Current National Champions (by country)

* Andy Schleck (LUX), Leopard Trek, Time Trial

* Thor Hushovd (NOR), Team Garmin-Cervelo, Road

* Taylor Phinney (USA), BMC Racing Team, Time Trial

* Gustav Larsson (SWE), Saxo Bank Sungard, Time Trial

* Rubens Bertogliati (SUI), Team Type 1 – sanofi-aventis, Time Trial

* Svein Tuft (CAN), Team Spidertech Powered by C10, Time Trial

* Will Routley (CAN), Team Spidertech Powered by C10, Road

American Stage Race Champions

* Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack), 2007-2009 Amgen Tour of California, 2010 Tour of Utah

* David Zabriskie (Team Garmin-Cervelo), 2009 Tour of Missouri

* Jeff Louder (BMC Racing Team), 2008 Tour of Utah

* Christian Vandevelde (Team Garmin-Cervelo), 2008 Tour of Missouri

* George Hincapie (BMC Racing Team), 2007 Tour of Missouri

* Chris Horner (Team RadioShack), 2003 Tour de Georgia

The 2011 Amgen Tour of California roster includes the following 18 professional cycling teams. (Due to operational issues, previously announced Columbian-based Movistar Team will not be participating in the race.)

1) TEAM RADIOSHACK (USA)

* Levi Leipheimer (USA)

* Matthew Busche (USA)

* Chris Horner (USA)

* Markel Irizar (KAZ)

* Jason McCartney (USA)

* Dmtiriy Muravyev (KAZ)

* Ben King (USA)

* Haimar Zubeldia (ESP)

2) TEAM GARMIN-CERVELO (USA)

* David Zabriskie (USA)

* Thomas Danielson (USA)

* Ryder Hesjedal (CAN)

* Thor Hushovd (NOR)

* Daniel Martin (IRE)

* Andrew Talansky (USA)

* Johan Van Summeren (BEL)

* Christian Vandevelde (USA)

3) HTC-HIGHROAD (USA)

* Tejay Van Garderen (USA)

* Bernhard Eisel (AUT)

* Matthew Goss (AUS)

* Bert Grabsch (GER)

* Leigh Howard (AUS)

* Danny Pate (USA)

* Martin Velits (SVK)

* Peter Velits (SVK)

4) SKY PROCYCLING (GBR)

* Kurt-Asle Arvesen (NOR)

* Alex Dowsett (GBR)

* Christopher Froome (GBR)

* Mathew Hayman (AUS)

* Greg Henderson (NZL)

* Jeremy Hunt (GBR)

* Ian Stannard (GBR)

* Ben Swift (GBR)

5) BMC RACING TEAM (USA)

* George Hincapie (USA)

* Yannick Eijssen (BEL)

* Brent Bookwalter (USA)

* Chris Butler (USA)

* Jeff Louder (USA)

* Steve Morabito (SUI)

* Taylor Phinney (USA)

* Tim Roe (AUS)

6) LEOPARD TREK (LUX)

* Andy Schleck (LUX)

* Stefan Denifl (AUT)

* Martin Mortensen (DEN)

* Jakob Fuglsang (DEN)

* Linus Gerdemann (GER)

* Anders Lund (DEN)

* Martin Pedersen (DEN)

* Jens Voigt (GER)

7) LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE (ITA)

* Peter Sagan (SYK)

* Damiano Caruso (ITA)

* Timothy Duggan (USA)

* Edward King (USA)

* Daniel Oss (ITA)

* Simone Ponzi (ITA)

* Elia Viviani (ITA)

* Cameron Wurf (AUS)

8. SAXO BANK SUNGARD (DEN)

* Gustav Larsson (SWE)

* Baden Cooke (AUS)

* Juan Jose Haedo (ARG)

* Lucas Sebastian Haedo (ARG)

* Rafal Majka (POL)

* Nick Nuyens (BEL)

* Jonas Aaen Jorgensen (DEN)

* Brian Vandborg (DEN)

9) RABOBANK CYCLING TEAM (NED)

* Oscar Freire (ESP)

* Lars Boom (NED)

* Coen Vermeltfoort (NED)

* Paul Martens (GER)

* Michael Matthews (AUS)

* Grischa Niermann (GER)

* Laurens Ten Dam (DEN)

* Maarten Tjallingii (NED)

10) UNITEDHEALTHCARE PRO CYCLING (USA)

* Rory Sutherland (AUS)

* Robert Forster (GER)

* Christopher Jones (USA)

* Christian Meier (CAN)

* Karl Menzies (AUS)

* Andrew Pinfold (CAN)

* Charles Wegelius (GBR)

* Bradley White (USA)

11) TEAM TYPE 1 – sanofi-aventis (USA)

* Rubens Bertogliati (SUI)

* Laszlo Bodrogi (FRA)

* Daniele Callegarin (ITA)

* Alexander Efimkin (RUS)

* Aldo Ino Ilesic (SLO)

* Valeriy Kobzarenko (UKR)

* Jure Kocjan (SLO)

* Javier Megias Leal (KAZ)

12) TEAM NETAPP (GER)

* Jesus Del Nero Montes (SPA)

* Jan Barta (CZE)

* Timon Seubert (GER)

* Andreas Dietziker (SUI)

* Alexander Gottfried (GER)

* Bartosz Huzarski (POL)

* Leopold Konig (CZE)

* Andreas Schillinger (GER)

13) TEAM SPIDERTECH POWERED BY C10 (CAN)

* Svein Tuft (CAN)

* Ryan Anderson (CAN)

* Zachary Bell (CAN)

* Lucas Euser (USA)

* Martin Gilbert (CAN)

* Kevin Lacombe (CAN)

* Jonathan Patrick McCarty (USA)

* Will Routley (CAN)

14) BISSELL PRO CYCLING (USA)

* Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA)

* Chris Baldwin (USA)

* Rob Britton (CAN)

* Andy Jacques-Maynes (USA)

* Paul Mach (USA)

* Frank Pipp (USA)

* Jay Thomson (RSA)

* Jeremy Vennell (NZL)

15) JAMIS-SUTTER HOME (USA)

* Luis Romero Amaran (CUB)

* Alejandro Alberto Borrajo (ARG)

* Anibal Andres Borraio (ARG)

* James Driscoll (USA)

* Tom Zirbel (USA)

* Andy Guptill (USA)

* Jose Fernando Antogna (ARG)

* Tyler Wren (USA)

16) JELLY BELLY CYCLING TEAM p/b KENDA (USA)

* Bernard Van Ulden (USA)

* Alex Hagman (USA)

* Nic Hamlton (CAN)

* Ken Hanson (USA)

* Sergio Hernandez (USA)

* Alastair Loutit (AUS)

* Sean Mazich (USA)

* Jeremy Powers (USA)

17) KELLY BENEFIT STRATEGIES–OPTUMHEALTH (USA)

* Andrew Bajadali (USA)

* Jesse Anthony (USA)

* Dan Bowman (USA)

* Alexander Candelario (USA)

* Michael Creed (USA)

* Jason Donald (USA)

* Michael Friedman (USA)

* Reid Mumford (USA)

18.) KENDA/5-HOUR ENERGY PRO CYCLING Powered by Geargrinder (USA)

* Benjamin Day (AUS)

* Luca Damiani (ITA)

* Phillip Gaimon (USA)

* Chad Hartley (USA)

* Roman Kilun (USA)

* Shawn Milne (USA)

* Jacob Rytlewski (USA)

* James Stemper (USA)

The 2010 Amgen Tour of California reigning champion, Michael Rogers, will not be participating in the race this year due to a serious illness.