The forecast calls for highs in the 60s, no foolin’. Check out the ski report from Curtis Fong, the Guy from Tahoe.

By Carlos Alcalá, Sacramento Bee

The American River Conservancy in Coloma is seeking teen applicants for its second summer of outdoor adventure and education programs.

The Conservancy’s Epic Sierra Adventures takes teens on two-week trips rafting, kayaking, mountain biking and backpacking in some of California’s most outstanding scenery – the American River, Lake Tahoe, Mono Lake and Yosemite.

However, the non-profit organization sees the program as different from others because it has lower costs than some others, and because it builds education and service projects into the trips’ fun activities.

Read the whole story

It’s not too early to start training for the Sept. 18 Athleta Iron Girl Lake Tahoe South Shore. It is a triathlon consisting of a 400-meter swim, 24K bike and 5K run.

It is a women-only event.

Launched in 2004 with two races, the Iron Girl Series has grown to include 13 events nationwide, varying in distance from 5K to duathlon and triathlon. Iron Girl recently introduced its first half-marathon with plans to expand on the distance in 2012.

With the mission of empowering women toward a healthy lifestyle, Iron Girl has celebrated finishers ranging in age from five to 89 years old with an average age of 35. Visit the website for more information.

WINTER PARK, Colo. – Tommy Ford (Bend, OR) captured his fourth straight U.S. title with a giant slalom victory to open the Putnam Investments U.S. Alpine Championships Thursday in Winter Park. Ford swept the giant slalom, slalom and super combined titles at the 2010 U.S. Championships. Tim Jitloff (Reno, NV) was second followed by 2011 World Champion and World Cup giant slalom title winner Ted Ligety (Park City, UT) in extremely soft snow conditions. Top junior honors went to Ryan Cochran-Siegle (Starksboro, VT), who’s uncle Bobby Cochran will be inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame on Saturday.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Putnam Investments U.S. Alpine Championships

Winter Park, CO – March 31, 2011

Giant Slalom

1. Tommy Ford, Bend, OR, 2:22.24

2. Tim Jitloff, Reno, NV, 2:22.33

3. Ted Ligety, Park City, UT, 2:22.54

Juniors

1. Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Starksboro, VT, 2:25.03

2. Brennan Rubie, Salt Lake City, UT, 2:25.13

3. Jared Goldberg, Halladay, UT, 2:25.56

The good news: Lift lines are small, and pockets of powder can still be found. But with the sun comes iffy conditions – carry wax. Here is the ski report from Curtis Fong, the Guy from Tahoe.

By Susan Wood and Brenda Knox

PHILLIPS – The last snow survey of the season is for all Lake Tahoe residents who lamented over shoveling enough to skew the view of the neighborhood while others who chose the slopes to lose sight of their skis and boards.

Snow measurements taken by California Department of Water Resources hydrologists on Wednesday show the water content coming in at 154 percent of average for the Phillips site at the base of the Sierra-at-Tahoe road for this time of year.

The readings amount to 124.2 inches in snow depth and 43.5inches of water – nearly one foot more water than the site’s measurement last year but about one foot less than what would constitute as the big years of 1969 and 1983. And forget the epic winter of 1951-52 – which is honored with much humility at a South Lake Tahoe party every summer.

Essentially, the season has been phenomenal but not record breaking. One would need another 20 inches of water for that.

DWR hydrologist Frank Gehrke takes a snow measurement with a longer-than-usual pole. Photo/Brenda Knox

Still, the readings were large enough to prompt California Gov. Jerry Brown to lift the drought issued by his predecessor three years ago. The winter has also prompted Lake Tahoe ski areas including Squaw Valley among others to extend the season through Memorial Day weekend with a record 700 inches.

“It’s been 16 years since we’ve seen this kind of snow,” DWR chief hydrologist Frank Gehrke told Lake Tahoe News.

Overall, the long spine of the Sierra Nevada mountain range brought out water measurements in the snowpack of 165 percent. Electronic readings for the northern Sierra were as high as 174 percent for the April 1 seasonal average.

By contrast, reports on March 1 showed the central Sierra seasonal average at 106 percent. This latest reading was just the tip of the iceberg on summarizing a wild winter that roared over the region in December, cooled in mid January into February and returned with a vengeance in March. Ironically, the “Miracle March” tends to happen in drought years as in the period from 1987-1992.

DWR takes the readings to determine water allocations for the state’s 25 million Californians and almost one million acres of irrigated farmland. The state agency estimates it can deliver 70 percent of the requested amount for the State Water Project, the Central Valley’s flagship program.

“While this season’s storms have lifted us out of the drought, it’s critical that Californians continue to watch their water use,” Brown said in a statement upon ending the drought declaration. “Drought or no drought, demand for water in California way outstrips supply. Continued conservation is key.”

The statement serves as a reminder that abundance is one thing. Water management is quite another.

Currently all reservoirs in the state are filled to marks above average, but there’s more anticipated snowpack runoff than what can be stored in the reservoirs. This makes management of the flows more of a challenge.

Spring might have finally arrived, but watch for wind up high. Here is the ski report from Curtis Fong, the Guy from Tahoe.

The Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Coordination Committee is hosting a public forum on April 5 from 5:30 to 7:30pm at the U.S. Forest Service building, 35 College Drive, South Lake Tahoe.

Brief presentations will focus on aquatic invasive species prevention and control projects in the Lake Tahoe Basin, including the Tahoe Watercraft Inspection Program, invasive aquatic plant and Asian clam control efforts, and nonnative fish removal.

The evening will conclude with a question and answer period.

Presenters include scientists, research professionals and agency personnel from UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center, TRPA, the U.S. Forest Service, Tahoe RCD and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

It looks like mid-winter conditions on the slopes, and it’s warming up. Check out the ski report from Curtis Fong, the Guy from Tahoe.

It’s warming up, with light winds — finally, enjoy! Here is the ski report from Curtis Fong, the Guy from Tahoe.