envjournal

By Gideon F. Mukwai
Envjournal Writer

This is beautiful Squaw Valley at sunset.

For two consecutive years, the Ski Area Citizens’ Coalition has rated the Squaw Valley Ski Corporation with an “A” grade for playing an active role in environmental restoration and enhancement within the Squaw Valley community.

According to Ed Heneveld, the founder of Friends of Squaw Creek, (FoSC), the Squaw Valley community has come a long way from a difficult past. In recent years, the Ski Corporation and the community have collaborated in reducing accelerated hill slope erosion and creek impairment which accounted for over 88% of sediment deposition.

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            A recent report turned up encouraging news for organizations working to protect the health of Lake Tahoe. A report released by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) in conjunction with the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Resesarch Center, showed Lake Tahoe water clarity has held steady at a depth of 69.6 feet in 2008. The measurement has held steady for the past eight years.

            Scientists measure clarity by lowering a white Secchi disk, which is the size of a dinner plate, into the lake and measuring its depth at its lowest visibility, also known as is Secchi depth. According to the report UC Davis researchers measure lake clarity with a Secchi disk every seven to ten days at two set locations. Measurements began in 1968 with an average recorded depth of 102.4 feet that year.

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How close are you to a hazardous materials site?

Your proximity can make or mar  in the event of a disaster. Here are three reasons you need to know:

Your air quality could be affected

Your water quality could be affected depending on the location of the site in the water basin

It can make difference in terms of response time when there is an accident during a flood.

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Gideon F. For-mukwai

Envjounal Writer

Stories in the local media over the last couple of weeks have ranged from water wars, penalties for water violations, and potential drought resulting from insufficient snow fall this year.

From the Reno-Gazette Journal, to the Reno News & Review to NBC Channel 4, the headlines have echoed a growing concern over a looming water crisis in the Truckee River Basin.

On March 23, the Reno Gazette Journal reported, “Snow makes it way out of the Reno area.” The staff report indicated that while the chance of snow lingers, the Tahoe Basin is barely 75 - 85 per cent of its annual average. On same day, Tammy Krikorian also reported that water officials doubt that the Reno-Tahoe area will overcome the present snow shortfalls. For more more on this story, read: RGJ snow story here.

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This is a great video showing why it is so necessary to inspect boats before they enter Lake Tahoe. Check it out!

- Michelle