1. commercial logging in the Basin (the League encourages the economic use of the by-products of forest restoration and fuels reduction projects – but the projects themselves must be designed to achieve public safety and environmental objectives, not to serve the needs of the timber industry)
2. a 30-foot zone of bare soil around each home (this is an unnecessarily draconian approach that will affect homeowners’ willingness to comply; in addition there are reasonable alternatives)
3. construction of more roads in the forest (this should not be necessary)
4. use of heavy machinery and burning of slash piles within Stream Environment Zones (these areas are the hydrologic veins and arteries of Lake Tahoe and should be treated as watershed restoration zones requiring thorough but careful treatment, including hand thinning and prescribed burning -- but not ground-compacting equipment nor burning so hot that it sterilizes the soil)
5. a reduction of reporting and monitoring requirement regarding water quality (scientists from responsible agencies should be able to work out reasonable monitoring protocols without intervention from outside the scientific community).
The Commission is expected to complete its investigation and make recommendations to state officials by March 21, 2007. Click here to go to the Commission’s website.
