The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit reminds residents and visitors to help protect public safety and our environment during the Fourth of July holiday.
Keep wildfire prevention in mind during Fourth of July celebrations. Possession of fireworks of any kind, including sparklers, is illegal in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Campfires are not permitted on Forest Service beaches or in the general forest. For Wednesday, July 4, 2012, only, personal barbecues are allowed at Nevada, Pope and Baldwin beaches but are not permitted on any other Forest Service beaches or in the general forest.
The annual alcohol ban will be in effect on Nevada Beach and within Zephyr Cove Resort and Zephyr Shoals (the former Dreyfus Estate). In addition, county and state laws also ban the possession or consumption of alcohol on the Truckee River from Tahoe City to Alpine Meadows and Chamber's Landing Beach on the West Shore beginning on July 1 and continuing through July 6. These areas will be patrolled by law enforcement personnel from the Forest Service, Douglas County, Placer County and Carson City sheriff departments, and by private security staff.
If you're parking on the side of the road to access Forest Service facilities, make sure you're parked completely on gravel or dirt, not on vegetation. Parking on vegetation may result in a citation for resource damage, plus there's a chance your car's catalytic converter could spark a fire. Consider public transportation if you're going to the beach that day. The Nifty Fifty Trolley stops at Forest Service beaches along the south and west shores.
Please keep in mind that in developed recreation sites, such as Kiva, Tallac and the Taylor Creek Visitor Center, parking is allowed only in designated parking spaces, not along the roadway. Do not park where you will block access or narrow lanes, which could impede response in an emergency.
Day-use fees for the Fourth of July at Pope, Baldwin, and Nevada beaches will again be $20 and at Zephyr Cove Beach $25 to cover increased security and facility maintenance costs of the holiday. These beaches have become increasingly popular for Tahoe visitors and residents on the Fourth of July.
Finally, please respect the rules on where dogs are allowed. Dogs are not allowed at designated swim beaches, including Nevada, Pope, Baldwin, Meeks and William Kent. If you are looking for a place to take your leashed dog, try Kiva Picnic Area from Valhalla Boathouse/Pier to Tallac Point in South Lake Tahoe, Echo Lakes on Echo Summit, Zephyr Shoals on the East Shore (the old Dreyfus Estate located north of Zephyr Cove Resort), Hidden and Chimney beaches on the East Shore, Coon Street Beach (at the boat launch) in King's Beach, Kaspian and 64 Acres in Tahoe City.
For more information, visit the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit website at www.fs.usda.gov/ltbmu or call (530) 543-2694.