South Lake Tahoe, Calif. –The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit asks residents and visitors to help protect public safety and the environment, and keep wildfire prevention in mind during the Fourth of July holiday.

Remember, possession of fireworks of any kind, including sparklers, is illegal in the Lake Tahoe Basin and campfires are not permitted on National Forest beaches or in the general forest. For those planning to barbecue on the beach, the Forest Service requires the use of portable gas stoves.

The annual alcohol ban will be in effect on Nevada Beach and within Zephyr Cove Resort and Zephyr Shoals (the former Dreyfus Estate) from 6 a.m. to midnight on July 4, 2103. Read the Forest Order and view the maps at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/ForestOrders. In addition, county and state laws 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 July 1 and continuing through July 6. These areas will be patrolled by law enforcement personnel from the Forest Service, Douglas and Placer counties, Carson City sheriff departments, and private security staff.

If parking on the side of the road to access National Forest facilities, make sure to park completely on gravel or dirt, not on vegetation. Parking on vegetation may result in a citation for resource damage, plus there’s a chance the car’s catalytic converter could spark a fire. Consider public transportation if going to the beach that day. The Nifty Fifty Trolley stops at National Forest beaches along the South and West Shores. In developed recreation sites, such as Kiva, Tallac and the Taylor Creek Visitor Center, parking is allowed only in designated parking spaces inside the parking lots, not along the roadway. When parking, do not block road 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 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 during the holiday.

Finally, please respect the rules on where pets are allowed. Pets are not allowed at National Forest designated swim beaches, including Nevada, Pope, Baldwin, Meeks and William Kent. If looking for a place to take a leashed pet, 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, 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 http://www.fs.usda.gov/ltbmu or call (530) 543-2694.