South Lake Tahoe, Ca  –Thinning of trees for fuels reduction and forest health will continue next week on approximately 170 acres of National Forest System lands on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe.  Beginning Monday, July 28, 2014, thinning will take place off of North Upper Truckee Road near West San Bernardino Avenue, Pioneer Trail northwest of forest road 12N08 (Powerline), Pioneer Trail southwest of Columbine Trail and on some urban lots in the Tahoe Island Drive area near 15^th Street.  Thinning operations in these locations may vary over the next several weeks.

The Forest Service will close areas in some locations from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily through October 15, 2014, for public safety due to heavy equipment operation and falling trees.  Hazards may be present even when operations have ceased for the day and the closure is not in effect.  Individuals disregarding the closure may be cited, with subsequent fines and jail time.  The Forest Order and maps showing the closure locations will be posted athttp://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/SouthShoreFuelReduction.  The closure also will be posted in areas where work is occurring.

The forest thinning is part of the South Shore Fuels Reduction and Healthy Forest Restoration Project, which will treat approximately 10,000 acres between Cascade Lake and Stateline, Nevada to reduce the risk of severe wildfire, improve forest health, and provide defensible space to neighboring communities.