South Lake Tahoe, Calif., –The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) released the decision for the Historic Facilities Best Management Practices (BMPs) Retrofit project to revitalize the Tallac Historic Site on Lake Tahoe’s South Shore. Project work could begin as early as May 2015, and depending on funding, could take 10 years to complete.

“This project will reduce environmental impacts and improve recreational opportunities at the Tallac Historic Site,” said Forest Supervisor Nancy Gibson. “Upgrading these facilities will help us meet current and projected recreational demands and comply with legal requirements for accessibility.” The project’s environmental analysis included consultation with an historic design architect and the California State Historic Preservation Officer to ensure the project preserved and protected the historical characteristics of the site.

The Forest Service will implement a variety of water quality BMPs at the site such as infiltration basins and slope stabilization along the shoreline. Upgrades to paths will occur throughout the site for water quality improvement and accessibility standards.

Informational signs will be installed at Tallac Point, the path from the parking area to the beach upgraded to meet accessibility standards, and some user-created trails removed. Crews will construct a split-rail fence between the Tallac Point beach area and the Taylor Creek Marsh and a restroom will be built near the parking area.

The project will improve site circulation by reconfiguring the three entrances along Highway 89 (Valhalla, Tallac Site, and Taylor Creek Visitor Center) into two entrances connected by an internal road, which allows visitors to enter the site and access all areas without returning to the highway. Parking areas at the Tallac and Valhalla sites will expand and the existing unimproved parking area near the Valhalla entrance will be paved. The project will also include construction of a non-motorized, multi-use trail adjacent to the new internal road and parking lot access roads.

The LTBMU will reconfigure the volunteer RV campground at the Baldwin Trailer site to include 15 more campsites and will install additional utilities. The existing RV campground within the Tallac Site will receive stormwater BMPs.

The Decision Notice is available for viewing at http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/HistoricFacilitiesRetrofit.

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