South Lake Tahoe, Calif. – Thinning of trees for fuels reduction and forest health is underway on approximately 50 acres of National Forest System lands adjacent to Gardner Street near Panther and Tata lanes in South Lake Tahoe, and on approximately 30 acres on the southwest end of the Spring Creek Tract off Highway 89. The Forest Service has closed these areas from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily for public safety due to heavy equipment operations and falling trees. Units 17 and 155 near Gardner Street are closed through October 14, 2015, and unit 1141 southwest of the Spring Creek Tract is closed through November 14, 2015.

The closure notices and maps are posted in the project areas along with signs to indicate the location of thinning operations. Hazards may be present even when operations have ended for the day and the closure is not in effect. Individuals disregarding the closure order may be cited, with subsequent fines and jail time.

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

For more information about the project and to view the closure orders and maps, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/SouthShoreFuelReduction.