South Lake Tahoe, CA…The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit is working with permit-holder ARAMARK Parks and Destinations to remove soil impacted by a 2011 underground fuel release at Zephyr Cove Resort. Work is scheduled to begin on September 12, 2016, and is likely to continue through late October. The remediation activity will be visible from U.S. Highway 50 and to resort visitors. The resort will remain open for business as usual during the remediation effort.

Approximately 15 trees were removed on a half-acre of the affected area, which will be fenced off on the south side of the parking lot and approximately 2,500 tons of contaminated soil removed. Clean soil will be brought in to fill the excavation and trees of the same species removed will be planted. Efforts will be made to minimize disturbance to visitors, but there may be some disruption to parking and the south beach volleyball courts. Watercraft rentals and sightseeing boats will continue to operate during the excavation.

The Forest Service and ARAMARK coordinated closely with the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and a decision was made to proceed with the excavation in order to take advantage of the low groundwater table at this time of year. An inclement weather plan is in place to guide the installation of water quality best management practices in the event that work must stop due to rain or snow.

For more information, contact Jonathan Cook-Fisher, special uses program manager at jcfisher@fs.fed.us.

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