South Lake Tahoe, CA…The U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) was recognized by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) with a “Best in Basin” award for the third and final phase of the Angora Fire Restoration Project. The award, which recognizes and showcases projects that demonstrate exceptional planning, implementation and compatibility with Lake Tahoe’s environment and communities was presented to Forest Service staff on September 28, 2016, at the TRPA Governing Board meeting in Kings Beach, Calif.

LTBMU staff members recognized included Craig Oehrli, Stephanie Heller, Rita Mustatia, Brian Garrett, John Washington, Robert Guebard, Dan O’Halloran, Nadia Tase, Jen Cryan, Rita Mustatia, Paul Guarnaccia, Travis Buckalew, Jason Pollard, Rena Escobedo, Shay Zanetti, Jacob Quinn, Garrett Villanueva, Hugh Safford (Pacific Southwest Region) and Mike LeFevre.

The 2007 Angora Fire, caused by an abandoned illegal campfire, burned 3,100 acres near South Lake Tahoe, including 2,700 acres of National Forest System lands. The Forest Service completed most short-term rehabilitation work in the first year after the fire, but decided to take the opportunity to develop a comprehensive project to address past human impacts to the area that were affecting wildfire risk, forest health, and stream, meadow and wetland function.

Over the past nine years in the Angora Fire area, the LTBMU, in collaboration with numerous partners, has reforested 672 acres, restored 44 acres of aspen and meadow habitat, completed 1,400 acres of fuels reduction and forest thinning to reduce future wildfire risk, relocated roads and trails out of stream environment zones (SEZs), installed new wayfinding signs for improved recreational access, and restored 2,000 feet of stream channel.

More information about TRPA’s Best in Basin awards program is available at http://www.trpa.org/get-involved/best-in-basin/.