Forest Service beaches, day-use facilities at Tahoe reopen, fire restrictions remain in place

National Forest trails, trailheads, beaches and other day-use areas in the Lake Tahoe Basin have now reopened for day-use only as of Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. Camping and overnight stays will not be permitted, and campgrounds will remain closed. Resorts will reopen for day-use only. Emergency Fire Restrictions will remain in effect through Nov. 30. I’ve attached the Forest Orders for your awareness.

The prohibition of the use of any ignition source on all National Forest System lands (campfires, gas stoves, etc.) throughout California remains in place.

Not all National Forests across California re-opened Saturday. Nine remain closed: Angeles NF, Cleveland NF, Los Padres NF, Inyo NF, Klamath NF, San Bernardino NF, Sequoia NF, Sierra NF, and Six Rivers NF. This decision will continue to be reviewed daily with evolving fire and weather conditions.

Nine other National Forests may open to varying degrees. Visitors should contact the following National Forests for more information on their status. Besides Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Eldorado NF, Lassen NF, Mendocino NF, Modoc NF, Plumas NF, Shasta-Trinity NF, Stanislaus NF, and the Tahoe NF. These forests will implement their own forest orders that will either limit dispersed use or provide for area closures around fires.

Emergency Fire Restrictions remain in effect across all National Forest lands in California, including the California and Nevada sides of the Tahoe Basin.

Smoking and all recreational fires, including campfires, bonfires, warming fires, wood fires, charcoal fires, or any other kind of outdoor fires, involving solid fuels are prohibited and all sources of outdoor open flames including outdoor gas appliances, such as pressurized gas fire pits, grills, and portable stoves are not permitted.

Conditions can change quickly. Therefore, we emphasize that all citizens heed local announcements for changes in conditions and potential evacuations.

"We understand how important access to the National Forests is to our visitors," said Randy Moore, Regional Forester for the USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region. "Continued closures are essential based on extreme fire conditions, critical limitations of firefighting resources, and to provide for firefighter and public safety.”

Visit the USFS online map of forests here.

Emergency Fire Restrictions still in place:

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 551 and 36 C.F.R. 261.50(a) and (b), and to provide for public safety and protect natural resources, the following acts are prohibited on National Forest System lands within the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. This Order is effective September 4, 2020 through November 30, 2020.

1. Building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, including charcoal briquettes and wood, as shown on the attached map. 36 C.F.R. 261.52(a).

2. Smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material. 36 C.F.R. 261.52(d).

3. Operating an internal combustion engine off paved, gravel, or dirt National Forest System roads and trails, except within the Sand Pit Off-Highway Vehicle Area and boats on a water surface. 36 C.F.R. 261.52(h).

4. Welding or operating an acetylene torch with open flames. 36 C.F.R. 261.52(i).
Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. 216.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. Any Federal, State, or local officer, or member of an organization rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty.

2. Persons with a valid Wilderness Permit or a California Campfire Permit are not exempt from the prohibitions listed above. However, persons with a valid California campfire permit may use a portable campfire pit, lantern or stove that uses gas, kerosene, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel, with a shut-off valve, in an area at least three feet from any flammable materials.

3. Persons with a valid 2020 Forest Products Removal Permit (fuelwood permit) from the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit are not exempt from the prohibitions listed above, but may operate an internal combustion engine off National Forest System roads and trails only to the extent necessary to cut fuelwood, provided the cutting of fuelwood is done in compliance with the terms of the permit.

4. Persons with a Forest Service non-special use written authorization to conduct non-recreational activities, such as harvesting timber or forest products, or grazing livestock are exempt from Prohibition Nos. 3 and 4 while performing those activities in accordance with the written authorization.