Bill introduced to extend commitment to restoring Lake Tahoe

I got the press release today:

“Washington, DC – Nevada Senator Harry Reid, along with Senators Dianne Feinstein, John Ensign and Barbara Boxer today introduced sweeping legislation to protect Lake Tahoe and the Tahoe Basin from a variety of serious threats.  Congressman Dean Heller introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives today along with support from Congresswomen Shelley Berkley and Dina Titus and Congressman Tom McClintock.

 

The legislation would authorize projects to combat invasive species, reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires, restore Lake Tahoe’s water clarity, and protect threatened species and wildlands. It would continue and strengthen the work begun under the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act of 2000, ensuring that the work of protecting Lake Tahoe and the Tahoe Basin continues without interruption.”

This is huge and wonderful news. From a purely practical standpoint: this is jobs. The environmental permitting company that I work for ( Huffman & Carpenter, Inc. )  has been involved in nearly every one of the restoration projects in the Tahoe Basin - for which we got an Award of Distinction from the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Again, you can look to the leadership of pols like Senators Harry Reid, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer for this sort of positive action. Oh, yes … and John Ensign. He’s actually been involved in Tahoe funding, it only now looks like a cynical attempt to salvage a damaged political and personal reputation in this instance.

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A beautiful day at Lake Tahoe

Yes, I should have stayed home and cleaned the house. Clarisse and Susanne said to come on up to their house for the day, and bring swimsuits and boats, so how could I refuse?

The surf was not real good for kayaking. I tried but it was turning out to be more work than it was worth to make it a half mile down the shore, bailing all the while. Swimming was much better. The water is still surprisingly warm, and swimming the waves was fun!

Check out my gallery for more photos from the day. I had a good time playing with my new camera.

The Mayor of Cotonou visits Lac Tahoe

Natacha had to work today and tomorrow at the hospital, so Mr. Maven and I decided this would be a delightful opportunity to drive Mr. Agbenou up to the Lake, do the visit to Sand Harbor, South Shore, come down Kingsbury into Minden and home through Carson City.

Our first stop was at Mt Rose ski area,

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Kokanee Salmon Run, Lake Tahoe, California

Taking a nice Sunday drive around Lake Tahoe is always a delight at this time of year - the leaves are brilliant, with intense splashes of yellow where the aspen settle in the ravines. We drove up there last weekend with my 91-year-old Mom, and the day couldn’t have been more pleasant. Fresh air, shirtsleeves, soft autumn sunlight, happy people who wanted to chat as they walked, cameras - and these beautiful fish.

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Sophie and Max: Last rays of summer at Lake Tahoe

Friends, Doris and Frank took advantage of the very last day of summer-like weather to give Sophie (left) and Max (right) an outing at beautiful Lake Tahoe. The timing couldn’t have been better, since it snowed most of the day yesterday - right down here in Reno. Yikes.