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WHO ARE WE?
The Tahoe Re-Green Project
is a consortium of 19 government and private agencies, and individuals.
Each has a stake in the well-being of the forest and the people
of the basin. We are foresters, firefighters, land managers,
water quality experts, environmentalists and more.
WHY DID WE COME TOGETHER?
The Tahoe Re-Green project
was formed because of the extraordinary threat of wildfire in
the Tahoe basin. Approximately one third of the trees in the
basin are dead or dying and they present a fire hazard unlike
anything this basin has ever seen. History tells us that if we
don't remove these dead trees, nature will. A major wildfire
sweeping through this area could produce an unthinkable tragedy
HOW DID WE GET TO THIS
POINT.)
The forest we see today is
the result of a combination of factors. Around 1860 the natural
balance of the forest was dramatically changed when most of the
pine was harvested to support the silver mines in Nevada. That
left the fir as seed trees, and they became the dominant species.
Fir is much more susceptible to disease and insect infestation.
The forest was further weakened when our predecessors allowed
it to become "overstocked". In other words, there are
just too many trees in this basin and they compete for nutrients
from the soil and water. Add to this, the drought which began
in the late 1980's. It further weakened the trees, and made they
even more susceptible to insects.
WHAT'S BEEN DONE SO FAR?
During the first year of the
Tahoe Re-Green Project almost 300 lots in the urban or urban-wildland
interface areas have been cleared. More than 1,000 information
packets have been distributed to the public. Tahoe Re-Green materials
have been made available at all major public events and most service
groups have had at least one Tahoe Re-Green presentation at their
meetings.
WHAT CAN RESIDENTS DO?
Every resident of the Tahoe
Basin, full-time or part-time, has a vested interest in making
their property fire safe. It is the property owner's responsibility
to create a defensible space around their homes. The dead and
dying trees must be removed, and where appropriate, they should
be replaced with fresh green plants and trees.
HOW DO WE GET STARTED?
Call 1-800-TAHOE GReen.
You will receive a packet of information on how to get started.
Professional foresters are available to evaluate your property
and guide you in selecting the trees which should be removed.
The packet also includes a list of tree services in the area
which are available to do the tree removal. Call 1-800-TAHOE
GReen (1-800-824-6347) today.