With the arrival of storms to the Sierra Nevada, the Placer County Department of Public Works’ snow removal activities are in full operation. In addition to clearing roads that are the county’s responsibility, maintaining equipment and ensuring adequate staffing needs, Public Works has recently unveiled its new snow removal website. This site provides important information on many aspects of the county’s activities in the high country during the winter months.
The website is a central location for information regarding snow removal operations in Placer County. The site includes links to snow removal operations in neighboring jurisdictions, weather information, streaming webcams in the Sierra, and a video clip on how the “snow gate” on a snow plow operates.
The website can be found by clicking this link: Public Works Snow Page.
“In California, Placer County consistently ranks in the top three, behind the California Deaprtment of Transportation (Caltrans), among all cities and counties for annual expenditures on snow removal,” said Public Works Director Ken Grehm. “Snow removal is obviously a focus this time of year and we strive to keep roads plowed and open so residents and visitors alike can have access to all the county has to offer during the winter months.”
In addition to operating one of the largest snow removal systems in the state, the Placer County operation:
- Has responsibility for more than 200 miles of roadway within the snowbelt, from Foresthill to the California/Nevada state line;
- Is responsible for maintenance and snow removal on 135 miles for roadway within the Lake Tahoe Basin;
- Overall, maintains more than 1,100 miles of roads within the county;
- Maintains roadways in an area with the highest average snowfall in the lower 48 states;
- Runs crew 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as necessary during heavy snowfall;
- Runs snow plows and graders and rotary blowers
- Has installed snow gates on eight graders in the Tahoe Basin; and
- Utilizes up to 75 percent of its Roads Division in snow removal operations during storms;
The new Department of Public Works Snow Removal website includes links to online snow removal operations for the Caltrans, the Nevada Department of Transportation and the Town of Truckee. For the Placer County operation, there are maps of the five snow plow areas within the Tahoe Basin. Additionally, there are links to the National Weather Service for up-to-date weather information, and Caltrans and Tahoe-area web cams. With the web cams, interested parties can see, in real time, what is happening at various locations in the Tahoe area.
Because mechanized snow removal can be dangerous, the Public Works’ new page also include tips on what to do and what to avoid while snow removal operations are taking place. Following these simple tips will ensure people and vehicles are safe during snow removal activities.