Placer seeks community input on grant application to develop plan for recreational opportunities

Published on March 8, 2019

Placer County is seeking community input on a grant application to develop a new plan to help balance the many increasing outdoor recreation uses in North Lake Tahoe.

If it’s successful, the county’s application to the California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Grants program would help fund completion of the North Lake Tahoe Recreation Access Plan - intended to help balance competing recreation uses in a way that benefits the economy while upholding the community’s social and environmental values.

The grants program funds projects that support the conservation of recreation trails, trailheads, and other recreational facilities associated with the use of off-highway motor vehicles, as well as programs involving off-highway motor vehicle safety or education. 

North Lake Tahoe is a world-class, year-round recreation destination. Its many recreation users include snowmobilers, snow bicyclists, backcountry and Nordic skiers and snowshoers in the winter; and motorcyclists, all-terrain vehicle riders, mountain bikers, equestrians, trail runners and hikers in the summer. 

The grant application is for $120,000 in OHV planning funds with a local match of $50,000 for a total plan cost of approximately $170,000.

If Placer receives the grant, the Department of Public Works expects to solicit and award a contract to develop the plan in September, with an initial community meeting expected in October. With several additional community feedback opportunities to follow, the plan could be completed as soon as October 2020. 

As competing recreation access demands and recreational activities on public lands increase, the need to balance competing uses and interests becomes more important. Feedback on Placer’s grant application should be submitted through the California State Parks website. (Use the ‘Agency’ search box to find the Placer County Department of Public Works grant application here.) Submission instructions can be found here. Comments are due May 6. Any questions about the public feedback process can be directed to Ryan Decker, Placer County Public Works, at [email protected].