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Notices Federal Register

45875 

Vol. 83, No. 176 

Tuesday, September 11, 2018 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit; 

CA; Meeks Bay Restoration Project 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an 

environmental impact statement. 

SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service, 

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit 

(LTBMU) will prepare an 

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 

for the Meeks Bay Restoration Project. 

The LTBMU proposes to conduct 

restoration and recreation enhancement 

work at Meeks Bay Resort, Meeks Bay 

Campground, and in Meeks Creek and 

Meeks Marina. 

DATES: Comments concerning the scope 

of the analysis must be received by 

October 26, 2018. The draft EIS is 

expected August 2019 and the final EIS 

is expected February 2020. 

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to 

Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, 35 

College Drive, South Lake Tahoe, CA 

96150. Comments may also be sent via 

email to comments-pacificsouthwestltbmu@fs.fed.us, or via facsimile to 530– 

543–2693. Project information will be 

posted to the project website http://

www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/ 

meeksbayrestoration. A public meeting 

will be held at Meeks Bay Resort, 7941 

Emerald Bay Road, Meeks Bay, CA. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina 

Thompson, 530–543–2675, 

gthompson04@fs.fed.us or Denise 

Downie, 530–543–2683, dedownie@

fs.fed.us. 

Individuals who use 

telecommunication devices for the deaf 

(TDD) may call the Federal Information 

Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 

between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern 

Time, Monday through Friday. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose and Need for Action 

The deteriorating condition of the 

existing marina infrastructure, concerns 

over aquatic invasive species, and 

concerns over degraded habitat for 

native species have prompted the need 

for action in Meeks Bay. The purpose of 

this project is to move the Meeks Creek 

stream channel and wetland/lagoon 

below State Route 89 (SR89) to a more 

natural condition where geomorphic 

and hydrologic processes support a 

functioning ecosystem while continuing 

to support sustainable recreation 

opportunities. 

There is a need to improve water 

quality in Meeks Creek; restore 

degraded aquatic, riparian, and wetland 

habitats and barrier beaches; provide 

high quality habitat that is resilient to a 

changing climate; improve fish passage 

through the SR 89 stream crossing; 

control or eradicate current populations 

of terrestrial and aquatic invasive plant 

species; maintain and enhance access to 

Lake Tahoe and National Forest System 

lands; provide sustainable recreation 

opportunities consistent with a 

functioning ecosystem; enhance 

educational and interpretive 

opportunities; enhance species of value 

to the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and 

California; and promote the Federally 

protected species Tahoe yellowcress 

(Rorippa subumbellata) and Lahontan 

cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki 

henshawi). 

Proposed Action 

All project activities are proposed at 

the Meeks Bay Resort (7941 Emerald 

Bay Road, Meesk Bay, CA), the Meeks 

Bay Campground (just south of Meeks 

Bay Resort on Emerald Bay Road), in the 

Meeks Marina located between the two 

recreation facilities, or in Meeks Creek. 

1. Aquatic Invasive Species 

Eradication: Control or eradicate aquatic 

invasive species (e.g., warm water fish, 

American bullfrogs, aquatic invasive 

weeds) from the proposed project area 

using manual (chemical free) methods. 

Treatment of aquatic invasive species is 

a multi-year effort and the threat of new 

infestations moving into the area post 

implementation is high. As a result, 

monitoring and continued control 

actions are a key element in long-term 

success. 

2. Remove the existing marina 

infrastructure: Existing marina 

infrastructure to be removed includes 

the concrete boat ramp, steel and 

concrete sewalls, boulder riprap, the 

marina office, and other various 

underground support structures for the 

marina infrastructure. 

3. Restore Meeks Lagoon in the 

location of the existing marina: 

Recontour the stream and marina banks 

to recreate lagoon topography similar to 

the lagoon that was present before 

Meeks Marina was constructed. Place 

natural materials resistant to erosion on 

the bank slopes. Remove trees up to 30 

inches diameter at breast height (dbh) as 

needed for topography changes. 

Revegetate with native plant species 

appropriate to the site. Remove, store, 

and transplant after construction any 

Tahoe yellowcress (Rorippa 

subumbellata) populations as needed to 

protect plants from project activities. 

4. Restore Meeks Creek from the SR 

89 crossing to the confluence of Lake 

Tahoe: Recontour stream banks and 

reduce stream forces that cause erosion 

(i.e., realign portions of the stream 

course). The stream banks would be 

reconstructed and revegetated with 

desirable vegetation and would be 

designed to be in a state of dynamic 

equilibrium (stream beds and banks are 

neither accumulating nor eroding 

excessively). Fell trees up to 30 inches 

dbh as needed and install large wood in 

the creek south of SR 89 to improve 

aquatic habitat. Logs would be anchored 

in position using natural materials. 

Install grade control structures that 

blend visually with the surrounding 

natural environment. Restoration 

activities would extend less than 1⁄4

mile upstream from the crossing of 

Meeks Creek at SR 89. 

5. Install Utility Infrastructure: 

Construct infrastructure to secure the 

Tahoe City Public Utility District sewer 

line that crosses Meeks Creek. Relocate 

powerline infrastructure from within 

the restoration footprint. Relocate the 

USFS waterline from Meeks Creek 

bridge to under the scour limits of the 

restored Meeks Creek channel. Install or 

relocate necessary utility infrastructure 

either above or below ground for project 

activities, including water, sewer, 

electric, and communication lines. 

6. Implement Resource Protection 

Barriers: Install new barriers (natural or 

fenced) in areas of relocated Tahoe 

yellow cress (Rorippa subumbellata) 

communities. Natural barriers would 

include willows or other vegetation 


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45876 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 176 / Tuesday, September 11, 2018 / Notices 

screening, downed logs, boulders, or 

other natural materials. 

7. Wildlife Enhancement Actions: 

Install nest/perch structures for 

waterfowl, install bat boxes, and plant 

willow in select locations for willow 

flycatcher. 

8. Construct a Pier: Construct a pier at 

furthest south end of USFS property in 

Meeks Bay Campground. The pier 

would be 12–18 feet wide and 

accessible via small boats from Lake 

Tahoe and via a universally accessible 

walkway on land that would 

accommodate both day use and boat-in 

camping opportunities. The pier would 

allow temporary mooring of 10–20 boats 

and be up to 300 feet long. Utilities on 

the pier would accommodate electrical 

and water. The pier would be designed 

for access by a maintenance vehicle. 

9. Construct a Boat Launch: Construct 

a double-lane boat launch, marina 

office, and supporting infrastructure 

adjacent to the pier. The launch access 

would be designed to launch boats at 

water elevation level 6,223 feet and 

above. Support infrastructure would 

include an aquatic invasive species 

inspection station. 

10. Reconstruct Trailer Parking and 

Vehicular Circulation Routes: Construct 

a boat trailer parking area and vehicular 

circulation routes as needed within 

Meeks Bay Campground for the pier and 

boat launch. Reconstruct and realign 

day use parking areas and access roads 

as needed. The capacity of parking 

spaces dedicated for day use will 

remain within 20% of existing levels. 

The capacity of the boat trailer and 

vehicle parking will be sized to meet the 

capacity of the pier and boat ramp. 

11. Reconstruct Meeks Bay 

Campground: Reconstruct Meeks Bay 

Campground (south of Meeks Creek) to 

include utilities (water, electrical), host 

sites, restrooms, and a centralized waste 

dump station. The capacity of the 

camping units will remain within 20% 

of existing. Types of campging units 

constructed may include tent camping 

sites, full hookup sites, and/or yurt type 

sites or a combination of these. The 

campground facilities would be 

designed to function during the 

shoulder seasons (i.e. cold-resistant 

utilities at campsites and restrooms). 

12. Install Pedestrian Connectivity 

Routes: Construct a pedestrian/bike 

bridge over Meeks Creek to connect 

Meeks Bay Resort to Meeks Bay 

Campground. The bridge would be sized 

to accommodate two-way pedestrian 

and bicycle traffic, as well as standard 

vehicle loading for maintenance 

vehicles. Install an accessible multi-use 

pathway connecting Meeks Bay Resort 

commercial core area to the Meeks Bay 

Campground and the new pier/boat 

launch. Construct accessible beach 

access routes using stable, non-eroding 

materials, from parking areas and access 

points to the beach that meet Forest 

Service universal accessibility 

standards. 

13. Install Interpretation 

Opportunties: Install interpretive 

opportunities along the lagoon area that 

highlight restoration activities, history 

of the Washoe Tribe in Meeks Bay, and 

species of concern to the Washoe Tribe. 

14. Construct Day Use Parking Areas: 

Construct a day use parking area in the 

location of the former trailer parking in 

Meeks Resort to accommodate 

approximately 20 vehicles and be 

designed to accommodate Washoe 

Tribal Elders and other persons with 

disabilities. Construct the day use 

parking areas and access routes in 

Meeks Bay Resort as described in the 

Meeks Bay Master Plan. 

15. Implement Shoreline Stabilization 

Measures: Remove and replace gabion 

walls and concrete wall along the north 

end of Meeks Bay with natural retaining 

structures that can accommodate beach 

wave run-up action. 

16. Install Best Management Practices: 

Install permanent Best Management 

Practices (BMPs) in the parking lot 

areas, restrooms, and along roadways to 

capture and infiltrate storm water. 

Permanent BMPs would be consistent 

with USFS, Tahoe Regional Planning 

Agency (TRPA), and Water Board 

requirements. BMPs would include, but 

not be limited to, installation of 

infiltration basins, re-contouring and 

repaving of the parking areas to ensure 

proper drainage of storm water off 

paved surfaces, drip-line trenches, or 

other means of directing and infiltrating 

storm water to prevent run-off into Lake 

Tahoe. 

Possible Alternatives 

Possible alternatives based on existing 

public comment and agency input 

include an alternative that fully 

reconstructs the existing marina 

(including supporting infrastructure 

such as parking areas and utilities). 

Additional alternatives will be 

developed based on public comment 

received during the scoping period. 

Responsible Official 

Forest Supervisor Jeff Marsolais. 

Nature of Decision To Be Made 

The responsible official will decide: 

(1) Whether or not to implement the 

project activities as described in the 

proposed action, (2) whether or not to 

implement the project activities as 

described in one of the alternatives 

analyzed in detail, (3) whether to 

implement a combination of alternatives 

analyzed in detail, or (4) whether to take 

no action. 

Preliminary Issues 

Preliminary issues that have been 

identified are maintaining access to the 

existing recreation opportunities on the 

site, and the potential impacts to the 

character of Meeks Bay from restoration 

activities and the relocation of 

recreation infrastructure. 

Permits or Licenses Required 

Permits for work in Meeks Creek 

would be required from the Army Corps 

of Engineers since the actions are 

executed in Waters of the US. Permits 

for project work from the local Water 

Board would be required. Project 

permits from the Tahoe Regional 

Planning Agency would be required. 

County building permits for the aquatic 

invasive species inspection station may 

apply. 

Scoping Process 

This notice of intent initiates the 

scoping process, which guides the 

development of the EIS. A public open 

house for the project will be held at the 

Meeks Marina on October 10 at 2:00 

p.m. PST. Entry to the Marina for the 

meeting will be through the Meeks Bay 

Resort, 7941 Emerald Bay Road, Meesk 

Bay, CA. Project documents, 

information on the public meeting, and 

additional supporting information will 

be posted to the project website http:// 

www.fs.usda.gov/goto/ltbmu/ 

meeksbayrestoration. 

It is important that reviewers provide 

their comments at such times and in 

such manner that they are useful to the 

agency’s preparation of the EIS. 

Therefore, comments should be 

provided prior to the close of the 

comment period and should clearly 

articulate the reviewer’s concerns and 

contentions. 

Comments received in response to 

this solicitation, including names and 

addresses of those who comment, will 

be part of the public record for this 

proposed action. Comments submitted 

anonymously will be accepted and 

considered, however. 

Dated: August 28, 2018. 

Chris French, 

Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest 

System. 

[FR Doc. 2018–19682 Filed 9–10–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3411–15–P 


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