Lake Tahoe, Nev./Calif. – The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) is reminding residents, property owners, and project managers that the grading and digging season for permitted projects in the Lake Tahoe Basin begins May 1.
Grading and digging work is confined to drier months to protect Lake Tahoe’s famed water clarity from sources of erosion and sediment, according to TRPA. During the normal grading season of May 1 through October 15, soil work can proceed in dry conditions, but is prohibited when a project area is covered with snow, when ground is saturated, muddy, or unstable, and during periods of precipitation.
Working in dry conditions prevents soil compaction and stops loose soil and mud from washing away from project sites or into roadways, storm drains, waterways, and the lake.
Although all grading is prohibited in wet conditions, not all digging requires a permit. Moving up to three cubic yards of soil is exempt and does not require a permit if the site is stabilized to prevent erosion and the work is not part of a larger project. More information is available on the Applications and Forms page.
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The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency leads the cooperative effort to preserve, restore, and enhance the unique natural and human environment of the Lake Tahoe Region, while improving local communities, and people’s interactions with our irreplaceable environment. For additional information, contact Jeff Cowen, Public Information Officer, at (775) 589-5278 or jcowen@trpa.gov.